[DeTomaso] MANGUSTA INFORMATION / Dick Ruzzin

[Dickruzzindesign at aol.com]

Jeff,
Some of the information about your car and mine that you have been told is 
not correct. I will put some added info and corrections based on my memory in 
all capitals for you.
Dick Ruzzin
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    It is the June/69 Mangusta #1196 made for Eugene Bordinat(I HEARD THAT 
THE MANGUSTA PRODUCTION WAS FINISHED AND BORDINAT HAD ONE MADE FROM PARTS, NO 
VIN #?) who with a team created the Mustang. 
It is a prototype with an large air dam, front bumperettes and their support 
frame, all slats instead of any screens, a front hood and fender edge cover, 
no name at all on the car except for the two Ghia badges, a 4.5:1 ring and 
pinion, very restrictive mufflers for lower sound pressure, an inflatable space 
saver spare, an unstamped V.I.N. plate and Michlen xwx tires. It was created for 
the design boss at Ford and wound up at the Ford World Headquaters as a 
design piece for study to see if Ford could create a like car for mass production.( 
I DO NOT THINK THIS IS CORRECT SINCE THE DESIGN HAD BEEN OUT SINCE 1966. FORD 
ALSO HAD A YELLOW MANGUSTA THAT I SAW IN 1970 IN DETROIT, I SPOKE TO THE 
DRIVER.) 
Ford decided they could not do a hand built car and make money, so the 
Pantera was created by Tom Tjjarda. When lee Iacocco was told by Henry Ford in 1961 
that he had two years and many millions of dollars to make a car for the baby 
boomers. Bordinat created a mid engined car much like the Mangusta and Pantera 
but two years later a much lower grade car of Mustang was made and sold. At 
the 66 or 67 Turin car show, Bordinat and Mitchell of GM fame each bought a 
Mangusta. (MITCHELL; SAW THE CAR IN 1966 AND TOLD DETOMASO HE WANTED ONE BUT 
PRODUCTION DID NOT START UNTIL MUCH LATER. HE SAW THE PRODUCTION CAR IN FALL OF 
1968 AT THE TURIN SHOW, OREDERED ONE TO BE BUILT BY THE FACTORY WITH A CHEVROLET 
ENGINE, SUPPLIED BY CHEVROLET TO THE MANGUSTA FACTORY.)
Everyone was blown away by the beauty of the first seen Ghibli and Mangusta.  
But as it is known Mitchell had a Chevy installed so all would be right in 
his world. This was his car untill his death. (THIS IS NOT TRUE. THE CAR ARRIVED 
IN MAY, 1969 AND WAS SOLD TO ME BY DESIGN STAFF IN SEPTEMBER SO THAT MITCHELL 
COULD BUY AN A-T-S.)
My wife has nicknamed her BUKTUTH because of the large spoiler. She has only 
3500. miles. This is such a sexy car. She is in good home now and seems to be 
happy.  Goggle her with Bordinat Mangusta and you will see. Jeff Cobb
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All the best,
Dick Ruzzin
____________________________________________________
Dickruzzindesign at aol.com
920 Whittier Rd.
Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230
Phone: Home-313-824-0539 / Cell-313-300-9558