2000 Qvale Mangusta Coupe

The DeTomaso Qvale Mangusta was the collaboration between two major figures in the Italian-American axis of the auto industry. These two individuals were Alejandro De Tomaso, the father of the Pantera, and the original Mangusta. The other individual was DeTomaso's friend and sometimes business partner Kjell Qvale, whose resume included being an importer of British and Italian sports cars through his San Francisco dealership.

DeTomaso and Qvale reached an agreement to build and sell a car DeTomaso had shown at the 1996 Geneva Auto Show called the Bigua. Trouble arose over licensing and distribution rights, and Qvale and his sons took over the operation, opening the Qvale Mangusta factory on the outskirts of Modena. Designed by Marcello Gandini, who also penned the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, the Qvale's chassis was the work of F1 designer Enrique Scalabroni.

Powering the car is a Ford Mustang Cobra SVT 4.6-liter dual-overhead cam rated at 320 horsepower. This example is mated to a T45 4-speed Borg Warner transmission. The interior has extensive use of high-quality leather upholstery and the unique three-position 'Rototop' roof that offers coupe, targa, and open configurations.

There were a total of 284 examples of the Qvale Mangusta before it was purchased by MG-Rover and production ceased.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2019