2000 Qvale 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, since Mangusta is the only animal feared by cobra.

Equipped with a backbone chassis, a 4729 cc engine - 250 km/h max speed -, Mangusta underwent several changes before the production began. However, Giugiaro's basic layout was maintained. According to the sporting soul of the car, the design was extreme, probably at the expence of the vehicle habitability. Very soon Alejandro De Tomaso realized that Mangusta was the right product to be sold in the United States; as a matter of fact, 250 cars were purchased by American customers. There are two models of De Tomaso Mangusta.

The first is a spider, which throughout many changes due to the owners' wishes has been finally brought back to its original design. 'Raped' by these modifications, the car could hardly be recognized, but its original features were successfully recovered in Modena plant. The second, a unique vehicle as the first model, is a hard-top spider owned by a Greek fan. All Mangusta cars were equipped with Ford engines, except this one ordered by the GM vice-president William L. Mitchell, who sent a Chevrolet engine to Modena. Unfortunately, it was lacking of some pieces.

Sent back to Detroit, Mangusta could run thanks to American mechanics' work. All the same Mitchell could not drive his admired car, as the seat was too small for him (his face was pressed against the driving mirror!). However, this problem did not put an end to the love for such a car, which nowadays is still being studied in General Motors. Manufactured until 1971, Mangusta levelled the ground to Pantera.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2019