Strange Feeling In Throat Months

ILLUSIONS DE TOMASO Story

De Tomaso story

Argentina is the only player in the history of the symbol of the company De Tomaso. The brand name says a lot more. In fact, the black lines of the "T" form which was marked with the symbol of the horses of the estate of Alejandro's mother's family. The Ceballos family owned an estate of over one hundred thousand hectares in the province of San Luis at the foot of the Andes. The brand is linked to the name of the family that owns the property, and identification of cattle branded with the famous symbol and now known throughout the 'Argentina.

Alejandro De Tomaso was born in Buenos Aires July 10, 1928. Her father is an eminent politician, several times minister and presidential candidate. His mother belongs to one of the wealthiest families of agriculture in Argentina. A bond with his land that has never been dissolved as a symbol of the De Tomaso demonstrates. But the passion for racing, over the years grew to the point that Alejandro decided to change her life in a few months left both studies that Argentina. He arrived in Italy in 27 years and the only city where a spirit like his could go was Modena. In 1955 and 1956 was a pilot and Maserati in three seasons for Osca. Despite the success with felt he needed a change, so he founded his own automobile in 1959. The workshops were born in Modena and landed after subsequent moves to its present location. The first formula works ranging from junior to a project via a Formula 1 Indianapolis equipped with an 8-cylinder engine designed by engineer Massimino. The first racing cars in 1962. De Tomaso was very attached to the name of Hosea, a company created by the Maserati brothers after the sale of their brand. Therefore Osca became the first provider of De Tomaso boat with two engines: a 1100 and a two-liter double overhead cam shaft. In October 1963 De Tomaso became known to the public. At the Turin Motor Show was in fact the spider "Vallelunga"

characterized by a central single-beam frame. A feature which will be found also on the "Mongoose" and "heal", the De Tomaso of two thousand. This solution was then used only on Colin Chapman's Lotus Elan and sull'Alpine sedan version A110. The union with Hosea draws to a close even before the Vallelunga you decide to mount a Ford 1500 cc engine. Despite these innovative features the "Vallelunga" was produced in only 56 specimens because it could never be a race car for the drive low, or a large tourist for not flawless finish. The chassis remains nevertheless a milestone in the history of De Tomaso, almost the trademark of this company. Alejandro De Tomaso Vallelunga after he created a model to compete with a big engine, an idea that seduced even the American designer Pete Brock, author of the Hino Samurai and the Cobra Daytona. Made by the coachbuilder Fantuzzi "P-70" was shown at the Salone di Torino in 1965 with a 5-liter Ford V8 engine. At the Geneva show was presented in '66 another boat with a 8-cylinder engine of two liters created by Giugiaro, who in 1965 started working at Ghia, the body that in Turin 1967 will be bought by De Tomaso. The alliance will give the De Tomaso-Giugiaro in 1966, the Turin Motor Show the "Mongoose".

An aggressive design of the "Mongoose" that were sold with two engines: 4728 cc and 306 horsepower for Europe, 4949 cc, 230 hp for the U.S. version. And it will end up overseas by 280 of the 400 "Mongoose" that were produced between 1967 and 1970.

A sudden success that led Ford to forcefully enter the house of a shareholder Modena noting eighty percent of the shares. Ford wanted the new sedan will be the Panther.

Designed by American Tom Tjaarda had many versions from the Pantera 3 liters denle Pantera remained until a few years ago the only mid-engined car produced in Modena and numbers that high. Production figures ever affected by De Tomaso in Modena and none had so far made: 2500 cars a year. Even in track races the Panther proved unbeatable once managed to get second in 1972 in Gran Turismo League thanks to victories by Mike Parkes in Imola and Clay Regazzoni at Hockenheim.

The races have always been of primary importance for the De Tomaso, both for the pursuit of victory is as a platform to test the validity of their products and ideas. Direct participation in Formula 1 in 1970 was the pinnacle of racing history of De Tomaso. Was that a return to the De Tomaso in that category after a few appearances in the sixties. The house of Modena came at the start of the season with only one car with the livery and red colors of the house along the upper profile. Chief designer was Gianpaolo Dallara, the same which now produces eighty percent of the cars that run at Indianapolis, while team managers and owners was Frank Williams. In the fourth race on June 21 on the circuit Zanvoord tragedy struck: the twenty-eight English driver Piers Courage died. The 1970 season was completed, however, Alejandro but this tragedy could no longer be attracted to the Formula 1 races in general. in 1973 were sold to the Ford Ghia Vignale and where they were produced, but the Panther Alejandro took back the whole shares of De Tomaso. Output in 1970 was in the meantime a new car from the workshops De Tomaso: the Deauville to be followed two years later Longchamp. Also in 1972 is the acquisition of Benelli. Three years later, Alejandro adds another brick to his castle: Maserati. The Citroen, which controlled the Trident, was going through a deep crisis in those years. The Peugeot was then decided to buy the brand of "two horses" but decided to sell and Maserati. Alejandro did not miss the opportunity and with the help of Gepi took over the two years following the Maserati is the Innocenti. The Mini was designed by Bertone thus inherited by Alejandro. On July 10, 1981 was an agreement with the Daiahtsu for the provision of one hundred thousand engines, a unique agreement that will create even 120 thousand units. In the same year it was purchased the Moto Guzzi. Always comes out the year with a four-door Maserati engine 8-cylinder 4700 cc, which will be delivered to the President of the Republic, Sandro Pertini. The following year, Guzzi began producing four new twin-cylinder engines in the Innocenti plant Lambrate. Also in 1980 was produced by De Tomaso, the sports version of the Daihatsu Charade for the Japanese market. 1981 was the year of the Maserati Biturbo. The presentation of the coupe is December 14, exactly one year after submission of the four doors. In 1984, Lido Anthony Iacocca arrived in Modena after leaving Ford, and asked his friend Alejandro for building a convertible coupe: the Chrysler-Maserati TC. 7500 vehicles will be produced between 1987 and 1990 for the American market Innocenti plant in which they built in those years the bodies of the Maserati. In '90 was sold for 49 percent of Maserati to Fiat. In 1991, the Benelli is also transferred. In 1992 he was sold to a German fan, the penultimate Pantera, the latter is exhibited in the museum. In 1993 Alejandro hit a stroke, doctors gave him less than one per cent chance of escape. As he struggled for life she decided to save her child. To do so he gave up entirely sold Maserati to Fiat. Two years later he withdrew from the Guzzi Alejandro. He was born in those troubled years, the "cure".

De Tomaso is today the only fully independent Italian car brand. The recent Alejandro De Tomaso and his can look after more than forty years with pride.