1969 DeTomaso Mangusta Coupe

This original 3,700 mile Mangusta, number 1196, was one of the group of the last 55 of the 401 examples that were built from 1967 to 1971. It was personally owned by Eugene Bordinat, then Vice President of all Ford World Design from 1961 to 1970, though it was used as a styling element at the Ford Design Center at Dearborn, Michigan to see if another production run could happen with a restyled body for USA regulations. This Mangusta, as most all other four headlight versions, was imported into America not having to pass federal regulations.

Mr. Bordinat was the world-famous auto design magnate for Ford Motor Company and this was his prize possession. He was responsible for the design of all Ford and Lincoln Mercury vehicles; but is especially remembered for his design of the elegant Town Car, the Mustang, and incredibly successful Lincoln Mark Series.

This vehicle was imported into the United States by Mr. Bordinat himself and cherished throughout his life. It was known to be proudly driven with gloved hands to his design studio in Dearborn, Michigan only on the most perfect of days.

While develooping Pantera Prototypes together at Ghia Studios in Italy; both Mr. Bordinat and Alejandro DeTomaso personally supervised the Ghia Studio custom prototype redesigning, and building of this particular vehicle. This was during the time period of Ford's courtship of DeTomaso by Mr. Bordinat on Ford's behalf, leading to the eventual Pantera program.

This car, number 1196, also became the prototype for what could have been the second production series of the Mangusta had Mercury/Lincoln seen fit to do a longer production run of Mangusta outfitted with real bumpers and pollution controls so to satisfy the 1971 USA government regulations. Also Mercury/Lincoln needed a boutique car that could be mass produced not the slow hand built method. So Tom Tjaarda was given the go-ahead to create the Pantera which met collision regulations and could be mass produced.

This leatherette front bumper with overrides was created by Ford World Design Center in Dearborn to simulate a proposed urethane energy absorbing front bumper. The spoiler may have come from a Mustang 500 KR and was added to hold down the front end at speed and to provide better radiator cooling.

Henry Ford II and Eugene Bordinat did not get along with Alejandro DeTomaso very well and so when Ford and Ghia modified this car, they removed all DeTomaso names and badging and substituted GHIA emblems, even as far as placing the emblems in the large gauges.

The cars plate of manufacture is stamped June, 1969, although all the glass build dates are December 1969 and Mrs. DeTomaso states this was one of the last ones finished in 1971.