Latest news with #PeterBrock
Yahoo
6 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
Perth Now
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Hot Holdens star at UK Festival of Speed
A pair of legendary Holden race cars have starred at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, knocking off rivals including the Ford Mustang GTD, TWR Supercat and Porsche 911 GT3 R in the final of the timed shoot-out. The fastest Holden was the 2008 Holden Racing Team (HRT) VE Commodore driving by current British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill, who clocked a 48.35-second run up the narrow 1.86km course. That was good enough to come home fifth overall in the 20-car field, won by the 43.22 second run set by a 1030kW electric Ford Supertruck driven by Romain Dumas, who set an unofficial lap record around Bathurst in an electric Ford Transit in 2024. The VE Commodore V8 Supercar that Hill drove at Goodwood ran HRT's 2008 livery and, while it was originally built by the factory Holden team, the car was first raced that season by sister outfit, the HSV Dealer Team, by Rick Kelly. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert New Zealand Supercars star Greg 'Murph' Murphy – a four-time Bathurst 1000 winner – was also in top form at the wheel of the Holden Monaro 427C which he co-drove with Peter Brock, Todd Kelly and Jason Bright to win the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour. The Monaro 427C was built by Garry Rogers Motorsport for the Australian Nations Cup Championship, with its crown jewel event a 24-hour race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst. It was so-named as the road-going Monaro's 5.7-litre V8 was replaced by a 7.0-litre version – which is 427 cubic inches – with the wild Monaro winning both 24 Bathurst races held in 2002 and 2003 and spawning a limited-edition 'HRT 427' showroom model. Running it in its 2003 Bathurst race livery, including Peter Brock's famous '05' racing number, 'Murph' took the red Monaro up the Goodwood hill more than two seconds faster in his last run for a 50.37 time. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The effort saw the Kiwi jump from 11th in provisional runs to storm home seventh overall, pipping the Ford Mustang GTD of Dirk Muller in the process. Making it three antipodean top ten results, fellow New Zealander Steven Richards – a five-time Bathurst winner – came home tenth in the Nissan Skyline GTS-R which took the 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship by his father, Jim. MORE: Everything Holden
7NEWS
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Hot Holdens star at UK Festival of Speed
A pair of legendary Holden race cars have starred at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, knocking off rivals including the Ford Mustang GTD, TWR Supercat and Porsche 911 GT3 R in the final of the timed shoot-out. The fastest Holden was the 2008 Holden Racing Team (HRT) VE Commodore driving by current British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill, who clocked a 48.35-second run up the narrow 1.86km course. That was good enough to come home fifth overall in the 20-car field, won by the 43.22 second run set by a 1030kW electric Ford Supertruck driven by Romain Dumas, who set an unofficial lap record around Bathurst in an electric Ford Transit in 2024. The VE Commodore V8 Supercar that Hill drove at Goodwood ran HRT's 2008 livery and, while it was originally built by the factory Holden team, the car was first raced that season by sister outfit, the HSV Dealer Team, by Rick Kelly. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. New Zealand Supercars star Greg 'Murph' Murphy – a four-time Bathurst 1000 winner – was also in top form at the wheel of the Holden Monaro 427C which he co-drove with Peter Brock, Todd Kelly and Jason Bright to win the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour. The Monaro 427C was built by Garry Rogers Motorsport for the Australian Nations Cup Championship, with its crown jewel event a 24-hour race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst. It was so-named as the road-going Monaro's 5.7-litre V8 was replaced by a 7.0-litre version – which is 427 cubic inches – with the wild Monaro winning both 24 Bathurst races held in 2002 and 2003 and spawning a limited-edition 'HRT 427' showroom model. Running it in its 2003 Bathurst race livery, including Peter Brock's famous '05' racing number, 'Murph' took the red Monaro up the Goodwood hill more than two seconds faster in his last run for a 50.37 time. The effort saw the Kiwi jump from 11th in provisional runs to storm home seventh overall, pipping the Ford Mustang GTD of Dirk Muller in the process. Making it three antipodean top ten results, fellow New Zealander Steven Richards – a five-time Bathurst winner – came home tenth in the Nissan Skyline GTS-R which took the 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship by his father, Jim.
