Around 400 examples were built until 1971.
First shown as a prototype at the Turin Motorshow of 1966, the Mangusta entered
production in the following year. Numerous small changes were made between
the prototype and the first production cars, further detail changes being
introduced after the first few cars had been produced. Despite this, no
significant changes were made to the Mangusta during its just over four
years of production. The only variants produced were the European and US
models, the latter using a 5-litre engine and having single round partly
pop-up headlights, as opposed to the former which used a 4.8-litre engine
and had fixed twin lights (as seen in the illustrations on this page)
A
mid-engined rear wheel drive two seater, the Mangusta was really a thinly
disguised racing car. Powered by a 4.8-litre (5-litre in the US) Ford V8
(with iron cylinder heads and block) with 305bhp driving through a five
speed ZF transmission, it had independent suspension and disc brakes all
round. The steel backbone chassis was clothed in a steel and aluminium
(for the hinged panels) body designed by Giugiaro, at Ghia at that time.
With its race track pedigree, the interior was rather basic, for example
no adjustment of the seat or controls is possible, although air-conditioning
and electric windows were available as options.
Technical Details
| Engine | 4728cc (101.6x72.89mm) 90º V8 with 305bhp @ 6,200rpm |
| Suspension | front : independent with double wishbones, coil springs and telescopic dampers
rear : independent with coil springs and telescopic dampers wheelbase : 2500mm track (front/rear) : 1395mm/1450mm tyres (front/rear) : 185HR15/225HR15 |
| Brakes | discs all round
dual hydraulic circuit handbrake on rear via cable |
| Steering | rack and pinion |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual (ZF unit)
limited-slip differential |
| Empty weight | 1185kg |
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