Latest news with #AlejandroDeTomaso
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This Car Broke Carroll Shelby
Read the full story on Backfire News A rare De Tomaso P70, a mid-1960s prototype that marked the end of Carroll Shelby's collaboration with Argentine-born industrialist Alejandro de Tomaso, has resurfaced after decades in obscurity and is set to cross the auction block. Originally conceived to compete in the burgeoning Can-Am series, the P70 brought together an all-star team: Shelby, fresh off his Le Mans triumphs with Ford, Italian chassis builder De Tomaso, and designer Peter Brock, who had shaped the Daytona Coupe. The goal was nothing less than to challenge the dominant McLarens of the era with an American V8-powered machine wrapped in sleek Italian bodywork. 10 Gifts for Car People That Don't Suck (and Don't Cost a Fortune) The partnership quickly soured. Differences over engineering decisions and clashing personalities led Shelby to withdraw from the project before the car ever raced. The rift ended any chance of the P70 becoming a competitive force and left just a single example completed. Brock's dramatic design did not go to waste, however — elements of it would later influence the De Tomaso Mangusta, a production sports car some saw as De Tomaso's personal riposte to Shelby's exit. For decades, the lone P70 remained largely out of public view. Recently restored to its original specification, the car retains its aluminum bodywork, mid-mounted Ford V8, and Brock's distinctive aerodynamic profile. Its return has rekindled interest in a little-known chapter of American motorsport history, when Shelby's competitive ambitions extended beyond Cobras and GT40s. Auction specialists expect strong bidding, driven both by the P70's unique place in racing lore and by its rarity. It stands as a tangible reminder of what might have been — a bold experiment that, instead of rewriting record books, became a symbol of an ambitious partnership cut short.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This Car Made Shelby Walk Away, And Sparked an Italian Revenge
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector A nearly forgotten piece of motorsport history is roaring back to life—and into the auction spotlight. The De Tomaso P70, a radical Can-Am prototype from the mid-1960s, has been fully restored after decades of obscurity. But its legacy is more than mechanical. It's a story of ambition, betrayal, and a feud that fractured one of racing's most famous figures: Carroll Shelby. In 1964, Shelby, riding high on the success of the Cobra and his work with Ford, joined forces with Italian industrialist Alejandro de Tomaso. Their goal: to create a cutting-edge Can-Am car that could dethrone McLaren. Designed by Shelby's trusted partner, Peter Brock, the De Tomaso P70 was meant to marry American muscle with Italian innovation. It featured a lightweight chassis, sleek bodywork, and a Ford V8—on paper, a winning formula. 10 Must-Have Tools and Gear for the Modern Car Collector (Amazon Edition) But the partnership unraveled quickly. Tensions flared between Shelby and de Tomaso over delays, engineering decisions, and communication breakdowns. Shelby, frustrated and convinced the project was doomed, walked away. De Tomaso pressed on, reworking the P70's DNA into what would eventually become the backbone of the production De Tomaso Mangusta—a car with a name that means 'mongoose,' chosen for its reputation as a cobra killer. While the Mangusta became a cult classic, the original P70 was quietly tucked away and forgotten by most. Now, after an extensive restoration, the lone prototype has reemerged—reborn in its original form and slated for auction. 12 Secret Products Serious Collectors Swear By Collectors and historians alike are watching closely. Beyond its value as a rare race car, the P70 represents a pivotal 'what if' moment in American racing. What if Shelby had stayed the course? Could it have rewritten Can-Am history? The auction may answer one question—its value—but the debate over its legacy is just getting started. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Motor 1
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The De Tomaso P72 Is Finally Here. And It's Stunning
The revived De Tomaso brand burst onto the scene in 2019 with its beautiful P72 prototype. But in the six years since, we hadn't heard much from the Italian automaker as to when the production version would finally hit the road. Today, that changes. De Tomaso is revealing its first road-going P72 and promising deliveries later this year. And much like the prototype, De Tomaso's first production car looks absolutely lovely. Bellissima Photo by: De Tomaso The production P72 doesn't stray far from the original prototype visually, which is great news. The design was inspired by the 1965 De Tomaso P70, a collaboration between founder Alejandro De Tomaso and Carroll Shelby. This particular model is finished in a bright white paint job with rose gold striping, mirror caps, accents, and matching wheels. The wheels even bear a similar resemblance