[DeTomaso] Spectacular Mangusta coming up for auction in France

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

Hi guys,

Check this out:

> Mangusta 1266 is for sale on auction in Paris
> 
> http://www.artcurial.com/en/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2877+++++147+&
> refno=10553297#sthash.Ynx19uXl.dpbs
> 
> This has to be one of the best Mangustas in the world.   It was originally 
restored by Roland Jackel in Hamburg, for himself.   Then he sold it to 
Laurent Bouzoulouk, a jeweler in Paris, who has owned it for many years.

I got to know Laurent and helped him source an engine; the engine was 
custom-built by well-known engine guru John Christian of Roush Racing.   He 
started out with the regular 342R stroker engine package, but did a bunch of 
custom work and massaging to get it to produce 430 hp.

Once the car was all together with the new engine, I actually got to spend 
a whole day driving it from the Nurburgring to Le Mans, a fantastic day!   
Much of the drive took place on small country back roads, where handling was 
key, and the rest was on motorways.   It is by FAR the best-driving Mangusta 
I ever experienced.   Its only flaw is the stock steering rack, which is 
much too slow (too many turns lock to lock).   But the chassis was well-sorted 
and didn't seem to want to kill me the way other Mangustas have proven to 
do.

After I drove it, Laurent found an early Mangusta steering wheel for sale 
in Arizona and I shipped it to him (most people don't know that the final 
Mangustas were produced not with the flat steering wheel with alternate wood 
and leather trim, but instead with a dished wheel with an all-leather rim, 
that actually looks and works much better--he liked the early style and paid 
$2500 for an original that had been hanging in a Ferrari owner's den for 30 
years!).   He also got rid of the BFG tires and fitted original-spec Michelin 
XWX tires, which looked odd and skinny, but he told me the car handled even 
better than it had before and he was extremely pleased with his decision.

He has created what is probably the world's best website dedicated to a 
single Mangusta:   

www.mangusta-ma1266.blogspot.com

The photography there is stunning, and it richly describes the car.

(He also has a Ferrari 330 GT, serial number 8175; a website is dedicated 
to it at ferrari330gt.blogspot.com).

In recent years, Laurent and the Mangusta have seemingly disappeared from 
view.   E-mails to him have gone unanswered for years.   I find it quite sad 
that he's withdrawn from the De Tomaso community (my French friends report 
he hasn't responded to any of their overtures for years either).   In any 
case, this car is highly recommended for purchase if one is of a mind to own a 
really good, useable Mangusta!

Mike
-------------- next part --------------
   Hi guys,
   Check this out:

     Mangusta 1266 is for sale on auction in Paris
     http://www.artcurial.com/en/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2877+++++1
     47+&refno=10553297#sthash.Ynx19uXl.dpbs

   This has to be one of the best Mangustas in the world.  It was
   originally restored by Roland Jackel in Hamburg, for himself.  Then he
   sold it to Laurent Bouzoulouk, a jeweler in Paris, who has owned it for
   many years.
   I got to know Laurent and helped him source an engine; the engine was
   custom-built by well-known engine guru John Christian of Roush Racing.
   He started out with the regular 342R stroker engine package, but did a
   bunch of custom work and massaging to get it to produce 430 hp.
   Once the car was all together with the new engine, I actually got to
   spend a whole day driving it from the Nurburgring to Le Mans, a
   fantastic day!  Much of the drive took place on small country back
   roads, where handling was key, and the rest was on motorways.  It is by
   FAR the best-driving Mangusta I ever experienced.  Its only flaw is the
   stock steering rack, which is much too slow (too many turns lock to
   lock).  But the chassis was well-sorted and didn't seem to want to kill
   me the way other Mangustas have proven to do.
   After I drove it, Laurent found an early Mangusta steering wheel for
   sale in Arizona and I shipped it to him (most people don't know that
   the final Mangustas were produced not with the flat steering wheel with
   alternate wood and leather trim, but instead with a dished wheel with
   an all-leather rim, that actually looks and works much better--he liked
   the early style and paid $2500 for an original that had been hanging in
   a Ferrari owner's den for 30 years!).  He also got rid of the BFG tires
   and fitted original-spec Michelin XWX tires, which looked odd and
   skinny, but he told me the car handled even better than it had before
   and he was extremely pleased with his decision.
   He has created what is probably the world's best website dedicated to a
   single Mangusta:
   www.mangusta-ma1266.blogspot.com
   The photography there is stunning, and it richly describes the car.
   (He also has a Ferrari 330 GT, serial number 8175; a website is
   dedicated to it at ferrari330gt.blogspot.com).
   In recent years, Laurent and the Mangusta have seemingly disappeared
   from view.  E-mails to him have gone unanswered for years.  I find it
   quite sad that he's withdrawn from the De Tomaso community (my French
   friends report he hasn't responded to any of their overtures for years
   either).  In any case, this car is highly recommended for purchase if
   one is of a mind to own a really good, useable Mangusta!
   Mike