Obviously the Mirage needs some work, justifying the low price, but there’s nothing here that should scare you away from taking on this project at home. The icing on the cake though, is a clear California title under the Specially-Constructed Vehicle route. Also included in the sale, is a brand-new windshield, and a new wiring harness has been installed. The seller states that the clutch needs to be bled, a nice afternoon project, and the engine is nicely dressed with matching finned accessories, an Edelbrock dual-plane intake and thorough heat shielding. To start, the car appears to be all there, and the engine (likely a small-block Chevrolet) even runs. With a “Buy it Now” price of just $8,000 on eBay, this Mirage looks to be a good deal on price alone, but there are some other positives for the average DIY guy. Really great Mantas can ask nearly $30,000, while fixer uppers may sell for as little as $10,000. These days, the Manta enjoys a niche following from fans of classic kit cars and enterprising home builders. Chevrolet small-block engines powered the Mirage most often, but big-block and Ford-powered examples were also constructed. It was based on a steel space frame chassis with respectable geometry, and topped by a hand-laid fiberglass body patterned off Can-Am race cars of the 1970s. Manufactured in California from 1974 to 1986, the Mirage was Manta Cars’ most successful model. The car is relatively complete, runs and is a screaming deal at $8,000 (to my eyes at least), but it takes the right person to see the possibilities.

Take this Manta Mirage on eBay for example. Some of the best deals on the internet are disguised by black spray paint and steel wheels.

Manta car corvette