Mangusta

Awesome car! That spartan dash board is pretty cool.




[Just as a footnote, you might make sure the owner doesn't mind it being posted....]

Jedi

 

Very cool, saw this in the Austin Spotters thread, where is your shop located?

Mike showed interest in shooting some pics of it, hopefully that falls through.

 

That's a beauty! Lucky you!!

 

I don't think "restored" is the appropriate term for this car. "Customized" would be a better description for what was done. The Mangusta is an important collectible for two reasons: Giugiaro's styling and Ghia's coachwork. Unfortunately, projects like this one destroy both of those assets. Giugiaro's visual concept is ruined by changing the wheels and adding the low profile modern rubber. Ghia's interior was discarded and replaced by the "Rod & Custom" upholstery job. The "wet look" paint always looks out of place on vintage cars. It's fun to look at cars like this to see the craftsmanship of "Bob's Paintshop", "Charlie's Custom Upholstery", and "Andy's Engines", but it's basically just another street rod in my opinion. I hope the owner has retained the original wheels and other bits so that someone could possibly put the car back someday. Anyone looking at this car gets an entirely erroneous idea of what Giugiaro designed and Ghia built. That's unfortunate. Any work that obscures the originality of cars like this only detracts from their value, no matter how much money is spent. I now step down from my soapbox and don my flamesuit.

 

I just re-read my post of last night, and fear I may have come across as hostile or pretentious. It's just a subject that really gets me going. The Mangusta made a huge impression on me when I first saw one in the flesh in 1970, and I vowed to have one at some point. I even visited the DeTomaso factory in December of 1970. When I finally got around to acquiring one it was 1999, and I spent over a year locating over thirty examples. I physically visited and inspected 23 cars all over the US. After burning thousands of air miles and car rental fees I became very frustrated. I wanted an example of what I had seen in Modena, but most cars I saw were either junk, or an abused rust bucket needing everything, or had been "restored" to high-dollar standards that often deviated substantially from the original product. I had almost given up the hunt when I found a guy like myself who valued originality and was selling his original, patinated 'Goose. It was a fortunate connection, as all the visual stuff is the original deal. I even have the original shift knob and cloissone wheel center badges. At car events I never fail to have someone come up to me and say, "Wow, I've never seen one of these in person before". It feels good to know that I am showing them the actual craftsmanship of those workers I saw in the factory all those years ago.

 

Daryl,
You are 100% correct and wish I never sold mine in '86 and had boughtt the other I saw in NJ.
Mort

 

+1

Looks like a Daytona hit a Mangusta at speed parked at Boyd Coddington's shop and they pieced the remains together with a set of their special wheels. Doesn't mean it isn't well crafted and what the owner wanted. It is after all ... his car.

Bob S.

 

Well stated, Daryl, and I too need to sometimes check my writing for how it sounds. I don't think you came off as arrogant or the like.

What disappoints me about Panteras and really makes them less appealing to me as a whole is the fact that so many of them have been customized like hot rods, and that so little value is placed on originality among Pantera enthusiasts at large. This is the first time I've seen a Mangusta that has been given the hot rod treatment. I hope it doesn't spread. I don't take issue with hot rodding of common cars or even a small percentage of exotics produced in greater quantities, but to do this to such a rare -- and beautiful -- car of such great design significance is akin to painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.

By the way, if your Mangusta is silver/gray and you displayed it at Eyes on Design about ten years ago, then I believe we met. I had the red Lotus Esprit, and we were staged in line for the awards presentation.

Cheers,

Tony K.

 

The Pantera community morphed into something completely different from the other exotic Italian cars. I've seen quite a few heavily modified Ferraris and Lamborghinis as well. The modified Panteras are pretty amazing but in a different sort of way. Original looking Panteras are pretty rare. Even De Tomaso hot rodded the car all the way up to the end so what the heck.

Bob S.

 

Yes Tony, that was me. I remember you and your Esprit. While my car was off having this photo taken I think Giugiaro was back at the display area autographing your cars. I was very disappointed at having missed the chance to have him sign my car. I ran all the way across the park to the tent where Giugiaro was signing books to see if he could come back and sign my car, but he had to leave. He gave me an autoraphed book, which I thought was very cool. Then, back at home a week or so later, I received a FedEx from Italy. Inside was a notecard that said, "This is for the inside of your glovebox door." It was attached to a piece of black upholstery leather that Giugiaro had autographed in silver ink, to match my car. What a classy guy.
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Great story!

Your Mangusta looks as fantastic as your Espada.

Bob S.

 

i think the resto modded car belongs to f-chatter "mang". he is a great car guy and is fully aware that his car may not be to everyone's liking ...but he knows it sure is to others!!

it is said to be built to a very, very high level!!!

 

A class act and a true gentleman! That he remembered and went out of his way a bit to send that to you is all the more meaningful! I am to this day very grateful for having had the chance to meet him.

I sold the Esprit in early 2008 to make room for my 308. I never thought I'd sell that car -- mostly because of that day in 2001 -- but Mr. G also signed my owner's manual and wrote it "To Tony," so I have a memento (and the new owner got the manual from one of my other S1s). That red S1 now lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been restored to perfection, the signature is preserved (of course), and it is cherished as much there as it was by me . . . so I'm happy. -- And I think it's great that the car is in Brazil now, as it gives many people the opportunity to see a rare and beautiful car who otherwise never would have.

I'm glad you are doing well and still enjoying your gorgeous Mangusta.

 

stunning car. major cool factor

 

This is not MikeS / Mang's car. Mike's car is much more modded and updated, but I beleive he knows this car as he has mentioned in another thread of another red Goose.

Denis

 

thanks Denis for pointing that out...
counterpoint; been collecting and driving some amazing cars for 30+ years and well edumacated on the opinions of originality, etc....and then I came across the 'la dolce vita' Goose and all I know is my 'modded hot rod' is one of the most visually beautiful cars I have ever seen

voted 'people's choice' at Concorso, 1995 - quite an impressive award, so even purists were smitten

...they are mostly garage/living room art anymore anyway, so having incredible visuals is kinda nice, if you want a car to drive, buy a Subaru

ps, thanks for the kind comments Peter
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Daryl,

That's as beautiful a Mangusta as I've ever seen. Just WOW.

Enjoy in good health,

Jack.

 

Very cool cars. I will hopefully be detailing the Mangusta Spider (1 of 1, won Pebble Beach I believe some time ago) as well a Mangusta coupe. The lines of the coupe are absolutely gorgeous!!!!!

For give me ignorance (which is vast), but are the Daytona looking seats factory?

 

not factory....MOST of that interior is custom

and YOU BETTER PROVIDE US WITH PHOTOS!!!!!

 

Thanks.

The pictures are up to the owner, but it likely won't be until the end of the year as the car is 4500 miles away, but I am looking forward to it!

 

last time i saw the one off spyder at Monterey was in 95?

im certain that the daytona seats arent factory. i recall there were 2 different types of goose seats

 

Yes there are 2 different types of seats (I haven't seen the spyder's) Some early cars had 2 piece and most later have a 1 piece style.