Legendary sportscar manufacturer DeTomaso sold to Swiss firm
- by Team Zigwheels
- Mar 23, 2015
- | Views: 13543
Legendary sportscar manufacturer DeTomaso, makers of cars like the Pantera have been sold to a Swiss holding company L3 holding. The company plans to revive the company with a new mid-engined supercar by 2020.
DeTomaso, builders of some of the most beautiful supercars from the 70s and 80s designed by legendary automotive designer Tom Tjarda has been auctioned off to a Swiss company L3 Holding for a winning bid of Rs 12.9 crores (€2 / $2.1 / £1.4 million). The DeTomaso brand was also bid on by rival bidders from China and Italy.
Although little is known about the company's plan for the ill-fated brand but reports have suggested L3 Holding will open a new factory near Turin and begin production of a new mid-engine sports car by 2021. We may also see the Pantera brand resurrected if DeTomaso actually decides to make cars once again.
The original DeTomaso Pantera was made between 1971-1991 with over 7000 units produced in its 20-year run. The Pantera replaced the equally desirable De Tomaso Mangusta. The Pantera logo included a version of Argentina's flag turned on its side with a T-shaped symbol that was the brand used by De Tomaso's Argentinian cattle ranching ancestors. The car originally came with the 5.8-litre Ford 351 Clevland V8 making 330PS which was later replaced with 4.9-litre Ford 302 Windsor V8.