Category Archives: Obscure Cars

1967-1971 DeTomaso Mangusta

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When I was a kid, there was a show on TV called “Before They Were Stars.” The show looked at popular celebrities to see what they were like before they became famous. Some of them had humble careers working in menial jobs for low wages – and of course, they would always dig up an embarrassing high school yearbook photo.

In the same way, most car enthusiasts have heard of the DeTomaso Pantera, the Ford-powered, Italian-styled, mid-engine sports car from the 1970s. Before DeTomaso hit it big with the Pantera, they tested the waters with a car that is relatively unknown today: the Mangusta.

The Mangusta was the Pantera before it got its teeth fixed, its hair combed, and changed its name. Like an up-and-coming celebrity, the Mangusta was a little rough around the edges before it became a big shot.

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2008 Rossion Q1 Supercar

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By a show of hands, how many of you have heard of the British supercar manufacturer Noble Automotive? Not very many. Well then, even less of you have heard of the Noble’s sister car, the Rossion Q1. This is a pretty unusual car that deserves some attention, but before we delve into the Q1, it is necessary to cover a little backstory first.

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Barrett-Jackson 2013: 2012 AC 378 GT Zagato

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South Africa is famous for a lot of things: soccer, diamonds, and Nelson Mandela. But it’s definitely the last place on Earth that comes to mind when I think about supercars. And yet, that’s exactly what I saw at Barrett-Jackson 2013: a South African supercar.

Designed in Italy by Zagato, the car was first seen in 2009 and was called the “Perana Z-One.” It disappeared for a while and now it’s back, with a new name and a new set of badges. The car is entering production as the AC 378 GT Zagato, and it is truly a global effort.

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Bauer Ltd. Unveils Miata-Based Racer “Catfish”

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Have you ever thought about buying a Mazda Miata but were put off by the car’s lack of power or it’s ‘chick car’ image? Well, you’re in luck because the Catfish from Bauer Limited Production fixes both of those problems.

The Catfish is based on the 1990-2005 Miata platform, but you’d never guess thanks to the creative body work. The car rides on a tubular space frame chassis with an upgraded Mazda A-arm suspension and thankfully, looks nothing like a Miata.

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Panoz: An American Sports Car Manufacturer

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Let’s imagine for a minute that you are a businessman who has reached middle age. You have worked hard for everything you have earned and done well for yourself. Now it’s time to have a little fun.

You’re in the market for a sports car and you want to Buy American instead of giving your money to the Italians, the Germans, or the Japanese. Also, you want a car that stands out from the crowd of Mustangs, Camaros, and Challengers. In this case, you should take a look at the Panoz Auto Development Company.

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1988 Enterra Vipre Kit Car

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Canada is famous for a number of great things including hockey, maple syrup, and Jim Carrey. Unfortunately, building cars is not one of their strong suits. Take the Enterra Vipre for example: it was essentially a factory-built kit car that was based on the Pontiac Fiero GT and was sold through Pontiac dealerships.

While the car was clad in different body panels that gave it the classic 80s “wedge shape,” underneath it had the same suspension, chassis, and drivetrain as the Fiero. It also sported taillights from a first-generation Chevrolet Cavalier. Small wonder that just 36 cars were built before the company closed up shop!

My first encounter with the Enterra happened at a local car show in 2006. After perusing row after row of hot rods and muscle cars, something different caught my eye. From a distance, it could have been a Corvette or a third-gen Camaro with a body kit. Once I got closer, I realized it was a project that was pretty rough around the edges – and as I was about to find out, so was the car’s owner. Continue reading →