If you are a sports-car enthusiast and desire a rare collectible car that helps you stand out among the crowd, it doesn't get better than the Bertone Mantide. Owning this rare gem may well be your ticket into the world of exclusive sports-car shows and events. Generally pronounced as Bertone "Man-Tih-Day", this roadrunner is literally a unique, one of its kind car. It was built as a concept car based on the popular C6 Corvette ZR1 model. The car was virtually unveiled on YouTube in 2009. The original plan was to build at least 10 Bertone Mantide cars, but for a host of reasons, it never happened. Eventually, there was only one Bertone Mantide built, and this very fact made the car much more desirable and sought after.

Though we’ve seen some kickass hyper-cars in recent years, they're no match for the decade-old Bertone Mantide. Of all the supercars, hyper-cars, and luxury vehicles that managed to establish their mettle across the globe, the Mantide, in particular, managed to catch our attention. Wondering why this Bertone hyper-car stands out as the first pick in an extensive lot of collectible cars out there? Let's find out.

Inspired By The C6 Chevrolet ZR1

Chevrolet ZR1 in white rear 3/4 view
Via Pinterest

The Bertone Mantide is inspired by the C6 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - one of the best cars built by General Motors in recent times. The ZR1 is a relatively young Chevy legend built as a high-performance variant of the Corvette Z06. The car was rumored to have been developed under the internal code name Blue Devil, named after CEO Rick Wagoner's alma mater, Duke University. After over a year of public speculation, GM finally released details of the highly anticipated project in April 2007 and eventually introduced the car on the 19th of December that year. The ZR1 was immediately on the wish-list of most global car enthusiasts. The super-car looked like a magnificent daredevil and managed to awe everyone who set an eye on it. The heart of the ZR1 Corvette boasted a supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 V8 engine. It was capable of generating an outrageous 638 horsepower at 6500 RPM. The car was torquey too, with the ability to generate 604 pound-feet of torque at 3,800 RPM. The manufacturers initially claimed a top speed of 205 mph, but other sources claimed that the car could only go as high as 192mph. It came with premium features that included a special carbon-fiber roof, hood, and fenders and a polycarbonate window, placed in the center of the hood. Despite the compact design, you could see the engine intercooler from the outside. Carbon-ceramic brakes were installed as an ultra-precautious measure. The car came with sensors that would automatically adjust stiffness levels based on road conditions and vehicle movement. All in all, the C6 Chevy Corvette ZR1 was the ultimate super-car package that went down as a massive success for General Motors - both in terms of revenue, as well as critical acclamation.

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Brainchild Of American Designer Jason Castriota

Mantide Concept Car
Via Supercars.Net Official Website

Legendary car designer Jason Castriota is renowned globally for a host of ultra-special cars that he's designed. These include the iconic Ferrari 599, the Maserati GranTurismo, and even Jim Glickenhaus' Ferrari P4/5 Pininfarina. It's only fair to say that when someone with such an impressive CV works on his own brainchild, the result is bound to be overwhelming. The Bertone Mantide is undoubtedly one of the most unique cars ever built. One glance at this bad boy is enough to get car lovers tripping. This bad boy has the muscle power of the Corvette and the body of a car that should belong to a superhero. We're only shocked that this car hasn’t been picked for a solo movie yet - but never say never!

Though based on the Chevy Corvette ZR1, the Mantide managed to surpass the performance output of its parent car. The special gem's unique design aids in advancing aerodynamics, which is further enhanced by its significantly lesser dry weight. That's right, the Mantide is over 220 pounds lighter than the ZR1, owing to the extensive use of carbon fiber in all body panels, interior trims, seats, and even the wheels. Though its engine is the same as the ZR1, the Mantide can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.2 seconds, as compared to the ZR1's 0 to 60 figure of 3.5 seconds. The Mantide boasts a bewildering top speed of 218 miles per hour, which is significantly higher than the ZR1 which claims to have a top speed of 205 mph. After almost a decade, this beast was put up for auction in October 2019, by its original owner, Dan Watkins. The hypercar was repainted "Bianco Fuji", and put up for auction with a mileage of 10,000 miles.

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Mantide Concept Car
Via Supercars.Net Official Website

With its devilish looks and unparallel charisma, the Bertone Mantide became an instant hit among the youth and global car enthusiasts. The special car featured in popular games such as Forza Motorsport 3 and 4. It was available as a free unlock at driver level 35, along with a small collection of other special cars valued at or around 1mn credits. Last we heard, the original (and only) Bertone Mantide model was up for grabs in 2019 at Autosport Designs in Long Island.

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