Rescuing an Abandoned 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta: Seized Ford V8 Engine Overhaul

The 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta is an ultra-rare mid-engine supercar combining Italian Ghia body design with American V8 muscle. Delivered as a heavily rusted junkyard shell with a completely seized engine, this video documents its full step-by-step restoration back to operational condition. In this episode, we execute: • Chassis & Body Metalwork: Stripping severe rust, metal panel repair, and aligning the iconic split rear engine doors. • V8 Engine Teardown & Unseizing: Dismantling the seized Ford 302 V8, replacing frozen pistons, and restoring internal tolerances. • Suspension & Braking Overhaul: Rebuilding the independent suspension arms, renewing disc brakes, and fitting period-correct wheels. • Coachbuilt Interior Refresh: Re-upholstering classic leather bucket seats, wiring original instrumentation, and final exterior polishing. From a rusted, forgotten junkyard shell to a running Italian-American icon, watch the complete transformation. Subscribe to Rust2Riches for weekly rare supercar rescues, engine overhauls, and classic car builds! #DeTomaso #DeTomasoMangusta #SupercarRestoration #CarRestoration #Rust2Riches