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Too bad they didn't do this car right. It could have been really cool. Instead, it's a big letdown. Kinda interesting, because it's rare, and unsual, but not in the true Mangusta spirit.
All you have to do is look at the original to see that.
Roland, you are really getting tiresome. I don't have time to keep arguing with you. If you don't understand why most people view the orignal Mangusta as a superior design, then so be it. Hell, forget I said anything about it, and go pester someone else.
Is the Qvale Mangusta a DeTomaso vehicle? Since it was developed by them (with help from others) I'd say that it has to be considered. A complete history of the DeTomaso company would have to include it, since it is part of their history.
That being said, my own personal opinion is that the styling is a letdown, and I think it was inappropriate to use the Mangusta name, since it bears no resemblance, either physically or spiritually, to the original. But that doesn't mean it isn't a DeTomaso.
That being said, my own personal opinion is that the styling is a letdown, and I think it was inappropriate to use the Mangusta name, since it bears no resemblance, either physically or spiritually, to the original. But that doesn't mean it isn't a DeTomaso.
Like it or not, it IS the modern-day Mangusta. No way around that...
It's got the name and the spiritual lineage back to Father DeTomaso.
It's got the name and the spiritual lineage back to Father DeTomaso.
Do excuse a newbies potential ignorance here but surely there must be some mention of what the Qvale has turned into over in Great Britain.
When MG first did the deal to acquire the project I had the good fortune to drive the Qvale as one was sat with a local TVR / NOBLE / MG dealer for appraisal. I have to say I didn’t think it was really that bad a car when I drove it with the garage owner. Nice balanced chassis and of course all of the advantages of the V8. Unlike the truly awful TVR’s I hasten to add but that is another story.
I actually had a good look and sit in the finished SVR in our local MG showroom this week and were it not for the £85,000 asking price I think it would be a winner because regardless of the MG badge it still of course has all of the advantages of the Qvale and is well made to boot.
So when I look at the SVR I can’t help but think that this car is still in part one of the last living vestiges of De Tomaso
No doubt I will be told where I a going wrong
When MG first did the deal to acquire the project I had the good fortune to drive the Qvale as one was sat with a local TVR / NOBLE / MG dealer for appraisal. I have to say I didn’t think it was really that bad a car when I drove it with the garage owner. Nice balanced chassis and of course all of the advantages of the V8. Unlike the truly awful TVR’s I hasten to add but that is another story.
I actually had a good look and sit in the finished SVR in our local MG showroom this week and were it not for the £85,000 asking price I think it would be a winner because regardless of the MG badge it still of course has all of the advantages of the Qvale and is well made to boot.
So when I look at the SVR I can’t help but think that this car is still in part one of the last living vestiges of De Tomaso
No doubt I will be told where I a going wrong
quote:Originally posted by Vario-Rob:
Do excuse a newbies potential ignorance here but surely there must be some mention of what the Qvale has turned into over in Great Britain.
-snip-
Nice balanced chassis and of course all of the advantages of the V8. Unlike the truly awful TVR’s I hasten to add but that is another story.
-snip-So when I look at the SVR I can’t help but think that this car is still in part one of the last living vestiges of De Tomaso
No doubt I will be told where I a going wrong
hi Rob,
As I understand it, MG bought the rights to the car, took off the ugly bodywork and put on something completely different. I would have been much prouder to call MG's version of the Mangusta a DeTomaso than I would be to call the original one (if you can follow that convoluted sentance through...) The SVR is an attractive looking car that apparently handles rather well and has the aforementioned V8. The Mangusta's fault lies with its styling. It just doesn't do anything for me. If I were to shell out that kind of $$ I would want a car that excites me, and the Qvale Mangusta doesn't do that for me.
Change the styling a-la MG SVT and you are getting a lot closer...
Can someone post an image, or post a link to the MG SVR (rebodied Qvale Mangusta) ?
Thanks
Chuck
Thanks
Chuck
As an owner of both the Pantera and a Qvale Mangusta I just thought I would put my opinion of the car. I have to admit the I was put off at the styling when I first saw the car in 1996 as the Bigua.
The Mangusta is a great driving sports car for the street and like every make can be made into a repectable track car. Check out the Trans AM history. I know the Trans Am Mangusta was not on the Qvale Chassis but none of the other cars are either.
It is my opinion these are great buys and bang for the buck at the used prices and the independent suspension allows for a lot of tuning as do the aftermarket items available for the engine.
