I am always confused when sellers are confused. Take this Manta Mirage, it is listed as a 2000 model but the year 2000 was fourteen years after Manta (1974-1986) called it quits. What gives? Hard to say but this is certainly a car worth reviewing. This Manta is located in Morgan Hill, California and is available, here on craigslist for $21,000. Thanks to Rocco B. for this tip!
Manta, a creation of the California based LoVette brothers, designed their Mirage with a mid-engined Can-Am attitude. With a fiberglass body mounted on a steel frame, the Mirage featured gull-wing doors and weighed in at a feather-weight 1,900 lbs. Engine choices started out with Chevrolet, both big and small-block engines but Ford got in on the act too. To put power to the ground, the transaxle employed was courtesy of a Chevrolet Corvair. Total Manta production, over its thirteen years run, was about 1,000 cars.
The opening of this listing is a bit confusing as the seller states, “I have a mirage built by an Indy/formula race car builder….She’s a bada– little replica“. So, is this a real Mirage or does it just look like a Mirage, you know, a mirage of a Mirage? Further inquiry is necessary. Anyway, this Mirage, according to the seller, has “been very sorted out and rips down the road”. It is powered by a Chevrolet LT1, 350 CI V8 engine, more than likely an early ’90s version, which had a stock HP rating of 300 net HP. There is a manual Corvair transaxle in place so that would mean, in all probability, a four-speed unit.
Another observation is that the seller claims, “Body is ready for your paintwork“. The images present a pretty tidy looking presentation. There are no obvious seam separations, bubbles, waviness, or rivet-pops. Of course craigslist images don’t usually provide the best clarity so maybe real life is less spectacular than what is presented here. The seller makes a point of stating that the doors work properly so there’s no body sagging or shift. I think the biggest concern would be ground clearance, this baby is low and tight – you’d have to plan your route if the street operation was in the mix.
I like the interior, it has a racecar vibe to it but it doesn’t look like you need to be a contortionist to squeeze into the driver’s seat. The seller does mention that the steering wheel has a quick disconnect to aid ingress/egress. The switchgear has some neat, racecar style labeling while the simple black-faced gauges complete the overall go-fast visual experience. The seats look to be in fine condition with tufted upholstery that is reminiscent of a ’70s custom.
The seller claims that he has a title and a registration for this Manta. Real or replica, it’s a neat car for someone who wants to get a race car, Can-Am feel and be able to enjoy some open road motoring at the same time but you’re going to have to look out for those pesky speedbumps or potholes. Manta was a new one on me, how about a show of hands, does anyone have familiarity with this unique brand?
Looks very similar to the car used in the television series Hardcastle and McCormick.
https://www.rcnmag.com/fresh-finds/diy-coyote-x
H&C used the Montage as the Coyote X. The Mirage was built by the same company.
I liked the Coyote X, this one, not so much…
The body of this car is not at all nice to look at! The lines are off and very plain inside…
Grew up In Costa Mesa CA where these were built. Would often see them running around. They have known weaknesses that can be sorted. This particular car has been sorted. Is not too far down the road from me. Have wanted one for years and am considering picking it up.
Another thing is that these are small, like Lotus Europa small.
Coffin small then.
This car is on daily turisomo where the previous owner is a regular and has commented. You could easily get in touch with him.
This is made from a mold taken from a McLaren CanAm car.
Real CanAm cars are tiny. Just enough room for a Chevy big block, a driver and four tires.
A Lotus Europa is probably bigger, or at least longer.
https://barnfinds.com/cool-kit-car-manta-montage-kit-car/
check out comments
https://dailyturismo.com/racecar-backwards-is-mirage-1970ish-manta-mirage/
Check out comments
The Manta Mirage is a replica of the McLaren M8. As a kit car it is given a title with the year it is first registered. Obviously this is an older kit car that has was completed and registered in 2000.
A friend of mine had the one that was a coyote x.We would be at a gas station and somebody would always say is that a Ferrari He would always say it is it red
Nicely done, but if you dropped the hammer you might grenade the corvair transaxle. Think its worth the coin??? Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
I would drive that
Sold mine in 2008 for 50k. Love these cars!
Nice body style and engine. The image of the engine compartment is well done. Although I have a question about what appears to be an absence of an air conditioning compressor/system. Anybody able to help me out? I can imagine how toasty the driver would get keeping company with that wonderful V-8 just inches away. Second question about the passenger and driver side windows. Are those windows able to roll up and down?
Looks like an amusement park ride and probably drives just as well.
I bet it would be interesting to see the driver get in and out! my wife would never even try to get in this, and I wouldn’t blame her, not a good street design. head lights look like your driving a snow plow.
The guy who built and drove this also built the STP turbine car for the 1967 Indy, and three more turbine cars for Carol Shelby.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/STP-Paxton_Turbocar
One would imagine that the construction is to a high standard
Never heard of a copy of a manta, methinks that is just the way he had it titled.
If he gets his price, That makes me happy as my kit will be worth more also.
Corvair transaxles were all they had back in the day. I have a Fiberfab Valkyrie, They also used the corvair transaxle and corvair front suspension & steering.
The ring gears are only 6 1/2″ in diameter and the transaxles were inverted so they were running opposite of normal design. It created heat build up and also made them weaker.
I learned to rebuild them as the first one lasted about 2 1/2 days :)
Being very lightweight, they are pretty quick.
Upgrades are going to be a Buick turbo 6 & riviera trans & 4 wheel discs.
Probably 2000 was when it was put back on the road, I don’t believe they ever made manta repops.
The Hardcastle care was on a vw pan these were dedicated v8 and full frame cars.
Corvair transaxle were the working man’s build as were much cheaper. The bad was they were inverted and ran backwards which made issues with lubrication and weakened them. These replica cars were more of a road race design so not drag racers.
I have a Fiberfab Valkyrie that also used the vair transaxle and also the front suspension and steering box.
I learned to rebuild them as my first transaxle lasted 2 1/2 days (but it sure was fun).
Am going to upgrade those issues so I can enjoy the car instead of it being a poser.
Worked with a guy in the early 80’s at a large independent body shop in Independence, MO that had one. SBC with the Corvair transaxle to start. Finally got tired of fixing the transaxle, went to BBC with a Toranado (as memory serves) transaxle. Wicked fast, like scary…
Steve W. if you’re out there send me a PM
Sorry man, Steve W.’s Manta was last seen leaving earth orbit in 1983. All attempts at communication have failed.
I have looked closely into these cars. First off they are wider than a Lotus Europa by quite a bit but no taller. I currently own a Lotus Elise and have considered trading it for one of these before. For me there are few setbacks on this one, starting with the Corvair transaxle. The one I seriously considered the guy had put a ZF 5speed transaxle in his and that seems like the only real way to go — $10,000+ later. There were 2 different front suspensions mainly used — a VW Beetle one (yuk) and a Mustang II setup. So all those things can be dealt with. What can’t be dealt with is that overhang in front of the front tires — so doubtful its possible to make it over a lot of speed bumps etc…and then the lack of any storage space at all, although it looks like it should be possible to fabricate a small trunk in the rear. The lack of A/C could be dealt with. It’s just that Corvair transaxle man — dude I just can NOT get passed that.
The corvair transaxle was turned around not flipped and they were 66 and later saginaw trans which was behind many factory big blocks.