De Tomaso Mangusta Speciale

www.QV500.com - De Tomaso Mangusta Part 3: Mangusta Speciale

Mangusta Speciale #8MA 670	After the one-off Spyder came two more very special Mangusta's each built to a unique specification. The first was an otherwise standard Chevrolet-powered example for General Motors Vice President, Bill Mitchell. Mitchell was on hand to see the prototype make its debut at Turin in November 1966 and ordered one on the spot.

However, as GM were Ford's biggest rivals, Mitchell would only take delivery if De Tomaso could fit a Chevy engine to his car. A deal was quickly done and soon after production began, a 327 V8 was sent from Detroit to Modena. As the story goes, the completed car (8MA 670) was shipped to the US and presented at GM's Design Centre for Mitchell's inspection. Having admired his latest acquisition, Mitchell then tried to get into the notoriously cramped cockpit and found it impossible. Enraged, he immediately put the car up for sale and it's been owned ever since by Dick Ruzzin. The last unique Mangusta was originally built in 1969 on chassis 8MA 1196 for Eugene Bordinat, auto design magnate for the Ford Motor Company. While developing Pantera prototypes together at Ghia's studio in Italy, Bordinat and Alejandro De Tomaso supervised the bespoke detailing of this particular vehicle.

Mangusta Speciale #8MA 1196

Originally finished in orange over black, the unique modifications included a wraparound chin spoiler, a black vinyl-padded nose band and unique front and rear grilles. Other features included rubber front bumperettes, streamlined exterior mirrors, heated rear windows, deep-pile interior carpet, Michelin XWX tyres and a collapsible spare.