ENCYCLOPEDIA MARKETPLACE FORUM Search
Visit our sponsor... Visit our sponsor...
  • ALFA ROMEO TIPO 33 STRADALE blueprints (set of 4). Read More
  • 17 rare original factory heliographic BLUEPRINTS of Bertone technical master drawings. Read More
  • Lamborghini Countach LP500 Prototype 1:5 scale model by Bertone. Read More
  • FOR SALE: collection of four extremely rare pre-war original SCUDERIA FERRARI factory letters to ALFA ROMEO MILANO. Read More
  • Fine collectible automotive memorabilia like factory drawings, prints, posters, books, brochures, artworks and rare parts. Read More
› ‹
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Model

Fantuzzi De Tomaso P70 Spyder 1965
Fantuzzi De Tomaso P70 Spyder 1965
4.5/10 rating (2 votes)

Description

De Tomaso P70 Fantuzzi Spyder 1965

The De Tomaso Sport 5000 (also known as the Ghia DeTomaso, the De Tomaso 70P or the De Tomaso P70) was a short-lived sports racing car built by De Tomaso in 1965. Fitted with a 289 cu in (4,736 cc) Ford V8 engine, the Sport 5000 was initially designed to be used as a Grand Tourer; however, only one car was ever built of the planned 50, meaning that it competed solely as a sports prototype in just one race, the 1966 Mugello Grand Prix.

Towards the end of 1965, Alejandro de Tomaso, the owner of De Tomaso, decided to respond to criticism about the firm's Vallelunga lacking power. Carroll Shelby sourced a 289 cu in (4,736 cc) Ford V8 engine (tuned to provide around 475 hp (354 kW; 482 PS) at 7,300 rpm), and also commissioned Pete Brock to design the car's open-top aluminium bodywork. Using the unique backbone chassis of the Vallelunga, with only a few modifications, the Sport 5000 was built in Italy, by local metalworkers. However, Shelby was unhappy with the resulting bodywork, and sent Brock to work alongside Medardo Fantuzzi to redevelop it; the resulting car, which featured a moveable rear wing and full doors, was christened as the De Tomaso 70P, or De Tomaso P70. 

However, before the end of 1965, Shelby withdrew from the project, instead turning his attention to the struggling Ford GT40 project. As a result, De Tomaso turned to Ghia, and the car became known as the Ghia DeTomaso. The car made its first public appearance at the Turin Motor Show in November 1965, with striking red bodywork. The car would appear again at the Modena Racing Car Show in February 1966, and was featured on the front cover of Road & Track Magazine a month later. Due in part to the withdrawal of Shelby, only one P70 was built; however, Brock had stayed on as part of the project, and was intended to be the car's American distributor. Prior to the car's racing debut, De Tomaso modified the design and built a 2nd car to be used in European races under the name of Sport 5000. The car was raced in a hillclimb alongside a Ferrari 250LM, but was unable to finish the race.

De Tomaso had attempted to enter the Sebring 12 Hours in March 1966, with the Italian trio of Pierre Noblet, Franco Bernabei and Umberto Maglioli selected to drive; however, they withdrew from the event and did not compete. It would be another three months before another Sport 5000 entry was lodged, but De Tomaso's attempt to run Noblet and Bernabei at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was rejected by that event's organizers. The car finally made its debut in July, where Roberto Bussinello drove the car in the Mugello Grand Prix round of the World Sportscar Championship; however, he retired on the opening lap.

Following the unsuccessful Mugello race, the Sport 5000 was mothballed, and never raced again. The rear-end design of the car was used on the Brock-designed Suzuki Hino racing car, whilst the running gear was later used in De Tomaso's Mangusta road car. The Sport 5000 would remain at the De Tomaso factory until 2004, when VDV Grant purchased the car, following Alejandro de Tomaso's death that year.

Peter Brock on Fantuzzi:

"Their methods of construction were totally different than those we use here in the USA and also in the U.K. They worked in wire form, not wooden bucks, with templates at each “station.” Fast, simple and far more illustrative of what will be built. Easy to change mid-build if it becomes evident that change is needed. Very practical."

Specifications

Bookmark and Share
08.07.19

Item views

3219

Search encyclopedia on keyword

See the Coachbuilders Encyclopedia for the continuously expanding overview of designers, coachbuilders and their numerous creations from past to present.

ENCYCLOPEDIAFind a car

Join our Coachbuilders Forum for additional coachbuilders related info, details, provenance, images and questions.

FORUM Search

MARKETPLACERates

AUTOMOBILIA SHOP

  • 1

TESTIMONIALS

I am not a natural flatterer, I like to think that I "tell it like it is", politely I hope. So when I tell you that I am very impressed by the contents of your website, it is just not English politeness. I of course love the subject matter but you deal with it in an energetic and respectful manner. I am overwhelmed by the research that has gone into compiling the list of coachbuilders/bodybuilders for Europe and North America. I have never heard of the vast majority of them. Congratulations on an excellent website.
- N. Maltby of Car Scene International

We use Coachbuild.com almost daily as our main reference source!
- Schloss Dyck Classic Days

We use Coachbuild.com all the time for references!
- Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

We are very impressed by your website!
- Bicester Heritage UK

To Top


VintageAutoPosters West Coast Motors - Harley-Davidson Specials