The seller refers to this car as a McLaren in his description, and while you first scoff at that comparison, he’s not that far off. The Manta Mirage, as it is rightfully called, is one of the more compelling replica builds made by the burgeoning aftermarket vehicle industry in the 70s and 80s. Build as a tribute of sorts to the likes of the McLaren M6GT, the Manta Mirage actually combined some fairly trick engineering with a bevy of high-performance engines to give buyers a real-deal performance car versus something that only looked like one with a Beetle engine. Find this 1980 Manta Mirage here on eBay with one bid to $15,000.
The Mirage was built in response to the popularity of the Can-Am racing series, known for its loose rules and impressive speed in dedicated racers. The brothers behind the company building the Mirages wanted to bring some of that excitement to the street, and to that end, focused on building very light-weight production models offered with a range of V8 engines, sometimes combining upwards of 400 horsepower in a car weighing as little as 1,900 pounds. A Kelmark GT, this was not. The seller’s car has been built with a 383 stroker under the clamshell-style engine lid, that apparently has less than 5 hours of run time.
A tubular steel space frame was utilized, and the chassis could handle both Ford- and Chevy-derived powerplants (though some utilized Buick-sourced V6s as well). The Ford option also included the 460 V8, as well as the venerable 454 from Chevy. Whichever option you chose, the Manta was a wild ride considering the car was always going to be on the lighter side and those engines would easily catapult the chassis to illegal road speeds. The interior, like many kit / custom builds, leaves a lot to be desired, and you always run the risk of buying something like this and finding out you don’t fit. As you can see here, this Mirage features the combination of true gullwing doors and smaller half-doors with the roof canopy removed.
The Manta could have been purchased as a turnkey model or a DIY version you could assemble in your garage. Generally, the build quality was on the higher side, and Manta would later offer a VW-based derivative, which did lead to the phenomenon I mentioned earlier of a striking design with an underwhelming powerplant. However, the Manta was better than most at delivering performance options that matched the racy exterior styling, and these cars now have a bit of a cult following that leads to higher prices than other so-called “kit” builds. I like the connection to one of the best eras in domestic automobile racing and the idea of a road-going McLaren; would you consider parking a Manta Mirage in your garage? Thanks to Barn Finds reader Driven By Faith Restorations for the tip!
Wow these Manta Mirage models were liteweights. 🚀
The only “kit car” that I would consider owning (as long as it was not VW powered). Who wouldn’t want the closest thing to a street legal Can-Am series race car that you can buy?
Yeah, for me, these were “the” kit car, whenever I daydreamed about building one. Finished cars, done well, command a pretty penny these days.
This looks about as much like a McLaren M6 as an Excalibur looks like a classic Mercedes. I saw Dan Gurney and Denny Hulme race the real things in 1970. I’d love to show you a picture but I’m not a member.
OK, I’m correcting myself. The Can-Am McLarens in 1970 were M8Bs. But this still looks to me like a kid’s toy, and that scoop is the pits. JMO-
Looks good at a fair price, but not crazy for that big air scoop.
This car type was featured on a TV show I think it was called Hardcastle and McCormick in the 80s.Used to watch the show to see the car
It looks like it has one of those Crown conversion Corvair transmissions, which are pretty interesting. Instead of turning the transmission around front to back, they remove the bell housing from the back the transmission and put a new bill housing on the front and put a different input shaft on it.
A pretty odd transmission.
Shocked. Not even a nod to Hardcastle and McCormick’s Coyote.
Ive never driven one, rode in one, or even saw one in person, but I’d love to own a Manta Mirage.
The Manta Montage was the M6 replica/kit and probably the basis for the Coyote
see: https://www.rcnmag.com/fresh-finds/350-powered-manta-montage
Original Gone in 60 seconds flick had one on the “list” to be stolen.
Orange one and sounded mean as hell.
I was a big Hardcastle and Mccormick fan as a kid because of the car.
That one didn’t have a hideous scoop though.
different car, both made by Manta, but the Hardcastle car was a Montage
Can-Am and Formula 5000 were always must see for me when I was a kid. I believed the drivers needed wheel barrows to transport their “courage” to the track. Can-Am Mosport was the only sound to approach the decibels of 33 racers at Indy. I applaud anyone trying to re-create the legacy of Bruce McLaren.
Full disclosure, kit car or not, it LOOKS like a kit car and that is not a good thing. That being said, this thing has to be God’s own fast. While it wouldn’t be for me, I would imagine that driving it would be just about as much fun as you could have with your clothes on.
I like this car although I’ve never actually seen one. Does look like it would be very difficult to drive on the street. There is not much clearance from the body to the road, especially the front end. Pretty sure it wouldn’t make it up or down my driveway.
The Mirage wasn’t the McLaren M6GT clone: that was the Manta Montage, a stunning looker. Look it up.
This Mirage owes more to the pure Can Am race cars.
Still, Manta Car built some neat stuff.
yep, I posted a link above to the Montage on a web site
Up periscope
Yep, the scoop would have to go, but otherwise, that thing is BI***IN’!!!
I’ve seen the real ones race at Road America. Saw the introduction of the kit versions and was impressed at the choices, especially power plants. THEN I saw one really nicely done in either Car and Driver or Road&Track. Yes, I would have loved to drive one, but knew there were few places where it wouldn’t be bottoming. I don’t recall seeing one other than that magazine article or cars shows.
Corvair based transaxle. Looks looks like a Kelmark style setup. Ring and pinion runs backwards, special input shaft. Transaxle sits the opposite way that it was in the Corvair. Not as strong as the Crown setup.