Erik wrote:
>Rod Bean wrote:
>>DeTomaso Mangusta = predecessor to the DeTomaso Pantera. The Mangusta
>>shares something with the Lotus 30/40, a backbone chassis which wasn't
>>rigid enough and made the cars vile handling.
>It shares something else as well, a Windsor family Ford small block >V8;
probably almost the same one, except that in the 30 it was bored >out to 5
litres (right?) and equipped with those elegant downdraft >Webers.
351 Cleveland for the Pantera, 289 for the Lotus 30/40.
>I believe the US market Mangustas came with a Boss 302, which is another
>proposition altogether. Boss 302 engines are a rarity, and are highly
>sought after by Ford-heads today.
All true.
>While on the subject of Lotus / DeTomaso similarities, how about the
>DeTomaso Vallelunga? I kid you not... This was a very elegant >1600lb.
mid engine coupe using a backbone chassis, Ghia glassfibre >bodywork, Ford
Kent power (presumably 116E sideflow, but not verified) >and a Hewland Mark
series transaxle. All of this in 1965, well before >the Europa first
appeared. Unfortunately, only about 50 of these >interesting little road
cars were ever produced. Imagine a Vallelunga >with a healthy twink
installed.
Always wanted a Vallelunga. They appeared even more rustic than the Europa
and a Hewland on the street a few of us would like just fine but modern
tastes are very different ("Where are the cup holders"?).
>Dunno about headroom in a Vallelunga, tho.... ;-)
That too.... for you anyway. ;-)
>Anyone here ever driven one?
Waiting in line. :-)
Rod
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