1294

This is a 1971 build date RHD 4-headlight Mangusta model.

Color = Silver Gray

Version: Mangusta
Chassis: 8MA 1294
Engine: 289 Ford V8
Headlights: Four
Year built: 1971
Exterior: Green
Interior: Black
First owner: TBC

History:
Right-hand drive.
Later sold to and raced by Freddie Moss and uprated for racing. Famously liveried in white and red with sponsorship from The Autodrome, Caledonian Road, London.
Later sold to George Gordon-Smith.
February 2003 featured in Classic & Sportscar magazine.
November 2007 sold to present owner.

The De Tomaso Mangusta was introduced in 1967 and replaced the Vallelunga model, on which its chassis was based. The word “mangusta” is Italian for “mongoose”, an animal that can kill cobras. It has always been rumored that the car was so named because De Tomaso had some talks with Carroll Shelby to replace the Shelby Cobra with a racing car to be built in Italy by the Argentine-born De Tomaso. However, no deal was struck since Shelby became involved in the Ford GT40 racing program. Nevertheless, Alejandro de Tomaso and Carroll Shelby were friends and business is business. It is also rumored that the first handful of engines for the Mangusta may have come from Shelby.
In 1971 the Mangusta was replaced by the much cheaper to build De Tomaso Pantera following the production of just 401 Mangustas. About 150 of the cars were for Europe and the remainder were for North America. The majority of the cars built had Ford 302 engines producing 300 HP and were mated to a 5 speed ZF box (very similar to the GT40).
Today there are reported to be approximately only 200 of the 401 cars left in existence according to the register.
This car, Chassis 8MA 1294, is believed to be one of just 10 RHD cars built and possibly one of only 8 that survive. It was first delivered in 1971 and is most famous for being owned by Freddie Moss, a London club and casino owner, in the 1980’s. Moss was well known for exercising the car on track at race meetings frequently. He would drive the car to the track (in its fetching livery of red with blood thirsty teeth across the nose) and enter the all-comer races starting at the back of the grid and working his way to the front past lesser engine vehicles. Following his events he would drive the car back to London and park up outside one of his nightclubs for business as usual.
In 1993 the car was purchased as a tired project car by George Gordon-Smith and was gently and sympathetically restored being finished in Aston California Sage. In 2003 the car was featured in Classic and Sports Car following its restoration. In 2007 the car was purchased by its next owner who decided he wanted a total nut and bolt restoration carried out to produce a concours condition example. The car was stripped to bare metal and repainted in Ferrari TdF Blue. The interior was expertly retrimmed to a sensational level of quality. Finally all the mechanicals were totally revised and the engine was mated to some extremely tasty 180 degree manifolds that are said to help the motor produce approximately 400 BHP.
8MA 1294 is truly a rare beast; it is presented in as restored condition with furious attention to detail throughout and is surely one of the finest examples in existence. The car represents a genuine opportunity to experience a rare and most sought after early Italian supercar in rare RHD form.

Here we have for sale probably one of the rarest cars in the world today …1 of 8 ever produced in RHD Form and 1 of 3 remaining in the world …Chassis # 8MA 1294 was the second to last car off of the Mangusta production line….Hopefully as the pictures will show you she is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! ..Subject to a 4 year nut and bolt restoration the car is in concours condition …And in the exact words of The Mangusta International Owners Club “OH MY GOD this is the best Mangusta we have ever seen”…The retrim itself with very subtle enhancements was a 2yr process in itself performed undoubtably by the best trimmer in the UK( Thank you Johnny ) ..The car is now finished in a Ferrari Mettalic “Tour De france Blue” and we used the best Porsche biscuit leather and Alcantara interior ..The Mangusta has a brand new MOT and new 12 months free historic tax …The car has a very very famous history and has files upon files of history and includes very very rare original handbooks, brochures and photographs ..The engine is an original Ford racing 302 small block that again has been rebuilt to a very high standard and now produces a very quick and manageable 400+ BHP with 180 degree exhaust headers…the sound is quite unbeleivable ..The car drives and ticks over beautifully and gear change is a pleasure …The car is currently sitting on brand new 3 piece “Image” alloys with brand new tires all round …I have the full set of original Mangusta Campagnolas that again were subject to a 16 month restoration due to the moisture content in the Magnesium and the slow process inbetween coats and oven drying ( these do not need to be part of the sale and is an area for negotiation ) these original alloys are sitting on brand spanking new period Michelin XWX’s and were saved for Sunday best and for showing…The front storage area under the bonnet and the 2no rear storage areas under the rear gullwing deck lids again have been re trimmed to the highest standards…My car lives in a heated and dehumidified garage at home and stays under a very expensive De Tomaso branded fleece cover…My actual car is magazine featured many times over and is also featured in a top “World Super Cars” book all of which will go to the new owner…As we all know De Tomaso are now very very quickly rising to the very fore front of classic super cars and what with the De Tomaso Company just re launching and a new De Tomaso Super car due to be produced this extremely rare car is only ever going to go up in value and will be a ROCK SOLID investment ( how many people do you know who own a 1 of 3 ) , just look at where the Lamborghini Muira is today ..Not sure what else to say really other than a very recent change of heart forces the sale ..I will gladly help with any shipping required as I know these cars have a big following in the Hong Kong , Japan and Australia…All offers into 6 figures will be considered …I am really good for most things but not “TIME” as my weekends and evenings are precious to me what with 4 young children …So please please no time wasters or canvassers.