Tales of the Forgotten Zonda: A Lost Concept in Automotive History

Forgotten ONES - The automotive world is a relentless generator of innovation, constantly birthing new vehicles while consigning many predecessors to obscurity. Among these forgotten gems lies an intriguing concept that deserves a second look, albeit in the realm of memory and words.

The De Tomaso Zonda Concept is designed by Tom Tjaarda of Carrozzeria Ghia (although the first sketch was done by Giullia Moselli ex. Italdesign). (Picture from: LotusEspritTurbo)

Enter the De Tomaso Zonda Concept, a creation of Carrozzeria Ghia under the De Tomaso banner, unveiled at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. Designed by Tom Tjaarda (with an initial sketch by Giullia Moselli of Italdesign), this car caught attention not only for its futuristic styling but also for its name, which resonates curiously with a later icon of automotive history—the Pagani Zonda.

The De Tomaso Zonda Concept was made its first debut at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. (Picture from: Zwischengas)

Named after a hot air current above the Andes Mountains in Argentina, 'Zonda' reflects the Argentine roots shared by Alejandro De Tomaso and Horacio Pagani, lending a poetic unity to their automotive legacies.

The De Tomaso Zonda Concept is built on the De Tomaso Deauville fancy coupe platform with a short wheelbase. (Picture from: LotusEspritTurbo)

Styled in the grand touring tradition, the De Tomaso Zonda Concept was intended to complement the De Tomaso Pantera at Lincoln-Mercury showrooms in the US. This connection to American markets was further underscored by Ford Motor Company's majority ownership of De Tomaso during that era, highlighting the strategic alignment of Italian design with American industrial might.

The De Tomaso Zonda Concept featured with a 'fast' roofline ending in a neat, sloping tail and also had lots of glass, and neat chrome bumpers and detailings. (Picture from: CurbSideClassic)

Under its sleek hood, the Zonda housed a potent 350hp 351ci V8 engine sourced from Ford's Cleveland lineup, situated on a shortened wheelbase borrowed from the De Tomaso Deauville fancy coupe platform with a short wheelbase. 

The De Tomaso Zonda Concept appears to be a pure two-seater, although it might have had some very tiny 2+2 seats in back. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

This powertrain, while not uncommon in its era among competitors like Ferrari's Daytona and Lamborghini's Jarama, imbued the Zonda with competitive muscle and style.

The De Tomaso Zonda Concept is powered by a 350hp 351ci V8 front-mounted engine taken from Ford Cleveland. (Picture from: PerformanceFord)

Visually, the Zonda evoked comparisons to the Maserati Ghibli, sharing a fastback roofline, pop-up headlights, and a streamlined silhouette that defined the era's automotive elegance. The Zonda rode on a 99.5-inch wheelbase, and was 176 inches long. 

The De Tomaso Zonda Concept rode on a 99.5-inch wheelbase, and was 176 inches long. (Picture from: LotusEspritTurbo)

The rear deck was a hatchback, and the car appears to be a pure two-seater like the Ferrari Daytona, although it might have had some very tiny 2+2 seats in back. Despite its promise, financial constraints saw the Zonda relegated to prototype status after its Geneva debut, never to see full production.

The De Tomaso Zonda Concept carries GT (GranTurismo) typical styles with rear deck was a hatchback. (Picture from: PerformanceFord)

As mentioned above, initially the De Tomaso Zonda would be produced and sold for the American market with an estimated retail prices of $14,000, Ford assumed those price numbers was not profitable, and declined to import it to the US. Since that the car project is ceased, so then they abandoned the one-off De Tomaso Zonda as prototype only.

The last appearance of De Tomaso Zonda Concept was repainted in red by Ford before it dissappeared. (Picture from: LotusEspritTurbo)

Today, the whereabouts of the De Tomaso Zonda remain shrouded in mystery, rumored to have been repainted red before disappearing entirely. Its tale serves as a poignant reminder of automotive ambition thwarted by economic realities—a one-off marvel consigned to the whims of history. 👉We apologize, due to the Zonda video not exist, so what's shown below is the De Tomaso P72 video.🙏

In the realm of automotive lore, the De Tomaso Zonda stands as a testament to creative vision and unrealized potential, overshadowed by its more illustrious namesake, the Pagani Zonda. While its physical form may have vanished, its legacy endures—a symbol of what might have been, etched into the fabric of automotive dreams.😎 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES [20072022] | PERFORMANCE.FORD | DRIVR.BE | OLDCONCEPTCARS | CLASSICCARS.FANDOM | LOTUSESPRITTURBO ]

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