The real test will be if the DeTomaso community will accept the car at functions. The Mangusta may be different but also shares some common ground with the earlier cars.
The Mangusta is a great driving sports car for the street and like every make can be made into a repectable track car. Check out the Trans AM history. I know the Trans Am Mangusta was not on the Qvale Chassis but none of the other cars are either.
It is my opinion these are great buys and bang for the buck at the used prices and the independent suspension allows for a lot of tuning as do the aftermarket items available for the engine.
The real test will be if the DeTomaso community will accept the car at functions. The Mangusta may be different but also shares some common ground with the earlier cars.
I'm not so sure the Mangusta name should have been applied to the car... but it is a DeTomaso development. As far as the Race Mangustas, Carl Stein and I are currently campaigning the Huffaker/Qvale/Simo car (Huffaker Ser# 9901) and other than tail lights I can't find any (new) real Mangusta parts on the car... Should it be featured under the DeTomaso Marque?
Rick
Rick
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When the Simo Mangusta came out, I thought Bruce Qvale had a stroke of genius. Almost immediately it was on TV and in the racing publications. However, it didn't translate from "race on Sunday to buy on Monday" apparently. People who have a real Qvale Mangusta tell us that the car drives like a dream and why shouldn't it? The chassis is marvelous looking. I think the Qvales should have entered a real Mangusta into a stock type class like the Speed Vision, Motorola Cup, GT1 or 2 type racing and see how competitive the car was. As for if your Mangusta should be followed by the DeTomasoistis, I would say yes. Not only do we need something to root for, originally, I was at the press introduction in LA and the car had a DeTomaso Isis on it. If you put the Isis back on her, we will cover your winning race car in our publications. Have a good drive! Paige, Linda and Dave
quote:Originally posted by Whiplash:Not only do we need something to root for, originally, I was at the press introduction in LA and the car had a DeTomaso Isis on it. If you put the Isis back on her, we will cover your winning race car in our publications. Have a good drive! Paige, Linda and Dave
Dave, why does PI always refer to the DeTomaso logo as the "Isis" logo? We all know it has nothing to do with an Eyptian Goddess. I've never even seen an Isis logo that looked anything like DeTomaso's.
quote:Originally posted by Charlie McCall:
As I understand it, MG bought the rights to the car, took off the ugly bodywork and put on something completely different. I would have been much prouder to call MG's version of the Mangusta a DeTomaso than I would be to call the original one (if you can follow that convoluted sentance through...) The SVR is an attractive looking car that apparently handles rather well and has the aforementioned V8. The Mangusta's fault lies with its styling. It just doesn't do anything for me. If I were to shell out that kind of $$ I would want a car that excites me, and the Qvale Mangusta doesn't do that for me.
Change the styling a-la MG SVT and you are getting a lot closer...
My impression was that once MG worked it over it didn't even keep it's ties or name to Detomaso or Mangusta. Is that correct? My impression was that MG was using it as a last ditch effort to bring some interest into the company. It is kind of a shame because the new MGF probably would have had enough marketablility if they would have spend the recources pushing it instead of funding a new project. MG suffered from never improving there car (until their new car). It has been a 1950's technology roadster all it's life. It is what attracted some people but I feel it was also it's down fall. Now they want to make a leap into something far different then where they came from. It did not seem like an apropriat direction from the company. Now I think they are using the difribulators on MG/Rover again.
quote:Originally posted by pantera874:
Isabella herself calls it the "Isis" So, why not?
Because it's wrong Shadow. See: http://realbig.com/detomaso/2001-02/261.html
Definition of Isis:Isis
The early DeTomaso race cars were called Isis.This is stamped on the chassis plates. The "branch" from the DeTomaso ranch in Argentina is their brand and is the symbol in the company logo. However, we refer to the entire logo, blue and white flag and brand as an "Isis" and so have many others. We have been told for decades that the "Isis" name that is used was selected for Mrs. DeTomaso. Whether this is correct or not cannot be verified from anybody other than the founder. We do not find any harm in referring to the DeTomaso trademark as an Isis. DA
The early DeTomaso race cars were called Isis.This is stamped on the chassis plates. The "branch" from the DeTomaso ranch in Argentina is their brand and is the symbol in the company logo. However, we refer to the entire logo, blue and white flag and brand as an "Isis" and so have many others. We have been told for decades that the "Isis" name that is used was selected for Mrs. DeTomaso. Whether this is correct or not cannot be verified from anybody other than the founder. We do not find any harm in referring to the DeTomaso trademark as an Isis. DA