Monterey 2009: Bertone shows off ZR1-based Mantide
Bertone Mantide - Click above for a high-res image gallery
It's become a recent tradition for a coachbuilt car to be shown at the Gooding auction tent on Friday evening (previous years we got a look at the Pininfarina P4/5 and the Pininfarina Hyperion), and this year we were treated to the ZR1-based Bertone Mantide. The car's owner, Dan Watkins, actually drove the car from New York to Monterey for the unveiling and was on hand along with designer Jason Castriota to introduce the one-off car.
Our sources tells us that Jay Leno is next in line to purchase a Mantide, possibly followed by JK Jamiroquai, both of whom showed particular interest in the car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In addition to the new live photos from the unveiling last night, we've also included a new video featuring Watkins at Goodwood talking about the Mantide after the jump.
Gallery: Monterey 2009: Bertone Mantide
Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mr.TiredOfEconomicDownturn 5:57AM (8/15/2009)
Still a big mess.
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MaX PL 3:05PM (8/15/2009)
this car is so freakin ugly.
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AZZO45b 6:26PM (8/15/2009)
I didn't know Monterey showed NIKE concept footwear... this is epic FAIL on unimaginable levels!!! :( :( :(
madgamer 3:11PM (8/15/2009)
Buying this car would be virtual insanity at the price they are asking...
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O.Z.Racing_UK 3:12PM (8/15/2009)
Eww. Do not f about with ZR1's, leave them stock.
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Dan 3:11PM (8/15/2009)
I think the designers came up with this after 2-3 hours of Transformers, M.A.S.K., and G.I.Joe and several cases of Stolichnaya. Just kidding... it wasn't G.I.Joe... it was Jem.
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Taglane 3:15PM (8/15/2009)
Legendary fail.
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Torrent 6:09PM (8/15/2009)
LMAO! I'm gonna use that one.
carguy 3:18PM (8/15/2009)
This is a joke right?
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AZZO45b 6:28PM (8/15/2009)
No the "joke" is that Jay Leno actually wants one of these abortions!!!
ack154 3:20PM (8/15/2009)
That poor ZR1.
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Zeph 3:29PM (8/15/2009)
This car actually makes the Lambo Reventon seem like value for money. It's so freakishly ugly it's not even funny, and the ZR1 is actually a good looking car to begin with. It may have the performance but it certainly has the ugly.
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Brandon 3:41PM (8/15/2009)
This car is ridiculously ugly... At least with the Panamera it starts to grow on you. Well me, at least.
But this... jeez man. I cringe the same way every time I see it.
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not-so-rednwhitecooper 3:37PM (8/15/2009)
I think its cool. What happened to all those out there styling exercise cars like the Bertone Carabo? They are just out there designs that helped influence styling for cars in the future.
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Josh 3:51PM (8/15/2009)
Agreed, I really like this car :)
Ricky 3:50PM (8/15/2009)
Is it April 1st already?
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Farris 3:54PM (8/15/2009)
This car has ELEMENTS of beauty in it... but putting it all together makes it an abomination.
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Jeff Johnson 4:07PM (8/15/2009)
all that work and they still kept the crappy stock NAV unit that comes with all vettes? How do I know it sucks? I have one.
The car itself is ugly as sin, the only cool thing I saw was the harness system integrated into the back shelf for a low profile race restraint type system.
For that price -- why does the paint have so many swirl marks and holograms in it? Someone doesn't know how to wash a car.
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Doppelgänger 4:29PM (8/15/2009)
I kinda like it.
I saw Dan and his "crew" (friends) on their trip when they stopped in Gand Junction, Colorado and managed to take a few pics. I didn't want to be a pesky spectator and ask a million questions....but it was really cool to see in person (along with the McLaren F1 that was along on the trip). The cars were filthy when I saw them...which put an even bigger smile on my face.
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Doppelgänger 4:34PM (8/15/2009)
Oh and here are a couple pics from when I saw it on the road...
http://img2.pict.com/e4/ea/0d/1467743/0/800/mantideturn.jpg
http://img2.pict.com/7e/41/e4/1467739/0/800/mantiderearside.jpg
http://img2.pict.com/c9/f3/1d/1467733/0/800/mantideheadlight.jpg
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