Overview
- An angler using an echo sounder located the submerged car and rescue teams recovered the Opel Manta in a multi‑agency operation that lasted several hours on May 30.
- Rescuers found the vehicle heavily silted and water‑damaged but noted visual cues of a first‑generation Manta A, such as four round headlights and a distinct hood.
- Police initially hit a dead end when archival registration records were unavailable, slowing efforts to identify an owner.
- About a week after the recovery a woman told police her then‑husband reported an Opel Manta stolen in 1972 and later moved to the United States, giving investigators a concrete lead.
- The car is secured by police while enquiries continue into ownership and how the vehicle entered the Danube, and authorities say public tips remain key to resolving the case.