The Echo—A Vision from 1965, Revived For The Future

The year 2019 marked a significant milestone, sixty years since Alejandro De Tomaso first set pen to paper, creating a marque destined to defy convention. His story is one of grit and ingenuity, shaped by an audacity few could rival. In 1953, he fled Argentina, a dreamer with racing in his veins, determined to conquer Europe’s circuits. Italy welcomed him, placing him behind the wheel of revered manufacturers, yet their machines could not contain his ambition. Frustration turned to fire; in 1959, De Tomaso Automobili Spa was born.

Within two months, Alejandro stood on the grid at the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix, piloting his own hand-crafted creation, a bold declaration that he would race on his terms. Innovation was his hallmark, beauty his signature. He embraced magnesium’s ethereal lightness and crafted chassis around a single spine, ideas far ahead of their time.

As one of only two Italian marques in Formula 1, Alejandro’s vision soon stretched beyond the track. Road cars, created to fuel his racing dreams, quickly claimed their own stage. The Vallelunga, unveiled in 1963, introduced a mid-engine layout and a lightweight fiberglass body, a delicate first step into production. In 1966 came the Mangusta, a predator in steel and glass, designed in collaboration with the young Giorgetto Giugiaro, distinguished by its low, wide stance and gullwing engine covers.

But it was the Pantera, launched in 1971, that roared into legend. Powered by a V8 and cloaked in Tom Tjaarda’s wedge-shaped design, the Pantera fused Italian flair with American muscle, selling over 7,000 units and securing De Tomaso’s place in automotive history. What began as a way to fund racing became the marque’s enduring legacy—a tribute to those who dared to demand the extraordinary.

By 1963, De Tomaso’s racing talents had caught the eye of Carroll Shelby, the Texan titan fresh from his USRRC triumph. Seeking a weapon to outpace his 7-liter rivals, Shelby found a kindred spirit in Alejandro. Together, they created the P70—a daring machine, its lightweight spine chassis cradling a V8 like a beating heart. Penned by American designer Peter Brock and shaped by Fantuzzi’s skilled hands, the P70 was a hymn to speed, a silhouette sculpted by the wind. With a power-to-weight ratio set to rival the world’s finest, it stood poised for greatness. But fate had other plans. Shelby moved on to new pursuits, leaving the P70 an unfinished dream, an extraordinary vision, suspended in time.

Peter Brock didn’t just design the P70, he wove a philosophy where beauty and purpose became one. His work was a radical blend of aerodynamics and artistry, where every curve served a purpose. The adjustable rear wing, the sleek body wrapped around a featherlight chassis, each element a glimpse into the future.

Decades later, we uncovered this hidden gem, a whisper from history too powerful to ignore. Restoring the marque meant more than honoring a name; it meant completing an unfinished story.

We sat with Brock, the P70’s visionary, his words painting the golden age of motorsport in vivid hues. The project's forgotten brilliance unfolded before us. While the Pantera called out as a symbol of revival, we saw deeper roots, ties to Alejandro’s spirit, and the timeless allure of the P70. With Brock’s blessing, we channeled his essence into the P72, a road-bound homage to a dream deferred, its elegance defying the sharp-edged modernity of today’s supercars.

After twenty years of silence, De Tomaso returned at Goodwood, unveiling the P72 in a crescendo of reverence. This was more than a car, it was a tribute, its lines echoing the P70’s grace, its spirit ignited with modern mastery. Designed by Jowyn Wong, the P72’s carbon-fiber chassis and flowing form unite nostalgia and innovation in perfect harmony. Sweeping arches, a low-slung cockpit, and wind-carved curves give it a presence both timeless and bold. Inside, it shuns the noise of the digital age, embracing analogue purity—stirring memories of a first drive, a childhood thrill, a fleeting rush of yesteryear.