Jerry, I have a set of Mangusta wheels. If you’re interested PM me. If anyone else is interested feel free to PM me as well.
Thanks Herbert. The car would still be authentic with using period correct parts, and appear as the Designer has intended the initial design to be. However, the car's originality would be altered compared to the build sheet with the modification to be reversible at any time.
Hi, I agree. With "authentic" I used the wrong word, what I meant is what you said. To be honest I thought about the same some years ago as I am also owner of a 2-popup-headlight car but then refrained from it out of the mentioned reason. I am curious anyway if anybody already did it.
Image Unavailable, Please Login https://www.jamesedition.com/stories/cars/return-of-the-de-tomaso-mangusta-1507/ article from 2012. Reminds me a little of Tesla truck! Still badass looking.
As per author Marc Sonnery, latest estimated publishing date of Eau Rouge Publications' Mangusta book is now early June of 2021.
I purchased my car with an aftermarket chrome top air clear a-la-Shelby. I have searched for many years to acquire the correct Mangusta assembly without success. I was lucky to have an owner lend me his. I have been working with a few specialized trades to make a reproduction air cleaner. I had asked a well known metal fabricator to make the inlet funnel but unfortunately it did not meet my expectation. The only way to accurately make was to have the unit 3D scanned. From this I had a machinist make a Tool and Die mold made. I purchased a sheet of 18 gage body sheet metal and along with a friend, cut-up squares and we stamped half funnels with his 10 ton press gave them a flange and spot welded the halves together as were the originals. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Concurrently the scan was used to have a metal spinner make a wood buck and spin a few center bowls. A wood buck has a short life but then it has a major cost saving compared to its steel equivalent. Next step was to properly and accurately mate the funnels to the bases. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Reproduction piece welding completed complete with PCV inlet tube and vent tube hook. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Next came the task of painting the air cleaners. I was sure we could use wrinkle paint in a can and play with temperatures to match the original mottled finish, but it was not to be that simple. After many attempts it was decided to try and find rare bulk product and then expand the methods and procedures. it took a professional painter a week to find a formula very close to the original large grain texture. GKALEX had been thru the same challenge (Reproducing "Lizard Skin" wrinkle paint on steering shroud | FerrariChat) close-up pic of original paint finish Image Unavailable, Please Login
Out of paint shop old versus original Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here is complete reproduction assembly, found the correct paper tubes in the UK. I have a couple extra assemblies should anyone be interested. Image Unavailable, Please Login
nice fabrication. re the wrinkle, you have large wrinkle but not the gator pattern. ive seen some wrinkle powdercoat have the perfect orig effect.
The gator pattern was not uniform over the surface of the original piece. I did inquire with 2 powder coaters but they wanted money up front for special order large flakes without guarantees.
Nice job! Probably better than original. DeTomaso was not noted for their workmanship back in the day.
Actually the original piece is rather well done. The only improvement I did one one only was to clean the welds on the inside of the funnels. Looks good but it in on the inside and can't be seen by anyone except the owner when the filter is out of it.
Actually, none of the Italian exotics were into perfection for things like air cleaners or making the engine compartments look pristinely perfect and being able to look that way for very long. You were supposed to but new cars after 4-5 years. It's the later collectors and hobbyists who've pushed the perfection thing. The bigger dig against DeTomaso is that depended on the customers to troubleshoot the design flaws. And THEY DID!
