The One-and-Only De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder by Ghia

Rare Icon - Every once in a while, the automotive world produces a car so rare and so daring that it feels more like a piece of rolling sculpture than something designed to be driven. The De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder is exactly that kind of machine—a one-off creation that carries with it a story of ambition, rivalry, and design genius. Born in the late 1960s, it represents a moment when Italian flair and American muscle collided in the most unexpected way. 

The elusive De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder, bearing VIN 8MA512, represents the 7th chassis ever produced, making it an exceptionally rare and remarkable example. (Picture from: VeloceToday)

The Mangusta, which means “mongoose” in Italian—a deliberate nod to its intended rivalry with Carroll Shelby’s Cobra—was a car that almost shouldn’t have happened. The design originated at Iso, where Giorgetto Giugiaro and his team first toyed with the idea of crafting a sleek companion to the luxury Fidia sedan. What emerged was a pure, uncompromising shape that barely bothered with regulations: bumpers that were more decorative than functional, headlights mounted too low to be legal, and a presence that looked more like a showpiece than a production car. 

The De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder, bearing VIN 8MA512, represents the 7th chassis ever produced, making it an exceptionally rare and remarkable example. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

But Alejandro de Tomaso wasn’t the kind of man to let a bold design gather dust. Already fresh off the Vallelunga project and still nursing frustration from Shelby abandoning their joint Ford V8 project, he saw an opportunity. With Giugiaro’s bodywork in hand and Ghia under his ownership, he dropped the Ford small-block V8 into an enlarged Vallelunga spine chassis, effectively creating the Mangusta. It was raw, aggressive, and carried a touch of defiance aimed squarely at Shelby.  

The De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder, bearing VIN 8MA512, represents the 7th chassis ever produced, making it an exceptionally rare and remarkable example. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

Among the Mangustas built, one in particular stood apart: the Spyder by Ghia. Believed to be chassis number 8MA512, this car was never meant for the road—it was envisioned as a showpiece. Unlike Detroit’s cautious habit of hiding away prototypes, this car actually escaped into private hands. Its first buyer, a Greek shipowner, improvised a canvas top stretched across the fixed window frames, though it was hardly in line with Giugiaro’s clean vision. Later, additional quirks like a hood scoop—despite the engine sitting behind the driver—added to its eccentric history.

The De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder, bearing VIN 8MA512, represents the 7th chassis ever produced, making it an exceptionally rare and remarkable example. (Picture from: Modell-Fahrzeug)

Technically, the Mangusta wasn’t perfect. Test driver Jonathan Williams, a seasoned racer, could tame its tendency toward sudden oversteer, but regular owners often found it more challenging. A structural weakness in the rear sub-frame meant that under heavy cornering, the handling could switch abruptly from understeer to oversteer. Some owners later reinforced the chassis, but many simply accepted its limits and kept the driving within safer bounds. Despite these flaws, the car’s raw appeal never waned. 

The De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder, bearing VIN 8MA512, represents the 7th chassis ever produced, making it an exceptionally rare and remarkable example. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

Power came from the Ford 4.7-liter small-block V8, producing around 302 horsepower, paired with a five-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. Underneath, its single-girder aluminum frame clad in steel bodywork struck a balance between rigidity and style. The Spyder carried all the mechanical drama of the coupe version, but with the added allure of open-air motoring—something no other official Mangusta could offer.

The De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder, bearing VIN 8MA512, represents the 7th chassis ever produced, making it an exceptionally rare and remarkable example. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

Over the years, the Spyder’s journey has been as fascinating as the car itself. After its time in Europe, it made its way to Los Angeles, where it was purchased and restored by two enthusiasts, Steve Nanny and Steve Wilkinson. Unfortunately, their timing in selling it wasn’t ideal; the car changed hands for just $90,000—an amount that feels almost laughable today given its exclusivity. Considering that only 402 Mangustas were ever built, and only one true Ghia Spyder exists, its rarity now places it among the most valuable Italian exotics of its era, easily worth several million dollars. 

The De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder, bearing VIN 8MA512, represents the 7th chassis ever produced, making it an exceptionally rare and remarkable example. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

What makes the Mangusta Spyder even more intriguing is the way it has influenced design thinking. Giugiaro’s work on the car helped solidify his reputation before he launched Italdesign, while the unconventional side-window treatment inspired later prototypes, such as one by Karmann decades later. The car also benefitted from a little-known legal loophole in the U.S., which allowed boutique manufacturers producing fewer than 500 cars to bypass certain safety regulations. That’s the only reason its low headlights and other “non-conforming” details ever made it stateside. | yGh2UFB57r0 |

Today, the De Tomaso Mangusta Spyder stands as a true anomaly in automotive history. It was never meant to be mass-produced, never intended to be tamed, and yet it remains one of the most coveted collector’s items in existence. More than just a convertible version of the Mangusta, it’s a symbol of fearless experimentation—an artifact from an era when carmakers weren’t afraid to take risks just to make a statement. For enthusiasts and collectors, it represents something more than rarity or value: it embodies the spirit of a time when cars were not only built to be driven but also to provoke, to inspire, and to stand apart forever. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARROZZIERI-ITALIANI | MYCARQUEST | VELOCETODAY | MODEL-FAHRZEUG ]

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