Latest news with #DeTomasoP70
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
