Tuesday 3rd January 2012

De Tomaso hits the skids. Again

SUV production licensed to China; no word on 'new' Pantera

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Waiting for a new one of these? Keep waiting...

Following the re-emergence of De Tomaso with the Deauville SUV at Geneva last year, we had been hoping that a new De Tomaso Pantera supercar would see the light of day at the LA show in November.

Sadly that hasn't happened and, following severe cashflow problems, only partially alleviated by a deal with an Indian company, De Tomaso has had to licence-out production of the Deauville SUV to China for £12.5 million.

Mind you, there is a certain amount of sense to that: the Deauville uses a GM engine and drivetrain and as the Chinese company in question is believed to be NAC, which is a sister company to GM's Chinese partner SAIC.

And if that cash injection helps De Tomaso boss - and former Fiat exec - Gian Mario Rossignolo to get development moving on the new Pantera, all the better. Fingers firmly crossed on that one...

^{Pantera Pic: Charles01}

[PascalBuyens]

If that new Pantera is going to be an equally ugly contraption as that SUV.... They'd rather let De Tomaso RIP...

[Chas-Chiro]

I think that SUV is a nice shape and easy on the eyes compared to some things that come out from the wind tunnel jelly mould brigade.

The Euro is finished and China is the new emerging economic force. I think the Chinese know a good investment and will be keen to see some european style in action. Even if only to continue with taking over the worlds economies.

I wait with baited breath for the first pictures........

[king arthur]

There's a very tenuous link here - the still-born De Tomaso Mangusta which became the Qvale Mangusta ended up becoming the MG SV, and when MG bit the dust it was NAC that bought the liquidated assets. The SV wasn't actually included in the bits they bought though.

[/anorak mode]

[Dave Hedgehog]

even as a kid i thought it was a cheap copy of the countach with an antiquated engine

[galro]

Dave Hedgehog said:

even as a kid i thought it was a cheap copy of the countach with an antiquated engine

Eh, The Pantera debuted one year earlier than the Countach. The designs was first shown in 1970 while the Countach prototype was revealed in 1971.

[Dave Hedgehog]

galro said:

Eh, The Pantera debuted one year earlier than the Countach. The designs was first shown in 1970 while the Countach prototype was revealed in 1971.

i know that now but at the time of my yoth both where in production, every one had countach pictures on the wall and the pantera looked like a kit car in comparison

[Twincam16]

Dave Hedgehog said:

i know that now but at the time of my yoth both where in production, every one had countach pictures on the wall and the pantera looked like a kit car in comparison

You think? Forget the glassfibre add-ons that were visited on both cars, look at Tom Tjaarda's pure original product of Ghia from 1970, and tell me it doesn't look out of place alongside concurrent cars like the Maserati Bora:



By way of comparison, here's a typical wannabe-exotic kit-car of the era, a VW Charger:

[RichardR]

Is it just my imagination or is the floorpan of that SUV slightly too short for the body? Look at the position of the rear wheel in relation to the arch (photo in article)...

[jamsy187]

never been a fan of de tomaso anyway,ther never sit quite right, look a little akward too.

[KDIcarmad]

De Tomaso were always second leave super car builder, as that they are the best. More interesting than a Porsche or a Lotus in 1980's. The Pantera looked much better then most 70's super car, sadly it build quality did not match it looks.

I don't see a place for a manufacturer like De Tomaso with the new generation super car builder. The gap once filled the Pantera has gone.

[Dave Hedgehog]

[quote=Twincam16]

You think? Forget the glassfibre add-ons that were visited on both cars, look at Tom Tjaarda's pure original product of Ghia from 1970, and tell me it doesn't look out of place alongside concurrent cars like the Maserati Bora:



it certainly looks much nicer like that, a bit like a merack

[Hellbound]

There's going to be a red limited edition;

De Tomato.

[bobberz]

Did anyone not see this coming?

I'd be very surprised if a new Pantera ever reached production.

As a side note, one of my dad's former co-workers had a Qvale Mangusta- very strange looking car- still the only time I've seen one. I dare say that the proposed SUV makes the Qvale look pretty!

That said, they'll probably sell well in China...

[bobberz]

RichardR said:

Is it just my imagination or is the floorpan of that SUV slightly too short for the body? Look at the position of the rear wheel in relation to the arch (photo in article)...

No, it's not your imagination; several posters commented on that when the SUV was first shown.

I'd wager that the original Pantera was probably better built than this new SUV!

[PiB]

I know it's ugly but I love it so much! Especially in blue.