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De Tomaso Mangusta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Disambiguation: for the Mangusta military helicopter, see Agusta A129 Mangusta.
| De Tomaso Mangusta | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | De Tomaso |
| Production | 1967–1971 (400 produced) |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupe |
| Layout | MR layout |
| Engine(s) | 4.7-litre (4728 cc/289 cid) V8 5.0-litre (4949 cc/302 cid) V8 |
| Transmission(s) | ZF 5-speed manual |
| Height | 1,100 mm (43.3 in)[1] |
| Curb weight | 1,185 kg (2,612 lb) |
The De Tomaso Mangusta was a sports car from Italian automobile manufacturer De Tomaso produced between 1967 and 1971.
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The Mangusta replaced the Vallelunga model, on which it's chassis was based[2]. The word "Mangusta" is Latin for "Mongoose", an animal that eats cobras. It was rumored that the car was so named because De Tomaso had been promised engines from Ford that went to the Shelby Cobra instead. The Mangusta was replaced by the much cheaper to build De Tomaso Pantera in 1971.
There are reported to be fewer than 200 left in existence of approximately 400[2] built.
Originally fitted with Ford 289 V8 engine. In North American market was introduced a mid-mounted 306 hp Ford 302 V8 engine drove a 5 speed ZF transaxle. Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the car, which is easily recognised by its gull wing doors over the engine and luggage compartment. Disc brakes were fitted at all four corners. Top speed was claimed to be 250 km/h (155 mph)[2]
The Mangusta was relatively inexpensive for the time, but with a 32/68 weight distribution and a less then solid chassis suffered from stability problems and poor handling. The car was also cramped and had extremely low ground clearance.[2]
The Mangusta name was revived in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the concept car De Tomaso Bigua became the Qvale Mangusta, after a dispute between De Tomaso and business partner Qvale.
- ^ De Tomaso Mangusta Part 1: Mangusta. www.qv500.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
- ^ a b c d Lawrence, Mike (1997). A to Z of Sports Cars 1945-1990. Bay View Books Ltd. ISBN 1-870979-81-8
- [1] - Pictures of a '69 De Tomaso Mangusta