The Tomaso Longchamp: Finally recognition

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Purchasing classics there

The De Tomaso Longchamp is a nice current market example. The current market trend is that top classics sell well. And the refurbishers where people used to be restoring for years to come to a top result? They remain standing.

She no longer finds 'the market' interesting. At least: that applies to most 'projects'. A De Tomaso Longchamps screaming for attention? It will be fine with that.

Alejandro de Tomaso

De Tomaso was founded by the Argentinian Alejandro de Tomaso. His father was minister of agriculture in the 1930s. His mother was one of the oldest Spanish families in Argentina. Within the family, the money happily lumped against the baseboards.

At the age of 27, De Tomaso arrived as a sort of political refugee in 1955-1956 competitions in a Maserati racing car with an OSCA engine.

In 1959 he started his own car factory, a suburb of Modena. The Argentinian flag was proudly part of the De Tomaso logo. The symbol in the logo is the brand as it was used on the ranch where Alejandro grew up. The first car to roll off the tire there was a sports car, the Vallelunga. Then came the Mangusta with a Ford V8. Ford opened the road to America when it bought 80 percent of the shares.

This was followed by the Deauville and then the most successful and best-known model, the Pantera, designed by Tom Tjaarda.

And then there was the De Tomaso Longchamp.

The Tomaso took over Maserati from in the 1970s Citroën and, after Maserati was again taken over by the Fiat group, has been an independent builder of Italian sports cars for several years. However, De Tomaso was declared bankrupt in July 2012.

Elegance and brutality

The combination of Italian elegance with a rude, brutal and extremely reliable V8 engine had proven itself in De Pantera and kept the De Tomaso Longchamp, which was produced in the 17 years that it was produced, always somewhat in the shade. 1972 Longchamps were sold between 1989 and 409: 395 times as a coupé and 14 times as a convertible. The most lavish - and now sought after - version was the GTS, which was released at the same time as the 2nd series Longchamp in 1980.

Maserati vs Ford

For the Lonchamp / Kyalami a modified Quattroporte chassis was used with almost the same bodywork for both models. Each model did have its own front and butt part. The Kyalami received Maserati's delicate V8. The Longchamp, on the other hand, received a fair cast-iron Ford Cleveland 5,8 liter V8 block (with an automatic three-speed tank in most cases). The American technology made the car extremely reliable.

That V8 delivered between 270 and 330 hp in the De Tomaso Longchamp. . For many purists, the American adoptive engine was the reason for never seeing the De Tomaso Longchamp as a true Italian thoroughbred. It was even referred to by some as a “warehouse stock special”. With the headlights of a Ford Granda, Alfa Romeo rear lights and quite a few other 'borrowed' parts, that comment was not entirely unjustified. But the approach was not unusual for exotics made in small series.

Creating interiors ...

The Italians can do that. Rows of chrome-rimmed Veglia meters and clocks, toggle switches and lights in a beautiful setting of leather or Alcantara. In that oasis of high-quality interior work, the American heart of the Longchamp was proudly displayed: the large, chrome T-shifter that operated Ford's indestructible Cruise-o-matic three-speed gearbox. Of course, a vending machine in a car like the Longchamp was for purists something to be very angry. All in all, fewer than 20 buyers opted for a Longchamp with manual ZF five-speed gearbox.

This design by Tom Tjaarda did not become a real hit. This 2 + 2 GT was overlooked for years. Even ignored. This trend has reversed.

A De Tomaso in Bucket Compascuum

The Longchamp that is at Lancia (and other Italo exotics) specialist Willems in Emmer Compascuum is therefore not lost. I'm sure it will be all right with that car!

 

The Tomaso Longchamp

The Tomaso Longchamp, project
It will be some time before the De Tomaso Longchamp from Emmer Compascuum is brochure fresh again

 

 

 

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2 comments

  1. Nice story but for me all cars that are nice should not be in the spotlight because that is only good for dealers who want to make a lot of money and not for the enthusiasts with a small purse like me.

    • Curious comment.
      Martin is probably more enthusiast than you, despite being a trader.

      And with a small purse you can't keep such a car. Both the restoration and the driving costs a lot of money.
      Or do you think you can buy it for a few thousand euros, then have it painted and painted for free and that the necessary technical components will be donated to you as well as the petrol?

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