The Manta Mirage was a mid-engined vehicle produced by Manta Cars, owned by brothers Brad and Tim LoVette, in Costa Mesa, California* from 1974 to 1986. The Mirage, originally referred to as just the 'Manta', or the 'Manta Can-Am', was a light-weight road-legal car, based loosely on the McLaren M8 Can-Am racing car. The Mirage's steel space frame chassis was fitted with a high-output V8 engine and 4-speed transaxle. Most Mirages were equipped with 327 cu. in. (5.4 L) or 350 cu. in. (5.7 L) Chevrolet small block V8 engines, though some used 454 cu. in. (7.4 L) or 460 cu. in. (7.5 L) V8 engines