De Tomaso Longchamp

- De Tomaso. For those who seek perfection and fun combined. –

American muscle combined with Italian flair. Sounds fabulous. Until De Tomaso came up with something that, for us, is one of the happiest combinations ever made. The square headlights of a Ford Granada, taillights of an Alfa Romeo and the beating heart borrowed from the Ford Cleveland. End result? A 5.8 liter, coupled to an automatic 3-speed gearbox. Something with big bangs, good merging and fast home. No high-revving whining that we are used to from the average Italian, but a dark brown, brutal roar. Saves a lot of head gaskets, we can tell you!

The Longchamp was manufactured in Modena for no less than 17 years. No, mister rational collector, don't give up immediately, the production numbers were different than you would expect. Only 409 were made, of which 395 coupés and 14 convertibles. As soon as you get in, you immediately understand why. Rows of -handmade- Veglia clocks and meters surrounded by really thick chrome. Leather-wrapped rocker switches and the smell of an average pampered cow-leather workshop. And of course not everything straight and seamless; after all, it was Modena, not Munich. Ours? Since 1989 on Dutch soil, originally delivered in the land of pioneers and cheap petrol; the USA. Almost completely documented, gold-yellow with a dark brown full-leather interior, perfectly maintained and ready for many more smiles a liter. Now looking for a new rational driver with an Italian heart. A presto!

Only a genius could dream a car like the Lobngchamp... - De Tomaso

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