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One-Off De Tomaso Mangusta Fitted with Chevrolet V8

The De Tomaso Mangusta owes much to the American auto industry and market. "Mangusta" is Italian for mongoose, an animal that can kill cobras. It's rumored the name was picked by Argentine-born Alejandro De Tomaso after a deal he was working on with Carroll Shelby, the maker of legendary Shelby Cobra, fell through.
De Tomaso Mangusta with Chevrolet small block V8 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
Of the 401 sportscars that were built between 1967 and 1971, about 250 were sold to American customers, all of them equipped with either 289 or 302 Ford small block V8 engines (4.7- and 5.0-liter engines).

All, that is, except for this one. You guys are looking at the only Mangusta in the world with a Chevrolet engine, built for General Motors Vice President, Bill Mitchell. Chassis number 8MA 670 now belongs to Dick Ruzzin, a retired GM designer, who bought it in September 1969 and has cared for it ever since.

This stunning 60s icon was designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro at the beginning of his career, while he was still working for Ghia. Coming out in 1967, only three years after the Lamborghini Miura, with a mid-engined design meant the Mangusta was quite revolutionary. You can almost see the essence of the thinking that went into the BMW M1 and the Maserati Merak in this rare Italian car.

A successor to the Mangusta came about with the launch of the Pantera. This was simpler to make and much cheaper. With about two thousand produced, it was also one of the most popular mid-engined cars of its time.

Video by Rockstar Rides:
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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