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A Car To Kill The Cobra: The 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta

By Renée Crist, ACM Collections Manager

On display now in the newly-opened Exotics@ACM – Seductive Supercars exhibit, the Mangusta is an Italian supercar designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was at Italian design and coachbuilder Ghia. One unique feature is its gullwing doors over the rear engine bay. It is also the first production car to use different size front and rear tires.

Interior shot of a different example of a 1969 Mangusta. Photo via Carscoops.

The name Mangusta (or “mongoose” in Italian) reportedly came when Alejandro de Tomaso discussed a new Shelby Cobra racing car with Carol Shelby. After Shelby signed with Ford to develop the GT40, de Tomaso adopted the name since a mongoose is the one animal able to kill a cobra. Clever!

The 8-cylinder engine has 306 horsepower, is 4727 cubic centimeters and contains a 4-barrel carburetor. It is on loan to ACM from a private collection. Don’t miss your chance to see it featured in ACM’s newest exhibit Exotics@ACM – Seductive Supercars.

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