"area man" (hurrburgring)
08/19/2014 at 12:55 • Filed to: None
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"area man" (hurrburgring)
08/19/2014 at 12:55 • Filed to: None | 0
| 10 |
From our !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , otherwise known as the coolest used-car dealership in the northeast. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , known as the De Tomaso Mangusta in the early stages of development and production. Why? Read on!
After Alejandro de Tomaso suffered a stroke in 1993, his namesake company began to founder as it searched for another hit. de Tomaso collaborated with Giordano Casarini, a technical director at Maserati (which De Tomaso owned until 1993), !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
With a body designed by Marcello Gandin (responsible for the Lamborghini Countach and Diablo and the Citroen BX), a funky roof that could be configured as coupe, a targa or a full convertible, and a Ford V8 under the hood, this little roadster seemed ready for prime time.
By 1996, a prototype was making the auto show rounds, but the company was desperately short on cash. They decided to approach the Qvale family, who were Maserati importers for North America, and ask for help financing the Mangusta's production. In 2000, the first De Tomaso Mangusta (well, first of the reboots) hit the streets. Critics were lukewarm on the styling, which I think has actually aged pretty well, and praised its performance.
But even as the Mangusta launched, Alejandro was already making plans for the rebirth of the Pantera name. The Qvales wanted to focus on just the Mangusta. Since they were basically underwriting the entire company at the time, they decided to take full control of the car and rename it the Qvale Mangusta. And that's what we have here today!
The exterior is polarizing, but as I said I happen to really like it except for the headlights, which are too close together. The interior screams '90s roadster (not a bad thing) and looks like a great place to sit, aggressively tan leather notwithstanding. Oh, and the touchscreen looks surprisingly capable for being 14 years old. Always fun discovering a new car!
daender
> area man
08/19/2014 at 12:58 |
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Like older de Tomaso, there's a bit of Ford in there! That appears to be a Sn95/New Edge generation gauge cluster along with a 4.6L DOHC SVT motor, IRS, and 5-speed from a SVT Cobra (pre-Terminator) under that polarizing body. Speaking of the looks, I don't mind the rear or the awesome roof but the front looks too busy.
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area man
> daender
08/19/2014 at 13:00 |
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Good eye!
Party-vi
> area man
08/19/2014 at 13:00 |
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EDIT: KYLE CHEROMCHA SPEAKS WAAAY BETTER ENGLISH THAN I DO. *tips hat*
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area man
> Party-vi
08/19/2014 at 13:02 |
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http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/founder
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Party-vi
> area man
08/19/2014 at 13:09 |
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Well shit. I had no idea about that meaning. Damn.
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area man
> Party-vi
08/19/2014 at 13:12 |
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It's one of those words. To your credit flounder also works too.
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Party-vi
> area man
08/19/2014 at 13:13 |
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That doesn't make me feel any less sheepish.
quarterlifecrisis
> area man
08/19/2014 at 13:20 |
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I came across one of those at Road America last year, was a little confused at first, then was intrigued.
Meatcoma
> daender
08/19/2014 at 13:28 |
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looks like a standard taurus steering wheel.
Conan
> area man
08/19/2014 at 21:55 |
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I like these. Not nearly as much as a Pantera, but I like these.