Tag Archives: DeTomaso

1980 INNOCENTI MINI DE TOMASO

Revisit - original post September 2020

We saw this for sale again today and couldn't help but share. It's a real treasure to look at, and we love the BMC A-series running gear. This won't be the cheapest car to stash spares for, and we can imagine how all of the gas pump conversations would go. Original post from September 2020 below:

Today's post started out as a simple search for a De Tomaso Pantera.  You know, to continue on with the Marcelo Gandini theme from the end of last week.  What we unearthed in that search was a vehicle that was heretofore unbeknownst to us: the Innocenti Mini De Tomaso, penned by none other than Signore Gandini himself.

Similar, in a sense, to the licensing agreement accompanying the production of yesterday's Polsky Fiat 126P, Innocenti developed a Bertone-styled version of the BLMC Mini, after British Leyland Motor Company purchased Innocenti in 1972.  At the onset of sales, buyers could opt for either 998cc or 1275cc BMC A-series engines.The De Tomaso trim added the hood scoop, fender flares, and fog lights.  Engine output on the De Tomaso began at 71bhp and ended up with a bump to 74bhp - not bad in a 1,600lb runabout.

Continue reading 1980 INNOCENTI MINI DE TOMASO

1980 Innocenti Mini De Tomaso

Today's post started out as a simple search for a De Tomaso Pantera.  You know, to continue on with the Marcelo Gandini theme from the end of last week.  What we unearthed in that search was a vehicle that was heretofore unbeknownst to us: the Innocenti Mini De Tomaso, penned by none other than Signore Gandini himself.

Similar, in a sense, to the licensing agreement accompanying the production of yesterday's Polsky Fiat 126P, Innocenti developed a Bertone-styled version of the BLMC Mini, after British Leyland Motor Company purchased Innocenti in 1972.  At the onset of sales, buyers could opt for either 998cc or 1275cc BMC A-series engines.The De Tomaso trim added the hood scoop, fender flares, and fog lights.  Engine output on the De Tomaso began at 71bhp and ended up with a bump to 74bhp - not bad in a 1,600lb runabout.

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Year: 1980
Model: Innocenti Mini De Tomaso
Engine: 1275cc 4-cyl
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage:  94,150km
Price: $14,900 Obo

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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1980 Innocenti Mini De Tomaso

Very rare 1980 Mini Innocenti De Tomaso in mint condition. Very rare in North America. Italian MIni with all British Leyland running gear Left hand drive. 94150 km Hatchback Body by Bertone with practical rear fold-down seat. Full gauges. 1275cc Mini engine engine (NOT the 3 cylinder Diahtsu) producing 77HP. 4 speed transmission.

The car is mechanically sound. It starts, runs and drives well. It runs a 998cc inline-four mated to a 4-speed manual transmission and was regularly maintained. Engine sounds good and transmission shifts well. The clutch feels great. All fluids are up to date. The paint is mint for its age. Solid body and floors. The interior is in mint shape. The dash is great. The alloy wheels are very nice and tires are good . The suspension and brakes are good. The lights work. All instrumentation is in good working order. Clean title.

More pics here (including underside, interior and engien bay):

https://www.ebayphotogallery.com/zdjecia/Galeria/10420894/1

Having said all that, this is an old sports car, and it is not perfect. The car is sold AS IS. You are encouraged to come and inspect it.

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The seller notes a generally favorable condition on this example.  Paint, brakes, instrumentation, clutch, suspension, interior and lighting are all reported to be in good shape.  The seller claims that the body and floors are solid; whether or whether not "solid" translates to rust-free is up to potential buyers to ascertain.  These cars are not exactly known for their steadfast resistance to rust.  What's more, sellers will be relieved to find mechanical components at their British parts retailer of choice.

We think that the premium over a BMC Mini is worth it in this case.  The Gandini styling does certainly improve on what was a classic shape to begin with.  Let us know if you buy it and end up swapping a Faza-spec Fiat 1300 into this thing - not that we're suggesting that...

-Graham

1980 Maserati Kyalami

Looking back at Maserati's history, it's rather remarkable that the cars with the Trident badge are still with us to this day. After a divorce from parent company Citroën in the mid 1970s, Alejandro DeTomaso came in to save the day and controlled the company into the 1990s. It was during this time that DeTomaso introduced the Longchamp, a GT coupe powered by Ford's Cleveland V8. Maserati was given their own version of this coupe, with its name coming from the famed South African racetrack. Instead of an American engine under the hood, however, you will find either a 4.2 liter or, in the case of our feature car, a 4.9 liter V8 from Maserati's own parts bin.

The Kyalami was a sharp looking car, and quite rare, with under 200 built from 1976 through 1983. As a result, this is a relatively obscure car to even the most hardcore automotive enthusiasts, which is a shame, given how capable this coupe was. For sale in Vienna, this restored Kyalami looks sharp in metallic red and offers a glimpse into the days when Maserati was on the edge of extinction.

