The barefoot American model pictured below is perched upon a Serenissima racing prototype circa 1968.
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.
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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inquiring minds want to know
I only want to know is why is she barefoot? I'm imagining the entire story culminates with this statement: "So, it was agreed that the model had to be barefoot".
George,
I am interested in the story...
Interested. Sounds like a good story.
Yes, Please! Especially interested in the Serenissma Ghia GT. Is the car's location known today? Thanks.
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.
Denis you're getting ahead of me. 
Thanks to those who have shown interest, I'm working on the story …. but its not ready to post … and I think the pictures will be enlightening for both Mangusta and Pantera owners.
Can't wait for the story George! Thanks!
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...)
Spill the details please! I have pursued some research of my own but the topic is terribly obscure. Would love to see what you have unearthed.
I will bite! thanks for the effort in advance George, it makes me want to learn more about the marque.
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
Sharing someone else's content from Instagram. Apparently the spider is out and about, and thus has appeared on Instagram.
deniscCaretaker of 8MA1244 '70 Euro Mangusta DRIVE THEM, THEY WERE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ONE, BUY A POSTER!
Bump ?? More info??
As you may or may not know, some powerful interests from the old country have no interest in the Serenissima story seeing the light of day. Clearly they have gotten to the originator of this thread. I can only hope it was a pay off rather than threats.
Here’s some related reading-
Whoa Kool George, I need that pic in a poster for my office next to the pinlk Playboy Pantera poster!
Rocky,
Did you look at the entire list from your link? Some interesting cars.
Yes, that’s a great thread....
Really super cars in there.
Have always been in love with anything Serenessima.
Saw the 1965 Serenissima 308V at the 2019 Bernina Grand Turismo in St. Moritz, Switzerland
With a custom chase van of course... Possibly the van hauled the car in tow on a trailer?
A quick research mission on the van yielded no results.
@scifi posted:A quick research mission on the van yielded no results.
Interesting that you searched for the van. Period correct too.
I think it was custom made by the recent owner of the 308V. Probably the hottest Transit in existence.
Another shot of the 308V and another Scuderia Serenissima team member, the famous Breadvan Ferrari 250 GT.
Sadly the 308V did not race that year due to technical issues, but the Breadvan did. Photos by yours truly.
Wow... some SERIOUS Mangusta influence
1968 Serenissima Ghia GT
Sold 452,960 €
deniscCaretaker of 8MA1244 '70 Euro Mangusta DRIVE THEM, THEY WERE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ONE, BUY A POSTER!
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.
Tjaarda designed the Pantera, Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the Mangusta...
MH
3.5 liter V8 probably sounds badass at 7500!
From Facebook... (credit to Mike Coffel):
"Ghia Serenissima / Aghema / Agena (G9)
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
Btw, something I hadn't noticed before (looking at Denis' 2019 posting)--it seems the car was restored at some time. Comparing pictures of the interior, at least. The only question, which picture comes first--was the dirt on the carpet Added or did someone ruin the authenticity by vacuuming?
@leea posted:Yes, with one piece seats clearly in the 8ma800 range...
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
...in case you wanted to see the car after the carpets have been vacuumed...or in the market to buy --
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
(jut following the car), sold for $580k at Gooding (Monterey) this weekend. Brother was in the room, and noted the lack of filler over the spot welds (which like the 'ball peen hammer' markings on original paint Mangustas on the spot welds for the front fenders, says a lot about how perfect the fit/welding was at Ghia)...
Looks like it’s got Mangusta wheels on it!
...and a Mangusta chassis and seats and turn signal stalk and...yeah, its at the core, a Ghia 5000 Mangusta underneath. Its good to be King, but I guess being Count Volpi had its advantages...!
Wow... Backup lights... Fancy... 🤪
Love the exhaust pipes... Looks much more refined than the Ansa straight pipes
...goose, goose, Duck! I was too busy looking at the statues in the background, nothing screams "Not France" more than heroic marble statues...
And noticed those tips and thought "I'll bet thats loud"--at least, no apparent muffler behind the tips. But interesting, as restored now with something that looks like the constricted tips on the "Bordinath" car, but looking for a muffler in the pictures on the Gooding site (and none are in view), an old picture with, hmm, then round tips...!
And in the old picture, I'll admit, I'm looking at the shoes and not whatever the marble guy in the other picture is killing...
But to prove how old I am, just this crazy frustration to match the carpet there over the gas tank, next to the chassis/body supports that slipped into Mangustas around 8ma1050, underneath the Benelli fuel cap, on top of so many pieces that are like jazz music variation on a Mangusta...even if you'd swear, whoever put the car together again confused the front and rear grille (metal cloth).
wow, and in green !
I like the exhaust on the green one best...
Those are all the same car aren't they? I thought there was only the one ever built...
MH
Yeah, are there more of those things?
I know there are other Serenissmas, but different
