You Know You Want To...DeTomaso Guara

The DeTomaso what?

On paper at least the Guara sounds like something you'd want in your life: aluminium frame, carbon-Kevlar body, aluminium V8, pushrod suspension at both ends...and all from the same people who built such crowd-pleasers as the Mangusta and Pantera.

All DeTomaso had to do was to come up with a body design that stirred similar emotions to the Guara's predecessors. What they came up with was far from the most awkward car to look at, but did it do justice to the memory of the Pantera? The front bears a passing resemblance to a C5 Corvette, but the back...umm...

Apparently only 50 Guaras were built (38 coupes, 10 Barchettas, and two spiders), although some DeTomaso connoisseurs reckon the total to be more like 40, so this is an exclusive piece of kit.

What makes this particular Guara a tad more exclusive is that it uses the BMW 4.0 V8, as opposed to the majority, which ran a cast-iron Ford V8. As a result, despite not delivering the snort of the American motor, the BMW-equipped cars benefitted from a superior power-to-weight ratio of 253bhp per tonne, which meant a respectable 0-62 time of five seconds and a top speed just shy of 170mph. Similar Brembo anchors to those used on the Ferrari F40 ensure suitable stopping power.

The vendor describes this one (chassis number 10) as being in 'concours' condition and has recently commissioned a full service. Although it currently rolls on BBS wheels, the original Marechesi items are included in the sale and the asking price is 71,000 euros (car is in Belgium), which is just over £62,500 at current exchange rates.

Given the exclusivity and the use of BMW bits (not just the motor) in its construction, that doesn't sound too bad. Or would you prefer to ship this original, unrestored Pantera from the States?