The recent Qvale version even sports the Ford Mustang dash...eeeccchh I can see the engine for perfomance, but the ugly Moostang dahs?

 

I think Qvale just got bought by another company, maybe Rover? Can't remember, but those cars are pretty much hand built Ford Mustangs.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by scooby2
[B]Here's a couple shots of one in my refrigerator.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by seung
[B]i think the biggest attraction of the car is its top.
it can be targa top/ convertible/ hard top all at the same time.

 

Oh man what I'd give for a Mangusta (the original, not the Qvale crap)! IMHO it was much, much more beautiful than the original Pantera's, which slowly evolved into a joke, what with all the styling add-ons and wings. Now for something really sexy, check out the Vallelunga http://www.sonic.net/~johnv/images/frnt_big.jpg

I know where one is in the US, completely disassembled I just have to convince the owner to part with it!

 

It's an Italian Mustang for $80,000. Just watch the depreciation for this car. I bet you will be able to pick up a three year old one in the 30's. Service? Parts? There was quite a legal battle between Qvale and the original manufacturer prior to the car's introduction. I doubt it will be around long. Remember the Bricklin and the DeLorean?

 

I think Qvale is now part of MG/Rover and I am guessing this car may come to the US sometime as an upscale MG. I am not sure why else MG would agree to badge the (now redundant) Judd turbo CART engine if they did not have plans to bring some sort of MG product back to us.

The Qvale family was one of the early pioneers of imported car sales on the West Coast and for years sold MG, Triumph, BMC, Aston Martin, Jensen, Jensen-Healy etc. etc. from their palatial showroom on San Francisco's Van Ness Avenue auto row. And in association with Joe Huffaker they represented these British brands in all sorts of racing very successfully. Even had a number of "MG Liquid Suspension Specials" at Indy in the 1960's using the BMC "Hydrolastic" suspension system in their rear-Offy powered cars. i believe Pedro Rodriguez may have driven one of them but I may be mistaken.

 

huh? i thought they were already in the u.s.?
i've seen a lot around in my town.

 

Interesting thread! I have always used my 1974 Pantera as a benchmark for the "S". My dad bought it new in 1974 from Pasadena Lincoln Mercury for $12,500. 28 years later she now has a 426 Hemi (as opposed to the 351C stock) bolted to a Roy Butafoy 6 (as opposed to the ZF-5) transmission. Sucker hauls ass!!!!

The Mangusta was indeed the predecessor and was built in the '68-'69. They didn't hold up well and therefore there are few good examples. The Pantera has a number of aftermarket supporters which is why the Big Cat still prowls the streets in many neighborhoods....enemy for either is RUST! Lincoln Mercury Imported them from '70-'74. Djara had his finger on all including the new Qvale. All in the community agree they missed the mark with the new unit. Too expensive, too Ford, etc. It is arriving on the market as kinda of a bastard child. I don't think the support network will form on this model as it did on the Pantera.

Bob Moss......are you from Moss Motors (Goleta CA.)by any chance? You seem to have a knowledge of MG's also? I recently sold a 1955 MG TF1500 I restored with lots of Moss Motors parts......just curious?

Utah

P.S. What P.I. (Pantera International) members do for kicks? Drive around parking lots and see how many car alarms we can get going at one time. The sound of a Big Cat is second to none.....period!

 

Although I did spend my happiest years in and around Goleta attending UC Santa Barbara I am not related to those Mosses. My affliction for those and many later years were either Porsche 356's or Mustangs ('66 GT-350), I have never had the unique pleasure of owning any English car. I did recommend the purchase of a 1964 MGB to a friend...after electrical and head gasket problems he stopped talking to me.

One cool thing about Goleta in those days was the annual Memorial Day running of the Santa Barbara Road Races on the airport there. There actually were a number of "factory" teams running SCCA then. like the 916-6 Porsches of Richie Ginther's team and if I recall the early BRE Datsun 2000 roadsters.