Calling all Mangusta owners

Johnny,

I have not driven a car with a light dash, but I haven't seen too many done that way and assume it is for the reason you mention. Easy enough to see what the impact will be — just lay some light fabric on it and see how bad the glare is.

PIM sold a really nice Mangusta a few years back done similarly (although in reverse) to what you describe and it sure looks great. They did use a darker tone on the top, which might be a good idea. Photo from the PIM website.

Please post pics of the outcome.

Cheers,
Mark

Another view.

Johnny,

I have a light gray interior (including my upper dash) in my Pantera and glare or reflections are not an issue for me. I do, however, see the reflections of the round black defroster vents in my windshield.

Michael

Thanks for your help boys.
That red Mangusta has a beautiful interior. I will post lots of pictures when it's done.

Johnny

I have researched a windshield tint to reduce interior heat and glare. 3M makes a clear tint called Crystalline Window Tint. From what I've seen this may solve your glare problem. All goose owners should look into it. It's supposed to drastically reduce interior temperatures. Tell me what you think.
-Jerry

Mark,

What car is that you've posted pic's of, and what is with the bazillion AC and Heater vents???? They look like they fit OK but where were they sourced from?????

AT least the AC vents...these get damaged and are high on my list of requests for parts! Would be nice to know if they are a local domestic part that we can find easily!!!!

As for the extra heater ducts behind where the junk tray should be......the car doesn't need them.... The small openings are more than enuf to keep a Goose cabin warm!

Johnny,

Post some pic's bubba!!!

Steve

Yes, I am also looking for replacement A/C vents. A source would be nice.

Thanks
Bob Ekman

quote:

Originally posted by Mangusta:
What car is that you've posted pic's of, and what is with the bazillion AC and Heater vents???? They look like they fit OK but where were they sourced from?????

AT least the AC vents...these get damaged and are high on my list of requests for parts! Would be nice to know if they are a local domestic part that we can find easily!!!!

As for the extra heater ducts behind where the junk tray should be......the car doesn't need them.... The small openings are more than enuf to keep a Goose cabin warm!

Steve

Nice to see you back here Steve. I keep looking for your Mangusta e-mails and haven't seen any in a while so nice to see you're still with us!

The pics posted are from 8Ma918. I think it was a PI or perhaps Wilkinson restoration. The vents on some of the "middle" cars seem to differ quite a lot based on my image database. Here are some examples to show that 918 was not unique. I suspect the lower vents are for an after-market AC unit but that is just a guess. In any event, I have no idea where they originated and these are nothing like the in-dash units on mine (8Ma1114).

Mark

Mark,

Yah, I get side tracked and am in the middle of several projects....par normal!

I know the normal vents are three for the under dash AC that is found in most Geese.

What I was seeing, was in the PI Goose, that they had filled the entire area (including the space that is normally covered or blocked off... plus they put in some vents just above the console.

I'm wondering about the ones that are in the underdash AC portion. They look to be a nice fit!

Steve

quote:

heater ducts behind where the junk tray should be......the car doesn't need them.... The small openings are more than enuf to keep a Goose cabin warm!

speaking of the "junk tray" - can anyone post some close up pics of their "junk tray" or write a description of what is covering them- is it leather? Any particular markings, seams, etc.?

The little tray on my car is trimmed in leather, same as the rest of the interior.
Great tip on the 3M Chrystalline, I will check that out.
Regarding the light colored instrumental panel top color, as someone already suggested, put some light colored material on top of the dash and look at it from the drivers seat outside on a sunny day. Don't make the decision quickly.
The design success of the Mangusta, both interior and exterior, is it's simplicity, size and proportion.
I personally do not like the light top cover or
full light colored interiors aesthetically because it comes forward visually and causes visual confusion. The same thing happens with the IP cover due to the large number if gauges, switches, etc. That happens on any car, but you do not look down into most cars. New low cars usually add light areas to an interior by using light seat inserts and added light trim on the doors, etc. That's my take on it. Dick Ruzzin

Thanks Dick.

One more question- what keeps the tray from flying off the center console? Is it bolted down, velcro, nothing at all? Many thanks as I am making a reproduction for my Goose that is missing its tray...

The...make that "my" little tray is...was previously attached with three tiny sheetmetal screws and trim washers....however, I have no idea if those are correct..... I only see the remnants of three holes....no additional holes.....

The screws went into the fiberglass of the console...and after 20 years of vibrating around, they attach to air now....! So the screws are more of a "suggestion" to stay in place!

As soon as I can dig into my car, I'll see if I can get you some dimensions and pictures, unless someone else comes up with them first! I think the tray is made of aluminum....but I'll have to check it with a magnet to be certain!

One thing that a PO did, was to relocate the little arm that operates the air deflector flap in the heater assy, from dead smack in the middle of the junk tray, to the RH side of the tray..... Makes more sense....but I think they should have made it the LH side so the driver can reach it more easily!


Steve

My tray has rounded corners and is trimmed in leather, one for the floor and one for the sides. There is one vertical seam in the center of one of the vertical walls.
I put a piece of carpet on the floor of the tray. Mine is attached to the console by screws.

You could make one with thin flat sheet-metal, then cover with leather.

Dick Ruzzin

So the underside has no leather, just bare aluminum? And the sides and floor of the tray have separate pieces of leather?

My tray was screwed to the tunnel. It is a fiberglass shell covered with leather. I drilled new holes in the fiberglass and tray and inserted those clip-nuts in the console. Then I screwed the tray onto the console through the bottom of the tray. I put a piece of carpet in the trays floor to hide the screws and keep things from rattling, like wrenches.
Dick Ruzzin

Here is the tray from 8MA1244. It is vinyl, on the crude side, not very fancy. Seems to me it may have been a standard item as many cars have them, sort of bizzare since it has been stated many times that the radio was not a factory option ??

D

I have seen trays that are not part of any assembly that holds a radio- see the Mangusta in the post by Mark above or this one http://www.qv500.com/dtrmang0608c.jpg It looks in the picture like your tray is part of an assembly that also houses the radio..? Are there 2 versions (maybe US and Euro??)

The image of a combined radio and tray is a mystery to me. Originally there was a small rectangular hole in the dash, covered with leather. If you wanted to put a radio in, like I did, you carefully cut the leather out and went on with it.
Dick Ruzzin

Steve,

I will post step by step pictures of the Goose retrim I'm doing when it's finished. Here's a picture of my friends car, it's the one we drove back from Rome last year. Notice the lovely Ghia radio blanking plate. The clip-on ash tray is from an aircraft and not original!

Johnny

2

Apparently this combination trinket tray and radio holder was used in the later cars. The original owner of my car verified that it came with the combo unit.

I am hoping to have a reproduction made. Would anyone be able to give me measurements of the combo unit from their car or any more pictures?