Equipment
302/230hp, 5-speed, Ansa exhaust, Campagnolo alloy wheels, Michelin tires, woodrim steering wheel, power windows, air conditioning.
Condition
#3 Good
Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.
One of 401 built. Decent paint with several chips and sizable cracks throughout, and the finish looks thin on the A-pillars. Light pitting on the rear bumperettes. Light use underneath. Very good interior. A rare, distinctive car in any color, especially with the center-hinged engine cover, but even more eye-catching in this orange paint even if the finish isn’t very good.
Market commentary
Having gotten started in road car sales with the four-cylinder Vallelunga with its Lotus-type backbone chassis, DeTomaso scaled up a bit with a Ford V8 for the Mangusta. Initial cars had a 289 with ZF transaxle but the engines soon grew to a 302, while independent suspension and Girling brakes were exotic ingredients in the mid-1960s. The Mangusta was fast, but the V8 grunt flexed the chassis and caused unpredictable handling. DeTomaso's follow-up, the better known Pantera, is a better car but the Mangusta is much rarer and the body is one of Giugiaro's best designs, so it's more valuable. This one sold right on for its condition.