Auto Design

Your Balocco photos constitute a World Exclusive. They also show that this car indeed looks better on the track/road than it does in pictures from inside Shanghai Show. Can you please identify the 3 gentlemen pictured along with Jason, especially one shown seated inside the Ramarro (not Mantide) in very last image in the series.

Another thing that struck me is how the Mantide design’s conception of body/airfoil has something in common with Fioravanti’s LF1 as shown at Geneva last month–even if the latter is an open single-seater with mid-engine.

You can find other pictures of the car at my blog (http://theitalianjunkyard.blogspot.com/) as I was there too.
I’m not sure if they are indeed going to produced 5 cars. What I heard is that they could have produced up to 5 or 6 cars with the existing machinery and development, but I didn’t understand that they intended to do it.
I also didn’t heard something about a future Asian owner, but I wasn’t really listening because completely kidnapped by the car itself.

Scorpione. Thank you. I am glad you lke the pictures. Now that I have fixed the link to the photo gallery you can see more of them from here. The gentlement sitting inthe Ramarro is Mr. Francesco Gavina who is the king of interior manufacturing. His company SALT is 40 this year, and has (it still is) working for all the top names in car design world-wide. They have done the interior of the Mantide as well. The company is now managed by Francesco Gavina’s son, Pierfranco.

Scorpione. I need to have a reference to the image with the three gentlemen with Jason to give you the right answer.

Scorpione. Re your comment on the relation between Fioravanti’s recent LF1 and Jason’s Mantide the link is aerodynamics applied to different sorts of high performance cars, and a certain feeling for surface. Isn’t it? Ciao.

Damiano. Have read you report from Balocco and I really enjoyed. It is too bad I could not experience the same emotions and feelings you did feel. Simply because I have experience them too many years ago. I knew where the test track is, I drove through and it was just another (good) day among friends and professional. Keep this report to read it again in three or four decades and you will be proud of your honest and enthusiastic approach and report. Pity we had no time to chat, busy and focused on our job, as we were. Stile Bertone and Jason Castriota had done a fantastic job for the past 6 months and we – as reporters – ought to do our best to fairly communicate their achievement. Ciao.

Sig. Gavina is one of the three persons in question–will send you references for the other 2 later. Ramarro interior was originally green/white, so perhaps it has been redone?
Also, a Thank You to Damiano, who posted his pics the following day–I’d previously tried to leave a positive comment on his blog, too, but was not successful.
Unfortunately, Mantide was defeated by Aston Martin 1-77 for the Concept Car Prize at Villa d’Este.
Final point: The hexagonal grille and vent openings on Mantide recall detailing of Bertone’s Marzal(1967)!

You have rearranged the Mantide photo gallery, and Sig. Gavina Seated is now first! The other 2 gentlemen are also in the top row, but third and fourth. Think the fourth is maybe Ing. Danisi–can you confirm? And who is shown third?

Forum posters at another site (supposedly for ‘professionals’) that shall remain nameless are complaining strongly about the surface treatment of Mantide, but I do not agree!

The most overrated, over-designed piece of crap i have ever seen, reminds me of the Pontiac Aztec…whhuu (just barfed a little in my mouth) This guy thinks his shit dont stink and needs to get over it.

You have a strong opinion and this is all right. The language needs not to smell so badly. Do not forget, Toro 79, it is your voice going public and a bit of style have never done any damage. Lack of style, does.