Construction details
Based on a pre-World War II Maserati racing car, it had a wire-mesh "cage" with the body laid over the bare space frame, with air intakes in the rear quarter panels ahead of the wheels. The car had open wheels and exposed carburetor velocity stacks, as well as exposed distributor. It was painted white. It had Hot rod#Language, lakes pipes. Like a number of other show rods at the time, including Silhouette (show rod), ''Silhouette'', it had a bubble canopy.History
''Mantaray'' began as a gift from Jeffries' father: a pre-World War II Maserati racing car. Jeffries built a wire-mesh "cage" and laid the body over the bare space frame. After the car was completed, it won the Best Experimental car award at the 1964 Pomona car show (at the 1964 NHRA Winternationals, Winternationals). It then won the special constructor's award, top prize for a non-roadster, at the 1964 Oakland Roadster Show. It also appeared on Steve Allen's "The Tonight Show", which led to the producers of ''Bikini Beach'' using it in their film. Though customs such as Ala Kart (custom car), ''Ala Kart'' and the Hirohata Merc had appeared in film before, ''Mantaray'' was the first to get appreciable time on screen. (A decade later, Pete Chapouris' The California Kid (custom car), ''California Kid'' would have a starring role.) Following its use in the film, ''Mantaray'' was sent for measuring by Aluminum Model Toys, AMT, for a prospective scale model, model kit.References
Modified vehicles Automotive styling features Maserati vehicles 1960s cars Kustom Kulture Individual cars Rear-wheel-drive vehicles History of California {{auto-stub