What's OK to Modify on Mangusta

Hi Ben,

You're going to get a lot of divergent opinions on those questions, but remember, it's YOUR car. Unless you have plans to sell it at a specific point as an investment, all that matters is that YOU enjoy it. Everything you have suggested are in my plans to do as well.

If you are looking to maintain investment value then maintaining as much originality as possible is generally more important with Mangustas than Panteras. New headers and mufflers made to look like stock should be fine because those are "consumable" items that do get replaced over time. As far as I know, Mangustas were not shipped with any consistent type of side mirrors (some, including mine had none). Paint changes seem to be done often enough that I wouldn't worry too much (I plan to change mine when I paint it). Euro side lights are at least DeTomaso correct, so I agree there too. As far as a Holley carb goes, I guess if you aren't switching to Webers it's OK.

I think as long as the changes are consistent with what was available on/for the car at the time it was built then you aren't likely to offend anyone but the utmost purists.

I hope the repairs are going well and look forward to seeing what you decide to do for color. I've changed my mind 2 or 3 times already on my choice and I've not even started doing anything yet.

Mark

Mark is correct. While the Mangusta and some of the low run cars have held their value as orginal, most of the deTomaso's are modified. If you have an orginal, then you would not be asking, so proceed as you would like. One thing to keep in mind, with the exception of the 71-74 years, most every car that was made was for a customer. So, if you wanted mirrors, you could have anything. While I worked in the factory, many owners came and changed things while we were working on the cars. I recall the summer of 84, someone came and sat with me while I built their car. He made us change a bunch of stuff along the way, from seats to the position of the radio antena.
I do have to say, that when Mary Kay aproached my aunt about a pink panerta, she wanted to charge them more, since she said "..it may be your car, but it is my name on the back, and people will say what a bad color."

We

Pink car...that's a hoot!!!

I think if more people modified their Mangustas to make them actually RUN(!) it would be great!!!!

Seems like there are more stock "non-running" cars out there than running sometimes.....

Certainly there are plenty of "kit" cars around....LOTS of assembly required! New one popped up on ebay this week! #614 If serial number is correct, this one had the extra bolts added to the ladder bar!!! Clearly visible in the pictures, and this IS a modification that I would support!!!

Rotary compressors are good. Shocks and springs are good. Holleys are not a problem, but Autolites run good too and are simple carbs!

Electronic ignition is good. Better fans with relays is good. Relays on headlamps can't hurt.

Brass window motor gears are good! (Actually required by now!)

Stainless steel coolant pipes is good. Headers if you can find them are OK, but most stock heads need exhaust porting to work better...which is good.....

New leather always looks and smells good!!
Seatbelts can't hurt too badly.....

Radio- good, just don't hack up the panels too much for speakers.....

That's my short list!
Steve

Steve- Great list here. I could not agree more - Running is key. I would also add a new air conditioning system.

We

Wow that was a lot of help from everybody. I want to keep the Mangusta stock looking but running better thus the Holley double pumper. I have replace the after market air intake with the original one with the intake tubes from Roland Jaeckel from Germany. I have installed period correct bullet chrome side mirrors on the car. It think it would be dangerous to drive without side mirrors. This is afterall 2009 and not 1970. New leather has been added as well as retractable seatbelts. AC compressor has been upgraded to a rotary compressor as well as a larger condensor place in the stock position with new hoses all throughout. My only real visible nonstock item is the 18 inch wheels with modern rubber to hopefully reduce the tendency to violently oversteer at the limit of adhesion. I'll keep the stock rims but to really appreciate driving the car on modern roads I think upgrading the rubber is needed. I couldn't figure out what yellow was the orginal so I am going to paint the car the same yellow as my 08 Corvette Z06 which is a clean bright yellow without metallics in it. I had to change the ignition switch to a NAPA part cus the old one shorted out and fried some wires. The car has Hall pantera headers and exhaust. I have no idea where the original exhaust is. Other than that the rest is original. Ben

quote:

Originally posted by benchu:
I understand most Panteras are not stock but most Mangustas are relatively stock. Just what do other owners or enthusiasts find tasteful about any modifications of the Mangusta. For example is running a Holley carburettor OK. Are headers and exhaust OK? Is getting rid of the American side marker lights and replacing with European ones OK? Is repainting the car in a similar but not original color OK. Using not stock but period correct side mirrors OK? I would like to know from Detomaso enthusiasts what is acceptable and what will hurt the value of the car. Any thoughts?