1980 Maserati Kyalami

Perfectly restored collector's vehicle, extremely rare, recent service.

In comparison to its sibling, the Longchamp, the Kyalami usually brings just a bit more in terms of value. This is mainly a result of its Italian engine under the hood. A good example like this should run anywhere from $35,000 to $50,000. With a manual transmission and a good quality restoration such as this, I'd suspect this car is worth somewhere around $45,000.

-Paul

1973 DeTomaso Pantera L

One of the most famous Italian-American vehicle collaborations, the DeTomaso Pantera succeeded the Mangusta and would go on to be a much more successful sports car, with over 7,000 produced. These cars would be sold through Lincoln Mercury dealers in the US, and it gave Ford something exotic to draw people into the showrooms. Powered by a Ford 351 Cleveland V8 and a ZF gearbox, these cars had a lot more pulling power from the low end as compared to their Italian competitors. Pantera imports to the US stopped in 1975, but the car soldiered on all the way until 1991. This 1973 example for sale in Arizona has aged well, aided by the relatively neutral dark silver hue.

1973 DeTomaso Pantera L

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1973 DeTomaso Pantera L

Body: The car was originally silver and was media blasted to bare metal and professionally painted by Finishing Touch Refinish in Fountain Hills Arizona in 2007. Aston Martin Tungsten Silver is now the cars color. Wheels are painted with a matte finish Mercedes Benz 744 Silver. Rocker panels and the exposed plastic portion of the door handles, generally black from the factory, are color matched to the car. This is a 1973 DeTomaso Pantera L which came from the factory with the large front rubber bumper and large projecting rear metal bumper. The rear bumper has been deleted from the car to give the body a nicer line and allow for the use of an original ANSA GTS header and muffler system. The rear bumper and mounts will be included in the sale. The Ford style rectangular drivers’ side mirror has been replaced by one from a Dino Ferrari which gives a nice line to the car. A Ford NOS drivers’ side mirror will be included with the sale. “Ghia”, “DeTomaso” and “Pantera” emblems were not installed on the car. Fresh DeTomaso / Pantera and original Ghia emblems come with the car. The car is badged with the front bumper DeTomaso “Family Crest” emblem and the “Powered By Ford” rear deck emblem. Clear bra added to rocker panels and rear haunches where tires could throw debris.

Engine: Numbers Matching 351CJ
Engine Rebuilt by Don Woodard, Phoenix, AZ October 2001.
Completely balanced, TRW pistons #L2379, SS valves, Crowler Cam #15242, Crowler roller rockers #73615, Gear Drive, Holley 700 cfm #0-4778C, Ford Drua-Spark Ignition with Ford Motorsport Ignition Module (made by MSD for Ford Motorsport), Pantera specific McLoud clutch, Jet Hot Coated ANSA GTS headers and mufflers, Carbon Fiber Air Cleaner Assembly. Ford high torque starter.

Transaxle: Numbers matching ZF 5 speed in excellent working order. New Spicer half-shafts and u-joints. Transaxle was inspected by Roy Butfoy in the late 1970’s.

Suspension: Powder coated A-arms, new bushings (non-polyurethane), freshly rebuilt Koni shocks with spring spacers removed. Fresh ball joints, front and rear wheel bearings. Chrome on springs and torsion bars.

Brakes: Stock Girling front brakes.
Upgraded 3 piston rear Girling Brakes (as used on Ferrari Lamborghini & Jaguar) and Brembo Emergency brakes. New master cylinder. Vented brake rotors. Fresh Front brake pressure reducer – not installed secondary to wheel and tire combination.

Wheels / Tires: Freshly painted (matte finish Mercedes Benz 744 Silver) Campagnolo Pantera Magnesium Alloy wheels.
Rear: 10 x 15 GTS wheels mounted to AVON CR6-zz 295/50R/15 (DOT approved tire)
Front: 7 x 15 front wheels mounted to TOYO Proxes RA1 225/50ZR/15 (DOT approved tire)
(also have the original 8 inch rear wheels)

Cooling: Fluidyne aluminum radiator and upgraded cooling fans, Ford GT expansion tank upgrade (modern cooling system), all new rubber hoses.

Electrical: Ford 100 amp 3G alternator, 12 volt relay switching to reduce current to electric windows, horn and headlight switches. Tachometer reworked by North Hollywood Speedometer to be compliant with ignition module.
Ammeter, included with sale, was removed and replaced by a period Veglia clock. (There is a potential fire danger when using a high amperage alternator with the Veglia Borletti ammeter.) Windshield wiper conversion to a single arm unit which parks on the passenger’s side. New Hella (H4) headlights and two color rear lights (orange blinker section).

Heater / AC: Blower box installed and wired, but AC and Heater hoses are not routed to the box. New AC condenser. Heater hoses and AC compressor and hoses are not installed on car but are included with the sale.

