Comments on: Mantis Ageon / Targa

By: Rad Racer

Rad Racer — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:02:46 +0000

After seeing this car, it looks extremly cool. I Was just wondering how much it is or could be worth.

By: Dale

Dale — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:09:24 +0000

Hello, I am also an TriVette owner here in Canada sure would like to talk to some else who has one.

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:50:57 +0000

Schmitty,
Today is 7-2-09, and there’s a Petersen’s VW book #4 on the Samba. Ad #744080.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:17:43 +0000

Schmitty, The mention of Bruce Weeks and the Invader GT got me looking again. I think the beltline on your Aegean II exactly matches the beltline of an Invader GT. When all this is figured out, you’ll have some fun answers for people who think it’s a Ferrari.

By: Lupe

Lupe — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:57:37 +0000

Very nice! Good find, enjoy the ride! I sure wouldn’t mind having Trivette myself. They look so good.

By: schmitty

schmitty — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:51:17 +0000

just to clarify: The wheelbase of this car (Mantis Aegeon coupe II) is a stock VW 94.5″ The Brochure does not mention the wheelbase of any of the cars. One of the cars pictured in the brochure, that is either the mantis gazelle or mantis aegeon coupe 1 (it is not clear) looks exactly like the kellison shark. The headlights are differnent but looks otherwise identical with I would assume the same wheelbase.

By: Schmitty

Schmitty — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:49:19 +0000

Yes, according to Dave Loring the designer of Mantis cars. Kellison stole his design with the shark. It is almost an exact copy of either the Mantis Aegean 1 or Mantis gazelle. I’m still unclear which is which. My car (the yellow one) is a Agean coupe II. which (according to the mantis brochure) is the front of a Mantis Targa (a wagon back type sports car) and the rear from the aegean coupe 1. I think all these cars fit a stock VW pan/wheelbase. The previous owner of my car modified the headlights and rear of the yellow car and added side skirts and air dam. The rear looked exactly like the shark before his mods. In a hand written letter from Dave Loring dated 1977 that came with a Mantis brochure I bought on ebay. Dave explains that Devin (not sure who that is) purchased one of his cars and copied it for Kellison. He also says that Bruce Weeks copied his designs for his 1969 Invader GT.
The Brochure mentions that the petersons guide (book#4 from 1976) got the names of his cars mixed up.The aegean coupe (1?) and gazelle are reversed.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:05:23 +0000

Schmitty, I commented on this car, and THEN I found your latest info by my Shark. I’m more confused than ever. In your pictures, I can see clearly the exact Shark lines at the nose (but not further back), and around the tail (with that distinctive boomerang sculpture on the side). The center may have come from an unnamed car in the same article, plus some completely new areas.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:35:43 +0000

What’s the wheelbase on this car ? The car that goes by the name of Mantis Aegean coupe in Petersen’s 4th VW book kinda looks like it has the Kellison Shark wheelbase of 84.5 inches.