6th Street Specials 360 Degree Ink Sketch

Two revolutions of my 360 degree ink sketch which was started when I visited the famous British Bike workshop in September 2014 for 2 days. The remainder of the ink sketch was done in the studio taking a further 4 days of sketching.

6th Street Specials 360 Degree Ink Sketch from MARTIN SQUIRES on Vimeo.

MOTO BORGATORO

Moto Borgatoro is a short film by Roberto Serrini about renowned custom motorcycle builder Peter Boggia, and it’s a far cry from the more self-oriented shorts you’ve probably seen about custom bike builders. In this case, Peter was reticent to do the film at all and if you watch till the end you’ll see him explain that he thinks that motorcycles are essentially handbags for men, and that people who sit around talking about bikes on camera are douchebags.

Visit Union Garage NYC here.

Red Bull Global RallyCross 2014 Highlight

Look back at the most exciting moments from the 2014 season of Global RallyCross year. Follow all of the drivers during their battle for the Championship, from Round 1 in Barbados to Round 10 in Las Vegas.

Stir up your inner 12-year-old with the De Tomaso Mangusta

Rare, exotic, downright scary – the De Tomaso Mangusta’s memory might have been left in the Pantera’s smoky wake, but purists and discerning collectors alike will attest that the first true De Tomaso supercar is the pick of the bunch…

If at first you don’t succeed...

The Mangusta’s roots belong in the humble Vallelunga, a mid-engined, four-cylinder sportscar introduced by Alejandro de Tomaso in 1963. Unfortunately it never took off commercially but, undeterred, De Tomaso had another go, retaining the midship layout and backbone chassis, but instead opting for a brutish Ford V8. Cloaked in a new – and brilliantly proportioned – Italian body, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro for Ghia (of which De Tomaso had become president), it was christened the Mangusta, or ‘mongoose’– supposedly the only animal unafraid of a cobra. High sights, then.

Chassis flex was held as the Mangusta’s most serious pitfall and, when combined with a 32:68 weight distribution, it led to its notoriously unwieldy handling. However, find a properly set up, unmolested example and your efforts will be rewarded (though naturally, we wouldn’t take any liberties). Rust-prone, impossibly low and rather cramped inside, the Mangusta’s not for everyone. But quirks aside, there are few other cars that can stir up your inner 12-year-old quite as much – just look at that split rear clamshell!

Survival rate

Unlike many other performance cars of the day, U.S. legislation spared the Mangusta any compulsory extra impact protection, meaning that the elegant '70s shape remained intact worldwide. Around 400 Mangustas were built between 1967 and 1972, and it’s estimated that some 250 remain on the roads today, making them a very rare sight indeed. As is the case with almost all collectable classics, provenance is everything when it comes to these cars. Boasting its original paintwork, stickers, upholstery and engine, this Mangusta – set to go under the gavel at RM Auctions’ Paris sale on 4 February – could be just the ticket. And trust us, you’ll be the talk of whichever event you rock up at, regardless of the number of Panteras present.

This article is part of the series 'Cars we Love', in which we bring you our favourite classics and modern classics, every Saturday morning.