Paint the car in the same stock color if you can find out what that color was.
Please sell me all the stock parts you take off.Enough said? Jerry

HAH!!! That's pretty rich Jerry!

Ben, good job, but your level of adhesion appears to be relatively low...so a good bath of rubber "tire grip" is in order before you take your car out!!! )))

I can talk....I've been in a Mangusta on a 360...or was it a 270 degree spin! Wasn't going all that fast, but it sure spun quickly!!!!!

I will be going to a vacuum secondary carb on my new engine config. Have had a double pumper and it didn't really do anything for me.....of course my air filter was probably clogged half of the time!!! )) A well tuned vacuum secondary carb will perform as well as a double pumper...especially on a 302W motor, perhaps better as it activates the secondaries as needed vs raw foot pedal!

Steve

PS: Ben- will be in Maui on Wed, but no plans at this point to hit any other islands this trip...wife and I are both virgins..... Hopefully will hook up with Scott Mead and some others on Sunday for a local cruise that is happening!!! Aloha!

whaaaaa? whadda you mean it's not bone stock?

Ben with this one running around, (and it does RUN around), you don't have to worry about having a the most modded Goose around

Hello Banchu The mangusta market is much smaller than the jaguar xke market.I have 5 mangs and 2 xke,s(series 1 roadster and coupe). I am active in the xke market and here is my impression: as the market has become unfrothy in the current downturn only the dead on original preserved unrestored cars are stable.Next are the restored back to original cars .next are the restored but not original (replacement engine etc.) cars. close behind are the unpreserved original cars with needs.next are the restored modified cars Next are the unpreserved non original cars.No one argues with the fact that in tough times the market becomes extremely selective as in the art world and housing market ( try to sell a condo or kit car , check the market on Superformance GT-40's). Having tried to buy your car from Dennis a year ago I can tell you that you have a great car so dont bastardize it with non-original parts. Just adjust your tastes to an original car.On my mangustas I am always in the process of finding original parts and putting them on the cars, just the reverse of what you propose. Like Mark said you will get lots of divergent opinions. This is mine. Jerry

On the subject of originality has anyone had any luck on getting info from DeTomaso factory on Mangusta original exterior and interior colors for each VIN. I have tried for a year now on my cars and the info has not been forthcoming. The Jaguar Heritage trust, on request, promptly provides factory color combo,engine,trans numbers to owners on all XKE,s for $40 and it has been extremely helpful to the XKE market which suffers from fraud (The factory VIN was on a attached plate which can easily be restamped to reflect the installed non-original engine/trans) Jerry

Hi Jerry,

I have a full build sheet for my car that is all hand written in Italian with two full pages of stuff – much of which makes almost no sense to me (it's being translated as I type). It includes colors, engine, and various other details. Mine was obtained through Roland Jäckel and he can almost certainly provide them for your cars as well.

Cheers,
Mark

Thanks Mark. You are fortunate to have that for your car. I can tell you it definitely enhances the value. ( it costs $40 to get a Jaguar Heritage Certificate but possesion of it enhances the value several thousand dollars if the car proves to indeed be original.It should be noted that the H.C. does not protect against restamped engine/cylinder head but that is difficult to do undetected). Could you send me a PM on Rolands address or just post it? Jerry

PM sent, but for others interested in Mangusta factory information, you can enquire with Roland at: info@detomaso.de

Mark

Any one have knowledge of the original color of the Mangusta or where to get the paint codes? I will be having the Mangusta repainted. It's currently stripped and will soon be ready to repaint. I would like to paint it in its original yellow paint. Ben

For those concerned with originality, the Mangusta parts manual has a listing of all the parts used, in Italian, with sources as far as they were known 40 years ago. Some are translated into english while others are not very legible due to all the current manuals being photocopies.
Once you start going thru this list, you'll find that there were often two or even more possible parts used for a given assembly. I've been told that DeTomaso was operating on a shoestring when the Goose was new, and he used small batches of whatever was available at the time to complete the cars. Thus, virtually no one really knows whats "stock" for a given car. I first ran into this with the two different possible rear calipers & e- brakes, and others have seen it in the 3 different front a-arm configurations.

good news Jack, that means all my parts ARE original - they just found them in the shiny parts bin, lol!