I’m in the process of moving so posts may be sporadic. Tips and cars to toys@priceofhistoys.com continue to be appreciated and will be posted!
Currently waiting for an opening bid of just $10,000 (#130238688697) is this orange Manta Mirage in Santa Rosa, California, United States. It’s been finished (in the early eighties, after which the owner died and the car has basically sat since then), but because of the expired paperwork, in California it needs to pass smog testing, which obviously won’t happen — probably this car is best for buyers in states with no such requirement. It’s running the standard Chev 350 V8 mated to a Corvair 4-speed transmission setup, and has some very minor body work needed, but this is a great price for someone looking for a Manta. With Lamborghini replicas and Cobras consistently fetching well over $40,000, it always amazes me how little the Mantas sell for these days.
Just saw this Manta Mirage posted to Craigslist (#683391250) in Allentown, PA. He’s asking $25,000 and it looks very nice — this one is running a 400 HP Chevy powered 355 CI V8 with the air adjustable front suspension. Click here for more pictures. I think a strong case can be made that the Mirage is the wildest kit car ever made, so it always amazes me that you can almost always find one for sale. For all I know it’s too wild for most people?
Neptali in Florida is selling his black Manta Mirage. It’s running a 327 mated to a 4-speed Corvair transmission, and runs well but needs some work to get it visually perfect, including replacing the windshield (they are still available from mantacars.com). He’s asking $14,999 or best offer. Contact him by email at bianchini33@yahoo.com.
Two videos of the car are after the break.
The only thing more metal than the Manta Mirage is selling your Manta Mirage to finance your metal band… That’s the story behind the Mirage below, which was sold for $10,000 — probably the best price you’ll ever find for a running Manta. It was built with a fairly stock setup on the tube chassis (short version), a VW front end with variable height air suspension, and a 327 V8 mated to a Corvair transmission. Chris had bought the car with an unknown history, so we don’t know who built the custom rear end with the molded in wing.
Martin in Switzerland was kind enough to send us a huge gallery of beautiful photos of his stunning modified Manta Mirage. If you’re wondering about the tail — which looks to me like they’ve grafted on the rear of a Manta Montage — which gives the vehicle a much sleeker appearance than the usual snubbed-off Mirage, George Gennuso, the original builder, did all of the customization. Hopefully I’ll post more on this car, but after the break is a huge gallery of photos to wet your appetite.
The other good Manta news is that the Mirage is going back into production! I’m told it’s getting built here in Ontario, in nearby Peterborough, so I’m hoping to be able to go check out the facilities this summer. If I do, I’ll post a report here of course.
There can’t be many Manta Mirages in New Zealand, let alone ones that are nice and clean looking like this one… The seller tells me they think it’s in fact the only one in the country. It’s factory built and running a “reputed 400 HP” Corvette engine, with original paint and pinstriping, and the asking price is a very reasonable $19,000 US (or about $29,000 NZ$). If you’re interested, drop a line to OA.Devonport@xtra.co.nz. International shipping can be arranged.
Rusty sends in these pictures of his beautiful and classically finished (he even has a Manta engine cover) Manta Mirage, one of my favorite kit cars of all time, if not my favorite. He’s had his for about five years now, and it’s built around a 400 CI smallblock. Great car!
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