The De Tomaso P72 was revealed overnight as the brand’s first production car in more than 20 years, based heavily on the ‘Project P’ concept which broke cover at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
A homage to the P70 which raced just once in 1970, the P72 mates classic sports prototype lines with modern underpinnings and technology.
Just 72 examples of the P72 will be made, all of which coming from a production line in Germany which is owned by De Tomaso’s Hong-Kong based parent, Ideal Ventures.
A carbon monocoque chassis features push-rod suspension, with three-way manually adjustable dampers, allowing drivers to set the supercar up to their preference.
The carbon fibre bodywork is reminiscent of classic sports cars, albeit with modern aerodynamic aids such as splitter strakes and rear diffuser tunnels to help give it some downforce.
Inside the P72 lacks any screens, with analogue dials sitting in front of the driver, while bespoke switchgear is found throughout the cabin – available with bead-blasted, hand-brushed, or hand-polished treatment.
And yes, a six-speed manual transmission is standard, as the gear selector sticking out from the hand-stitched leather upholstered centre console suggests.
The row-your-own ‘box is mated to a ‘hand-assembled’ 5.0-litre V8 engine, understood to be a heavily modified and supercharged Ford Coyote.
Claimed to be fitted with bespoke forged internals and De Tomaso’s own supercharger, it produces 522kW and 820Nm.
The fitment of a Ford engine links back to De Tomaso’s origins, where the company was partly owned by the Blue Oval.
In the 1970s and 1980s, most of De Tomaso’s V8-powered models – such as the Pantera supercar and the Longchamp Grand Tourer – used Ford’s 5.8-litre (or 351 cubic-inch) Cleveland, which was cast in Geelong.
Pricing hasn’t been announced, though the P72 is likely a classic example of “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it”.
Discussion about this post