to those found on the original P70. The P72's curvaceous lines drape over a monocoque chassis formed from a single, continuous piece of carbon fiber, which also extends to the front and rear subframes. There's no bonding, no welding; De Tomaso says its chassis sets a "new benchmark" for structural purity. Photo by: De Tomaso Photo by: De Tomaso Photo by: De Tomaso Speaking of purity, the P72's interior is proudly gimmick-free. There are no screens, no infotainment system. Simply a cockpit-like interior designed to let owners focus on the task at hand: driving. Hand-stitched white leather and exposed carbon fiber cover most surfaces, while a stunning arrangement of tactile, machined aluminum gauges line the dashboard—all finished in rose gold, naturally. That even extends to the exposed shifter. American V-8 Power Photo by: De Tomaso The P72 is powered by a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 that De Tomaso says was developed exclusively for this vehicle. The company said previously that the engine was derived from a Ford Coyote V-8 and tuned by Roush, which we assume is still true. And by all accounts, it sounds fantastic . Here, that V-8 makes 700 horsepower and 604 pound-feet of torque, routed through a six-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels. De Tomaso doesn't publish figures like a 0-60 mph time or a maximum speed, but the company notes that the P72 wasn't engineered for "top-speed dominance." The De Tomaso P72 doesn't have drive modes, but the pushrod suspension does come with three-way manually adjustable dampers that allow the driver to customize the car to their preferred driving style. Engine Output De Tomaso P72 Supercharged 5.0L V-8 700 HP / 604 LB-FT "The P72 was our promise to faithfully revive a historic marque," says CEO Norman Choi. "This first production-specification vehicle embodies everything we stand for: a mechanical soul, timeless beauty, and a driving experience that rises above modern convention. It is our echo through time—now made real." The De Tomaso P72 begins deliveries later this year, but the company hasn't officially released details on pricing yet. That said, don't expect it to be cheap. 8 Source: De Tomaso More From De Tomaso De Tomaso P900 Debuts With V12 And 12,300 RPM Redline De Tomaso P72 Wows At Lake Como With Baby Blue Paint Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: De Tomaso Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Elvis Shot His Pantera In A Heated Rage For Being A Hooptie
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious The De Tomaso Pantera is an Italian supercar with Ford engine. Frustrating many, this car was rushed to market, but was on the verge of greatness. Thanks to Ford rushing it to market, it was known as being a total lemon of a car. Elvis handled the car's gremlins with fire power. Learn about the Top Gun Porsche here. Alejandro De Tomaso born in Argentina, fled after he was implicated in a plot to overthrow the Argentinian government, settled in Northern Italy. De Tomaso raced and started his own car company. Execs at Ford liked the car and pushed the leadership to collaborate, and it only took a year to make the Pantera. In its own price class, had power windows, and air conditioning. Very different for its time, it rolled on 4-wheel IRS and got stopping power from disc brakes. Since it was billed as a higher end car under the Ford umbrella, it was sold through Lincoln dealerships. The Pantera was known for having an awkward steering wheel that blocks the gauges, pedals are shifted towards the center so it's hard to shift. The car had a tendency to overheat and vapor lock. Mechanics hated them, they were plagued by recalls and electrical issues, but they still had and have a loyal fan base. Awkward steering wheel that blocks the gauges, pedals are shifted towards the center so it's hard to shift. The car had a tendency to overheat and vapor lock. That might be because it was powered by a 351 Cleveland - rated 310 hp due to emissions standards - and had a uniquely tuned exhaust that gave it a very distinct growl. Elvis bought one used for $2,500 ($13000) to impress his girlfriend Linda Thompson. His career was sliding at the time, and he gained a reputation of being a hot head, famously shooting his tv because he didn't like who was on it. He was known for playing with guns, like shooting floating lightbulbs in his swimming pool, and even brought a gun into the oval office. After an argument with his girlfriend, he went to leave and the car wouldn't start, this set him off. Elvis shot the car twice, one bullet ricocheted off the steering wheel into the windshield. The car was sold by Elvis in 1976, of course we all know Elvis died a year later in 1977, and in 1981, the Pantera was traded for $300,000 worth of diamonds. Shortly after, it was sold to Robert Petersen, owner of the Petersen Museum where the car lives today. "I was thrilled to get the Pantera," said Petersen. "Elvis' tantrums are well known and to have a vehicle associated with one of them makes our collection that much more special"
