1969 De Tomaso Mangusta

€168,000 EUR | Sold

  • A legendary 1960s mid-engined supercar
  • Original paint, upholstery, and drivetrain
  • Formerly of Peter Kaus’s Rosso Bianco Museum

271 bhp, 289 cu. in. OHV Ford V-8 engine, five-speed ZF manual transmission, unequal length tubular wishbone front suspension with coil springs and an anti-roll bar, wide-base unequal length wishbone rear suspension with trailing arms, coil springs, and an anti-roll bar, and four-wheel power-assisted Girling disc brakes. Wheelbase: 2,500 mm.

In the midst of anti-Peron upheavals in the mid-1950s, racing driver Alejandro de Tomaso made his way to Italy, where he drove OSCA race cars for the Maserati brothers. Like several other racing drivers of his day, de Tomaso eventually developed his own automobile, which combined a racing-style chassis, Italian design, and reliable American power, in this case, by Ford.

The first true production De Tomaso was the Mangusta, which was introduced in 1967. It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, built by fabled Turin coachbuilder Ghia, of which de Tomaso had become president, and was reportedly based on the Ford GT40 concept, as it featured a mid-ship V-8 engine, rear transaxle, and backbone chassis. Giugiaro’s muscular, wide-shouldered bodywork emphasised that the engine, which was visible under two clamshell-style rear windows, could propel the car from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, through the quarter-mile in 15 seconds at 94 mph, and to a claimed top speed of 155 mph.

The car offered here has a history known back to its time in the renowned Rosso Bianco Museum of Peter Kaus in Aschaffenberg, Germany. It spent about 20 years on display in that legendary sports car collection, during which time it was driven only a few kilometres but was very well preserved. At the museum’s dispersal in 2006, it was sold to its present European owner, in whose collection it has been well-maintained since.

The Mangusta still wears what is believed to be its original bright blue paintwork and interior. Both show the expected wear of a 40-year-old collector car, but they have the charm and patina that only age can provide. This is certainly one of a few De Tomasos of any type that still retain their original finishes. According to the owner, it is in good running order and is believed to be the only Mangusta fitted with six headlights by the factory.

This car, which features an Italian design with an American heart, would be a fascinating addition to any collection of pioneering supercars.