Interior restoration Mangusta 8MA-1294

36

The bulkhead panels were missing - I think they were originally made from hardboard. I decided to re-make them in steel as it meant I could weld threaded studs on to hold the assembly together properly.

On the original bulkhead, these gull wing release handles just looked unfinished sitting there on top of the panel. To get around this, I created a special compartment for the handle to sit in.

38

40

I also used Alcantara on the bulkhead panels and head lining. The quilted effect was often used on Bizzarrini and Iso cars of the period.

42

The kick panels were missing, so I fabricated these as replacements.

44

I thought I was a good trimmer until I met the Mangusta seat. This must be the most difficult design ever made because the cover is all in one piece and fitted inside out. By comparison, Pantera seats are a piece of cake!

46

The original foam in the Mangusta seats was moulded on a machine with air pockets. This had turned to a bread-like dust after 40 years.

The De Tomaso factory made a mistake when they trimmed the Goose seats in not putting an edging trim along the sharp edge of the fibreglass base. The stresses imposed by people getting in and out of the car soon results in it cutting through the foam. Once that happens, the seat cover loses it's tension, which looks awful. I have therefore added extra internal padding to prevent this happening.

The moulded foam for the Goose seats is not available. I had to cut it from solid blocks with an electric carving knife and sand it to shape with various sanders. It took ages...

50

51

52

53

I fabricated this metal-cutting bandsaw a few years ago, and have used it every day since. With its 36" throat, it also cuts foam!

55

56

57

58

59

Seat cover pleats - sewn not glued.

61

Steel rods sewn into lining as per the original. I use cable ties rather than the original string, however.

63

64

Finished seats. I was careful not to use too much foam because I didn't want them to look too bulky.

66

67

68

Seat runners - these needed work.

After fixing the various bits, I had them zinc plated and then made bespoke aluminium knobs on the lathe.

Alcantara head lining.

Leather glued onto the inner roof frames.

The storage tray and binnacle for the radio were missing. I therefore had to come up with my own design which I fabricated from 20-gauge steel.

74

75