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The barefoot American model pictured below is perched upon a Serenissima racing prototype circa 1968.

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There is of course a De Tomaso connection; a story that intertwines the republic of Venice, De Tomaso, Count Giovanni Volpi, the Ferrari Palace Revolt of 1961, ATS, Scuderia Serenissima, Tom Tjaarda, Mangustas and Panteras.

Interested?

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I'm not going to take the time to compose a story and post pictures if nobody is interested. So if you're curious … let me know.

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Last edited by George P
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scifi posted:

Yes, Please! Especially interested in the Serenissma Ghia GT. Is the car's location known today? Thanks.

De Tomaso's Serenissima prototype (Ghia GT) had been in the possession of Count Volpi since new (after being shown at the Turin, Geneva, and New York auto shows) .

He sold it at auction in France on Feb.8, 2019. It sold for 452,960 € (approx. $513,883).  I've seen no mention of the buyer's identity, I believe it was kept private.

Last edited by George P

George, that would be MUCH appreciated!!

Serenissima & Volpi really catch my attention.  (I recall seeing a heavily cropped picture of a front-engine prototype V12 coupe commission by Mr. Volpi in at late 60's - in Road & Track mag probably? - The image showed only the front haunches, never seen a picture of the whole car but it must have been cool...)

 

George HI

I am severely impressed on your drive for the DT mark! Please go ahead with intuisasm for this story... .... view from a EU Pantera 73 GTS newbeeee..

Danke George....I am still the curious George ..smile

..well and barefoot..good, I still drive my Pantera  BARE FOOT..better feeling if you understand..and no sweat in the socks/shoes..more smile

Matthias

I don’t think influence but evolution based on “a” Mangusta by Tjarda. I would be curious to put this on a lift and compare with a Mangusta. I you look back at Ghia many designs were recycled into new projects.  Still it is a stunning car.

(From Facebook)
Lost in the '60's: 1968 Serenissima Ghia GT
Serenissima was an Italian car maker, conceived when Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata and Alejandro de Tomaso joined forces with some former Ferrari employees.
Dutch-American car designer Tom Tjaarda was assigned the project at Ghia. He had just finished the Tomaso Mangusta. Alejandro de Tomaso bought Ghia in 1967.
This one-off concept car was powered by a 3.5 litre Alf Francis M-167 V8 engine, with 320 bhp at 7500 rpm.
Serinissima_Ghia_GT

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Last edited by rocky

From Facebook... (credit to Mike Coffel):

"Ghia Serenissima / Aghema / Agena (G9)

The Serenissima Ghia (also known as the Aghema) was a mid-engined GT concept car designed by Tom Tjaarda and displayed at Turin in 1968. The car featured a 3 litre V8 engine.
Scuderia Serenissima was a successful auto racing team in the early 1960s. Funded by Giovanni Volpi, Serenissima used Ferraris to much success until the founder financed the exiled Ferrari company, ATS. Thereafter, Enzo Ferrari would no longer sell his cars to Serenissima, so the company turned to De Tomaso, ATS, and Maserati.
The company also developed Formula One cars, using McLaren and Lola chassis. Another V8, developed by Jaguar, found its way into a single-seat closed sports car built by Carrozzeria Sports Cars in 1969. The final Serenissima car was designed by Ghia that same year. Using the same Jaguar V8, the Aghema GT featured modern sharp styling, but never reached production.
Volpi, and thus Serenissima, halted automobile operations before 1970."
Serenissima

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Last edited by rocky

Yes, with one piece seats clearly in the 8ma800 range... With the rare backup lights that only showed on the electrical schematic...

  The thing that still intrigues me most is that lead sinker on the steering wheel. As I can tell, in the Mangusta world only 8ma1046 still has/had the sinker (but on the steering column), and rumors that it was for tax purposes just don't seem right... Even Miura didn't hang them on the steering wheel...Lee

@leea posted:

Yes, with one piece seats clearly in the 8ma800 range... With the rare backup lights that only showed on the electrical schematic...

  The thing that still intrigues me most is that lead sinker on the steering wheel. As I can tell, in the Mangusta world only 8ma1046 still has/had the sinker (but on the steering column), and rumors that it was for tax purposes just don't seem right... Even Miura didn't hang them on the steering wheel...Lee

@leea The prototype Mangusta had backup lights...   the fishing weight in the steering wheel is odd... But the Mangusta wheels, gauges, dash switches, fuse box and general look and feel is pretty obviously derivative of the goose...   

On a personal note, I saw your goose wednesday evening...  Alan has it tucked away nice and safe in the underground lair...  and those new Windshield gaskets are gorgeous...  I will order a set for myself.

MH

Sweet Fancy Moses...    so much to love there...

I'm in for $20 if you want to partner up on it...  😎

That AC unit looks familiar!  Defrost vents too..   and wheels and fluid reservoirs and dash switches and...

no jackshaft?  so they managed to get an alternator AND an AC compressor in the front of the engine...

Thanks for sharing....

MH

Last edited by mkeh

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