Posted - 29 November 2012 : 13:40:15
Interesting questions !
AC 428 Frua and De Tomaso Mangusta
NOVEMBER 20, 2012 BY MIKE 7 COMMENTS
4
by Mike –
This 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta is for sale on eBay with a Buy It Now Price of $$119,900.
1969 De Tomaso Mangusta
The seller, Daniel Schmitt & Co. (in St. Louis, Missouri), says it has just completed a restoration and has 36,325 miles. The photos look good and if the description is accurate this looks like a great Mangusta.
1969 De Tomaso Mangusta
1969 De Tomaso Mangusta
This 1969 AC 428 Frua shown below was listed on eBay at a price of $255,000. It was listed by Hyman Ltd. (also in St. Louis). The eBay listing has ended and it is not on the Hyman web site now so maybe it sold.
1969 AC 428 Frua
1969 AC 428 Frua
The seller says: “This 1969 example is in remarkable condition with just under 17,000 original miles and has never had, or needed, restoration yet today in metallic silver paint with its original black leather upholstery and interior trim looks crisp, sharp and exquisite. It has been repainted to very high standards.”
1969 AC 428 Frua
The Questions
1) Here we have two excellent examples of European styled cars with American power (both Ford powered). Mike Clarke sent me the AC Frua eBay listing and asked why this car would be so much more expensive than a Mangusta. This AC Frua is priced at more than two times the price of this Mangusta.
Is this justified? The Mangusta is a more beautiful car but I suspect the AC Frua is a better driver. Neither have any racing history and both were made in low numbers, although there are fewer AC Fruas around that Mangustas.
As a talking point, the latest issue of the Hagerty Price Guide has the following values for condition 1 cars:
1969 AC 428: $96,400
1969 De Tomaso Mangusta: $145,000
I do not believe that price guides are always correct but you can see why this is confusing.
Let us know in the comments what you think about Mangusta values versus AC 428 Frua values.
2) The other question – why are two such great cars both in St. Louis?