1969 De Tomaso Mangusta

8MA 856roadItaly

Engine: 302 cu. in. (4.9L) Ford V8, 271 bhp
Colour: 'Rosso Aurora' (red)

The De Tomaso Mangusta, introduced in 1965 and styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro with coachwork by Ghia of Turin, pairs a mid-mounted Ford V-8 with a racing-derived wishbone chassis in a configuration inspired by the Ford GT40. This 1969 example spent much of its life in California before being acquired and subjected to a meticulous multi-year restoration in the United Kingdom, emerging in its believed-original Rosso Aurora finish to show-car standard.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$297,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Steve Klunk
partial documentation
Long-term California-based enthusiast owner who held the car for more than two decades; the vehicle spent a substantial part of its life in that state during his tenure.
Date unknownPrivate sale
Current owner
partial documentation
Acquired the car through De Tomaso specialist PI Motorsports in California, then shipped it to the UK for a multi-year comprehensive restoration targeting show-level presentation.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—
Engine rebuild
Full rebuild of all mechanical systems, including the drivetrain and ancillary components, carried out after the car was shipped to the United Kingdom.
Undertaken immediately after the current owner acquired the car, prior to the cosmetic restoration.
—Bodywork
IN Racing
Bare-metal repaint over approximately one year in Rosso Aurora, a colour believed to be original to the car based on evidence uncovered during stripping. Handmade Ansa silencers and exhaust pipes were also fitted.
IN Racing are described as historic racing specialists based in Nottingham.
—Restoration
Graham Dean
Complete interior re-trim executed to a high standard, forming part of the broader multi-year restoration programme.
Graham Dean is noted as a highly regarded trim specialist. The overall restoration took close to five years in total.

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