Coyote X

We all know this amazing car from the series Hardcastle and McCormick. The action series was played by Brian Keith as Judge Milton C. Hardcastle and Daniel Hugh Kelly as ex-con and race car driver Mark "Skid" McCormick.

Coyote X

The low red ridding car with large Coyote badges has an impressive history just like its impressive show it featured in.  

Rear of the Coyote X

The car was actually a modified Mantra Montage kit car. The kit car design and looks were based from yet another famous car called the McLaren M6GT. The car was designed by Bruce McLaren who hopped to make it to an impressive and amazing super car. However he passed on in 1970 without achieving his dream.

Front design with the smoked headlamps

Mantra adopted the impressive styling to their new kit car ensuring that the design remains alive. The design characteristics are based on racing Porsches like the 917 and the 908. However compared to the Porsches, the Mantra has a leaner profile and a more aggressive design. To make the Coyote X, the rear glass was removed to emphasize an open air feel to the occupants. 

McLaren M6GT

To make it more outstanding on television the front headlights had smoked headlamp lenses. The kit car looks were visible at the rear where it had large rear lights. The rear lights not only looked like they were from a different world but they help give the car its unmistakable rear identity. The power output is unknown since kit cars normally equipped with different engines. 

Mantra Montage

Much of the car remains unknown as by the time original low Coyote X was replaced by a DeLorean which was modified to look like the original Coyote.

DeLoren car with Gull wing doors 

The reason for this was because Brian Keith, who played Hardcastle, had difficulty climbing in and out of the first car. The DeLorea gull-winged configuration solved this problem.

Hardcastle and McCormick

The new car was so unproportioned it looked more of a thrown together than an actual kit car. After some two more seasons both cars were parked for good as the show was canceled. 

DeLoren Coyote X

The Coyote X not only brings child hood memories to many of us but as a kit car it made it possible to own an impressive supercar at a reasonable cost. Many kit designs have followed its epic design and characteristics, but none has ever been as original as the first Coyote X.