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1969 DeTomaso Mangusta

The De Tomaso Mangusta was first introduced in 1967 and 401 examples were manufactured by the time production ceased in 1971. It wore a design by notable Italian automobile designer Mr. Giorgetto Giugiaro for Ghia. Power was from a 4.7 liter 289 cubic-inch Ford V8 engine mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission. The standard trim included the 300 horsepower engine, all-round disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension, and electric windows.

1969 DeTomaso Mangusta photo
Coupe
Chassis #: 8MA-798302112
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
Mangusta was Italian for Mongoose, one of the very few animals that can kill a cobra - clearly intended to compete against Carroll Shelby and his Cobra. Alejandro de Tomaso had offered Carroll Shelby assistance with building a new Cam-Am race car near the start of 1965. The Shelby Cobra Cobra was not able to compete in Can-Am, which presented an opportunity to DeTomaso, who had been planning on developing a new 7.0-liter V8 engine for racing. Shelby agreed to provide financing for the project and also sent an SCCA approved design team headed by Peter Brock to Italy to oversee the design work. Brock based the design on the second Shelby-built Lang Cooper sports racer. The design incorporated an adjustable rear airfoil to generate downforce, a feature not found on the Lang Cooper. The Italian coachbuilder Fantuzzi made the alloy bodywork.

Numerous problems quickly arose when De Tomaso failed to deliver the agreed 5 race cars within the deadline for the 1965 Can-Am season. Shelby eventually left the project and focused his attention on the Ford GT40 project. Peter Brock remained in Italy to see the project through completion. De Tomaso enlisted Carrozeria Ghia to assist with the design of the car, which was known as the P70 at the time. The single completed car, known as the Ghia De Tomaso Sports 5000, was shown at the 1965 Turin Motor Show.

De Tomaso modified the steel backbone chassis and it became the basis for the Mangusta. Giorgetto Giugiaro at Ghia created the design for the 2-door, mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe. Production of the Mangusta began in 1967, the same time De Tomaso had acquired Ghia.

1969 DeTomaso Mangusta photo
Coupe
Chassis #: 8MA858
Auction entries : 1
Most of the 401 cars were sent to North America, while 150 remained in Europe. Due to the low production numbers, the Mangusta received a federal waiver exempting the car from safety regulations, since the Mangusta did not have seat belts and the headlights were far lower than the federal regulations allowed. After the exemption expired, the front fascia of the car was redesigned in order to accommodate pop-up headlights instead of the earlier quad round headlamps. Around 50 cars were produced with the pop-up lights. The early cars were powered by a Ford HiPo 289 engine while the later cars received the Ford 302 engines. A single example was fitted with a Chevrolet engine for General Motors-Vice President, Bill Mitchell.


by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2019

Related Reading : DeTomaso Mangusta History

First shown in 1966, the production of Mangusta started the following year, reaching the number of 402 vehicles manufactured and thus representing the final step of De Tomaso towards the world of high-performance cars (a well-known category in Modena). In 1967 the take-over of Ghia was determining, and prototype 70P became Mangusta. This name is strictly related to that of the contender Ford Cobra....
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Related Reading : DeTomaso Mangusta History

Alejandro de Tomaso had many avocations before his career in the automotive world. He was born in Argentina in 1928. His *** family had been wealthy Argentine cattle farmers and his father had immigrated from Italy. By age 15 Alejandro left school to pursue the cattle business. Within a few years he was running the family business and racing on the side. He also provided financial support to an....
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1969 DeTomaso Mangusta Vehicle Profiles

1969 DeTomaso Mangusta vehicle information
Coupe

Designer: Ghia
1969 DeTomaso Mangusta vehicle information
Coupe

Designer: Ghia
1969 DeTomaso Mangusta vehicle information
Coupe

Designer: Ghia
Chassis #: 1196
1969 DeTomaso Mangusta vehicle information
Coupe

Designer: Ghia
Chassis #: 185
1969 DeTomaso Mangusta vehicle information
Coupe

Designer: Ghia
1969 DeTomaso Mangusta vehicle information
Coupe

Designer: Ghia
Chassis #: 8MA-798302112
1969 DeTomaso Mangusta vehicle information
Coupe

Designer: Ghia

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

$1,300-$11,140
1969 Mangusta
$11,140-$25,580
1969 DeTomaso Mangusta Base Price : $11,140

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Mangusta

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
98.40 in.
8 cyl., 302.07 CID., 230.00hp
$11,140 - $11,140
98.40 in.
8 cyl., 302.07 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 289.00 CID., 305.00hp
$11,135 - $11,135

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