De Tomaso engaged Carrozzeria Ghia to finalise the design of the car which was being developed under the project name of P70.

The single completed car was displayed at the 1965 Turin Motor Show as the Ghia De Tomaso Sport 5000.

De Tomaso then modified the steel backbone chassis of the P70 and it became the basis for the Mangusta, which was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Ghia.

The Mangusta was imported into the United States via a federal waiver which applied to the car due to its small production numbers.

[8] The Mangusta was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, whose main highlight is a centre-hinged, two-section bonnet that opened akin to gullwing doors.

All round Girling disc brakes and independent suspension, rack and pinion steering, air conditioning, and power windows were fitted, ahead of other manufacturers at the time.