Dan’s Best Discovery: 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta
Update 8/23/2018 – We just heard from Danger Dan, you might remember his finds from a few years ago which you can read about here. It turns out he’s the one to discover this Mangusta! If you have any questions for him, be sure to leave them in the comments below.
The seller of this De Tomaso Mangusta seems to be fishing for a big one that’s attending the nearby Monterey Car Week, happening now through August 26th. It’s not a bad strategy, except it seems like the ad is written only for those folks who want to swing by in person and inspect this apparently recently-discovered Mangusta. I’m not convinced this wasn’t staged to look like a garage find, but I’ll leave the detective work up to you. Find it here on eBay with a $250,000 price listed.
The seller says nobody knew this Mangusta was hiding out five minutes from Fantasy Junction. He even admits the pictures are terrible, but they’re just being used to “…point you in our direction.” The Mangusta is a refreshing change of pace from Panteras that show up far more regularly, and it was much more exclusive compared to the borderline mass-produced Pantera. Just 401 cars were built, with early models utilizing Ford 289s motors, while later cars used less powerful Ford 302s.
Yes, the pictures really are that bad – but hey, they’re not worried about the plebians sitting in front of their computers in Middle America! No, we just want those famous playboys rolling up on their yachts while their trailer queens enjoy covered transport to the event. All that aside, if you’ve been hunting for an elusive Mangusta, this one does look largely solid and unrestored, and aside from a dent to the left front-end, I can’t seen any other significant damage or rust.
The seller says the previous owner was “…very secretive,” which I take to mean they have already acquired the vehicle from that owner and are now attempting the art of the flip. There’s a very specific shout-out to someone named Bruce, which – if I were in the social circles that frequent Monterey Car Week – I might even know who Bruce is. All the weirdness of the eBay listing aside, I’ve always loved he gullwinged engine lids of the Mangusta, and can’t wait to see that thundering motor and striking Giugiaro-designed body live entombed in some rich dude’s collection.
Auctions Ending Soon
2006 Ford Mustang Saleen S281 SCBid Now5 mins$18,000
2002 Subaru Impreza WRXBid Now3 days$333
1975 Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleBid Now3 days$3,000
1964 Ford F-100 Camper CustomBid Now3 days$2,000
2006 Jeep Wrangler SportBid Now5 days$10,500
Comments
Great car, I am with you, it all seems staged. But who can blame him, just another guy trying to make a buck…
Wow luckily I have the barnfinds direct alert to give credit to my partner Rus who had a deal locked in. That deal disintegrated but he was undeterred and made this happen for us. The car is now at our place and we are sorting through boxes of parts from years of the previous owners automotive history.
Yes it’s big money but it also represents 10 years of vacuuming out turds and field finds. We put all our eggs in this basket and will scrape by until it finds a home or we sell some personal cars. Anyone want an NSX or a coronet r/ t lowrider? DD
Tell me about your NSX? Thanks mike
Hi Mike! Check for it by pressing the other items for sale button on FeeBay- it’s the most inexpensive one on there-
DD
Gracias & Mahalo
Gorgeous car.Always thought they were among the better looking exotics of that era.Certainly better looking than the Pantera that replaced it. (imo)
@Jeff Lavery – “…can’t wait to see that thundering motor and striking Giugiaro-designed body live entombed in some rich dude’s collection.”
Brother, you said it.
You might have phrased it “…NOT see it…”, though, since only a handful will ever see it after this. Certainly not driving down the street, or carving some corner somewhere.
I’ve named cars like this, Car Cover Models.
The Mangusta was one of the best looking mid-engine designs ever. And the body design was by American Tom Tjaarda. It was even sold by Lincoln-Mercury dealers for the bargain price of about $10K.
But there were problems. Handling wasn’t very good. People talk about unit body flex as a problem. Construction was slow and didn’t go too well, and chassis parts tended to lie around outside the factory and gather rust since they weren’t protected by paint or any other coating.
See:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a25923/shopping-with-colin-de-tomaso-pantera/
There’s something with the flatest of heads at the left. There is a Mangusta near DBQ, Iowa under resto. That makes two.
Don’t know if i’m in the right place. I have 65 years of cars magazines and i’m down sizing. Looking for ideas on what to do. titles Auto Speed and Sport, road and Track, Sports Car graphic, Car &Driver.
Rick, thanks for sharing! You can list your magaazines for sale here on Barn Finds!
Jeff, the sellers’ way of fishing is like that of the guy who tossed a hand grenade in the lake -nothing subtle there. Bruce Trenery is the highly respected owner of Fantasy Junction in Emeryville, next to Berkeley. Note to the original seller – never paint the original wheels on a car like that. You might want to sell it someday. Like today. Note to Dan – Fantasy Junction has taken in cars like that, in worse condition, but not at your price. Remember Mom’s advice. Never put all your eggs in one basket. But seriously, good luck, those are uncommon cars and uncommonly beautiful.
Get that car out from under the bicycle on the wall, you are in earthquake country. Sweet ride good luck with the sale.
I want to see more of the nose damage. Not that I could afford it, but that alone might be into the tens of thousands to repair. And there is more than one Bruce that deals in exotics and high-end cars… Canepa.
True enough Rick, another class act.
I recall reading an article about the Mangusta that mentioned an issue with the flywheel hitting the ground on speed bumps and when crossing dips in the road or entering parking lots….. The author’s advice was to avoid the Mangusta if you wanted a car to drive, and buy a Pantera or Ferrari.
I need to dig through my old car mags, but I do believe that Tjaarda did the Pantera, but the Mangusta was a Giugiaro design. Though heaven knows my memory gets more and more creative as I age …
I do remember that the main problem with the car is that De Tomaso took the backbone structure he’d designed for a 4-cylinder car and simply applied it to the bigger, V8-powered Mangusta, where it was simply not up to the job. There are cars that have received some structural bracing, and I’ve read that it helps a lot, but at humongous cost. What I know for a proven fact, though, is that however flawed a car this might be, seeing one in person, on the road, is simply breathtaking. I had that experience once, one early morning on an almost-empty road through Palo Alto, as it emerged from the light mist and murmured past, leaving me stunned and wanting more. Of course it was red …
Nope…Stay away from this one….
Not for the timid!
I’ve got a Vw beetle lined up if that’s more your speed