Interior: Fresh molded seat foams. Seating surfaces are from Wilkinson Pantera from the 1970’s and are in good shape with no tears. Radio delete plate with “DeTomaso” script. New floor and rear bulkhead carpets. New head liner (very rare snake bite pattern) purchased years ago and just installed fall 2011. Fresh, speaker delete, door panels. No tears in arm rests. Sun visors are tight - they will not drift down when driving the car. Fresh leather on a Vintage MOMO Steering wheel with a flush mounted MOMO center cap. Have a perfect stock steering wheel that will be included with the car. Window glass and stainless accents are in good to excellent shape. All stainless trim was polished when it was off the car.

Front Compartment: Old felt removed during restoration and final body color added to front compartment. Fluydine radiator, Optima Battery, highly detailed power brake booster, brake and clutch cylinders. Fresh weather-strip. All factory badges attached. Small area of paint blistering under windshield wash reservoir secondary to spillage of brake fluid.

Rear Compartment: Old factory coating removed during restoration and final body color added to rear compartment. All factory badges attached. Fiberglass cargo carrier has new felt and new locking Dzus style fasteners. Original spare tire. Original tool bag with original jack, jack handle and ratchet. Have replaced the wrenches with vintage HAZET’s. Wiring is routed through the body frame. Very few exposed wires in the engine compartment. Fresh rear deck shocks. Fresh weather-strip.

Undercarriage: Clean. Undercoating was not removed during restoration. Powder coated water tubes. New brake and clutch tubing. Rebuilt steering rack.

I purchased this car in 1976, sold it to my brother while I attended college and repurchased the car. Prior to being licensed in Arizona (2011), the car was licensed in Washington State. The last renewal date on the Washing tabs was in 1978. Prior to Arizona licensing and road testing in 2011, the car was inspected by Les Gray (current president of Pantera Owners Club of America). The car was appraised in November 2011 for 92,500 dollars by Penn Black of “Auto Appraisal Network”. The appraiser has a YouTube video of the car taken in Nov. 2011 under the title “PennBlack Pantera”.

The great thing about the Pantera is that you can get a lot of exotic Italian style with American reliability for not a lot of cash as compared to the usual Ferraris or Lamborghinis. At a shade under $45,000 to about $70,000 is the order of the day when it comes to Panteras of this vintage and I'd suspect this example would probably reach to the upper end of that range.

-Paul

2000 Qvale Mangusta

Originally intended to be the savoir for the DeTomaso nameplate, what was supposed to be the Biguà became the Qvale Mangusta. Short on capital, Alejandro de Tomaso teamed up with American Bruce Qvale, son of Kjell Qvale, who was the first distributor of Jaguars on the West Coast of the US. Powered by a Ford 4.6 liter V8 in a front mid-engine fashion, only 284 were produced between 2000 and 2002, with all but 18 of these sent to the US market. It was an interesting vehicle, with a lot of Ford bits in the inside and an interesting targa top with a pivoting rear section to transform this sports car into a full convertible. This example for sale in Las Vegas has covered a scant 16,000 miles and looks showroom new.

2000 Qvale Mangusta

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VIN NUMBER: ZF4AH01A4YM000036. New tires, just serviced. Dealer Brochures, owners manuals, magazine articles, all keys with FOBs. Noting Missing. Complete Mangusta. Introduced in the 1996 Geneva motor show, Bigua was arguably the last new De Tomaso launched before the company ceased production. However, Bigua was never produced under the name of De Tomaso. Instead, most people knew it as “Qvale Mangusta.” The Qvale Mangusta was manufactured Modena Italy, just like Ferraris, Maserati's and Lamborghini's, and penned by Marcello Gandini who also designed the Lambo Miura, Countach, Diablo, Bugatti EB110 and various Maserati's.

Chassis: Designed by former Formula 1 designer Enrique Scalabroni, who worked for Scuderia Ferrari, Williams F1 and Dallara.
Engine: SVT Cobra Engine: Double overhead cams, all aluminium V8 32 valve displaced 4.6 litres that produces 320 hp.
Transmission: Borg-Warner 5-speed manual transmission.
Suspension: Double-wishbones suspension all round with Bilstein (adjustable)
Brakes: BREMBO four piston calipers.

Tail light covers are metal mesh like the Ferrari Challenge Grills. It has a very special roto retractable roof, which could transform the car from a coupe to convertible or Targa. Tubi exhaust system designed exclusively for the Mangusta.

At $29,500, you can look at this car two ways: either it's an affordable exotic or an expensive used Mustang. Granted, an F1 engineer did the chassis, but there's a lot of Ford bits in this car. While the Mangusta was the swan song for DeTomaso and Qvale, in an interesting twist, this car's chassis lived on in the limited production MG XPower SV.

-Paul