DeTomaso Mailing List: March 2000, Message #186

Steve wrote:
Let's not get too crazy about the styling of the new Mangusta.  Sure it
doesn't look like the old one, it's a "new" one.  snip...

------------REPLY------------

Well, you got to remember one thing.  They designed and built 
this car as the Bigua.  Nor was it mid-engine, or was it a 2 seater, 
and it didn't have 1 bit of the original in it's design or styling.  It 
just wasn't started as one (I think that is the key point).  You don't 
build a great car history that way.  Imagine if the next Ferrari F-xx 
went to a front engine 2+2?  

Now if it had evolved to this over the years would be one thing.  But 
it is a Mangusta in name only.  Qvale once said when asked about 
how he could name it the Mangusta, "it wasn't hard".

Now I do think Brock is a little harsh calling it a "butchery", butchery 
of a name sure, but the car isn't that bad.  I think that maybe they 
will learn something from this naming thing and hopefully not repeat 
themselves on the Pantera.  

Curt T.
1TO9 MPG, If you like it, want one, if not don't.