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By Tomaso Mangusta. The history of the car that launched a brand

PHOTOS OF TOMASO MANGUSTA: TIM GIDDENS / RM SOTHEBY'S

Imagine that you could freely choose where to settle. Without having to discuss it with family, partner, bosses ... It doesn't sound bad, right? Well, something like this is what Alejandro de Tomaso did in 1955. Politically confronted with the Perón government, this pilot farmer set course to one of the best places to dedicate yourself to sports motorsport: the north of Italy. Of course, after winning the 1.000 kilometers of Buenos Aires in its category. Thus, by way of farewell.

Beyond his work at the wheel, de Tomaso stood out for his mechanical skills. Gifts that he turned into the OSCA car manufacturing, founded in Bologna by the Maserati brothers after the end of their contract with the businessman Adolfo Orsi. Nevertheless, his restless nature when it came to experimenting with new design possibilities led him to set out on his own in 1959. This is how De Tomaso Automobili SpA was born in Modena

There he manufactured parts made of titanium, and even tried a magnesium chassis in 1963. The prelude to what Horacio Pagani would do with carbon fiber years later; another Argentine who came to Italy to champion the use of lighter materials. In 1961 Alejandro de Tomaso launched himself into F1, achieving little success but great visibility, which he used to make good friends with Ford. It provides it with engines, which it uses for both F1 and its first production car: the De Tomaso Vallelunga.

of tomaso mangusta
Tom Gidden © 2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions

In him the obsession with lightness dominated, making the around 100CV of an engine from the Ford Cortina more than enough for the 550 kilos of the car. However, it was necessary to go a step further. The Vallelunga was a very good test, but if a brand from F1 wants to enter the GT segment, it has to do so by giving the chest a do. So things, 1967 saw the birth of De Tomaso Mangusta.

OF TOMASO MANGUSTA. DIRECT TO THE AMERICAN MARKET

Beyond his design skills, the truth is that Alejandro de Tomaso was a born salesman. He knew perfectly well that, to take off from nowhere in territory full of high-end brands, he needed two things. The first was knowing where to sell your cars. In this sense He put his peephole in the direction of the United States. Europe was already crowded with big brands, so succeeding in the American market was their only chance to get ahead.

The second was a good advertising campaign, which started from the look of the car itself. Thus commissioned the Mangusta lines from Giorgetto Giugiaro. Of those, the designer had not even reached the age of thirty, and perhaps for that reason he was risking more than necessary. Thus he conceived a very low sports car, with an aggressive look, straight lines and incredible rear panels that he would use for the Porsche Tapiro three years later.

In short, even just seeing it in photos the public was left with a good feeling. The De Tomaso Mangusta appeared as a sexy car, very sexy. However, at this point it remained to confirm expectations by placing a good engine just behind the seats. Of course, it took two types. For the European version a Ford 289 V8 and for the American version a Ford 302 V8, adjusted to deliver 302 and 289 HP respectively.

EASY TO MAINTAIN, HARD TO DRIVE

With the previous sum of factors, De Tomaso Mangusta did well in America: of the 401 units produced over four years, 251 were sold beyond the Atlantic. Not bad at all if we consider that the brand came from manufacturing single-seaters and only about 60 Vallelunga. In addition, the maintenance of the Mangusta was really easy since it was very easy to find spare parts for its Ford engine in America.

This paved the way for what would be the confirmation of the brand: the De Tomaso Panther. Launched in 1970, the development of this model was carried out under the umbrella of Ford, which had already been a shareholder of the Modern manufacturer for months before. A successor who had to amend the main problem of the Mangusta: its disastrous weight distribution. Far from the desired 50/50, that of our protagonist is 32/68. This generates a little poise on the front axle, which you can say goodbye to when the almost 300CV that you carry on your back gallops off.

of tomaso mangusta
Tom Gidden © 2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions

Outcome? A great facility for spinning tops. However, this seemed to appeal to many American drivers. In short, things to have different roads and models of competition between the Old and New World. Be that as it may, the truth is that De Tomaso Mangusta is not only a car for true fans of motorsport history. But also one of the icons of Giorgetto Giugaro and the confirmation of Alejandro De Tomaso.

Five years ago RM Sotheby's, one of the great classics auction houses worldwide, awarded this precious specimen at around 250.000 euros. Who could, right? 😉

What do you think?

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Written by Miguel Sánchez

Through the news from La Escudería, we will travel the winding roads of Maranello listening to the roar of the Italian V12; We will travel Route66 in search of the power of the great American engines; we will get lost in the narrow English lanes tracking the elegance of their sports cars; We will speed up the braking in the curves of the Monte Carlo Rally and we will even get dusty in a garage while rescuing lost jewels.

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