(Please note that the price is in euros)
-De Tomaso. For those who seek perfection and fun combined. –
American muscle combined with Italian flair. Sounds fabulous. Until De Tomaso came up with what to us is one of the happiest concoctions ever made. The square headlights from a Ford Granada, rear lights from an Alfa Romeo and the beating heart borrowed from the Ford Cleveland. End result? A 5.8 liter, mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission. Something with big bangs, good insertion and quick home. No high-pitched whine 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, Mr. rational collector, don’t give up immediately, the production numbers were different than you might expect. Only 409 were made, of which 395 were coupes and 14 were cabriolets. As soon as you get in, you immediately understand why. Rows of -handmade- Veglia clocks and gauges surrounded by really thick chrome. Rocker switches wrapped in leather and the smell of an average pampered cow leather workshop. And of course not everything was straight and seamless; after all, it was Modena, not Munich. Ours? Already since 1989 on Dutch soil, originally delivered the the country of the pioneers and cheap gasoline; the USA. Almost fully documented, golden 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
