DeTomaso Mailing List: July 99, Message #265

Message-ID: <3784B41C.2E93@flash.net>
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 1999 09:22:20 -0500
From: Richard Greenblum <pantera@flash.net>
Reply-To: pantera@flash.net
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To: David Doddek <pantera@pobox.com>
Subject: Re: The Other Pantera Name....?
References: <3.0.5.32.19990708000813.00d60580@mail.mtco.com>
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David Doddek wrote:
> 
> Where the Mangusta name comes in...

I don't remember who, but someone acurately answered this question a
couple of days ago. Mr. Shelby had a strong-hold on Ford muscle cars
until Henry II started messing around with an Itallian woman (Cristina)
who helped stear him to deTomaso. After a political war at Ford HQ,
Henry starting backing deTomaso and Alejandro named his new car after
the only animal known to kill Cobras.

..is FOrd origionally was looking at the Mangusta as the car to
import...

Henry tried to buy Ferrari and was embarrassed by Enzo in a set-up.
That's what lead to the push to win LeMans with the Cobras and then
GT-40s. It also fueled Henry's desire to import an Italian mid-engined
car with his name on it.

If I remember right the name Pantera was dismised at first and later
picked as a last minute thing.

Lincoln-Mercury guys pushed for consistency and insisted on using
another cat name, which does not make it a "cat" or a "kitty", but a car
named "Pantera."
> 
I was with FoMoCo in the late 70s and that was the story consistently
told by those in the know including Ford's chief lawyer in Europe.

Richard