Here's the one-off Alejandro De Tomaso's broken dream in late of the 1960s
Broken DREAMS - Perhaps there are still many automotive enthusiasts in the world who do not know that in the late 1960s Alejandro De Tomaso had planned to take over Lancia, one of the well-known automotive brands from Italy, to become a tough rival of Ferrari, as well as to fulfill De Tomaso's ambitions and dreams to run a car company.
Alejandro De Tomaso proposed the Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione Prototipo in the late 1960s as part of his plan to persuade Ford to take over Lancia. (Picture from: UnCrate)
Measuring his capabilities, De Tomaso devised a plan to persuade the Ford Motor Company wanted to buy the Italian sports car maker. Because he knows that the American auto giant has had an obsession with beating Ferrari for a long time. And before that, De Tomaso, in collaboration with Carroll Shelby, once proposed De Tomaso Mangusta Shelby MkV to be the successor of the famous Ford GT40 Mark IV, but failed.
The Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione was a concept car designed by Tom Tjaarda and built by the Ghia workshop for Alejandro De Tomaso, which was presented to the public in 1969 at the Geneva and Turin motor shows. (Picture from: Belles Italiennes)
To smoothen his plan to attract the attention of Ford officials at the time, including the legendary Lee Iacocca, he then teamed up with American automotive designer Tom Tjaarda who had previously crossed paths in the automotive world through his works while working for several Italian well-known coachbuilders such as Carrozzeria Ghia, and Pininfarina.
The
Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione Prototipo was designed in such a way that
it has the ability to run fast and fierce at the race track, but is
also comfortable to use on the roads as well. (Picture from: UnCrate)
In short, through the magic touches of Tom Tjarrda's hand (who was working for Carrozzeria Ghia at the time) a stylish grand tourer design was produced called the Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione Prototipo which was designed in such a way that it has the ability to run fast and fierce at the race track, but is also comfortable to use on the roads as well.
The Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione Prototipo's interior has two ergonomic racing seats coupled with three-spoke steering wheel, and a compact dashboard consisted instrument panels. (Picture from: UnCrate)
As you can see, the resulting car featured a GT sports coupe that carried the era's signature profile, sleek wedge styling and a number of sporty trimmings, such as the bonnet and large rear wing. While in general terms, the car's design didn't look all that different from similar sports vehicles made by other Italian supercar makers of the era, it looked unlike anything Lancia-badged cars had before.
The Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione Prototipo is powered by front-mounted 1,600 cc V4 engine, would attached on a modified Lancia Flavia chassis that made it sit 30 mm lower to increase the car's center of gravity for handling purposes. (Picture from: UnCrate)
It didn't stop there, in 1969, De Tomaso then tried to turn Tom Tjaarda's design into a prototype that was built on the standard chassis of the Lancia Flavia which had been modified so that it could carry a 1,600 cc V4 engine that would sit 30 mm lower to increase the car's center of gravity for handling purposes. Not only that, other race car-like modifications include two independently oscillating wishbones, an aluminum gas tank to keep weight down, quick release fuel tank, roll cage and plexiglass windowss.
The
Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione Prototipo featured with a GT sports coupe
that carried the era's signature profile, sleek wedge styling and a
number of sporty trimmings, such as the bonnet and large rear wing. (Picture from: DannataVintage)
In fact, there appears to have been so much faith in its racing abilities that it was reportedly further modified and tested for 24-Hours of Le Mans racing event before those plans were ultimately abandoned. Because De Tomaso's plan didn't work and this Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione Prototipo was the only thing left from that effort.
Due to its racing abilities made the Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione was further modified and tested for 24-Hours of Le Mans racing event before those plans were ruined. (Picture from: UnCrate)
Finally history records. that Lancia was later taken over by Fiat in 1969, and had ruled the world of rally through the Lancia Stratos HF during the 1980s to 1990s. Now the Italian automotive company is under the Stellantis banner, which recently launched a future concept car called Lancia Pu+Ra HPE.
While, Alejandro De Tomaso then continued part of his dreams by launching the De Tomaso Pantera in 1970, which in design looked similar to the Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione (possibly because both were built based on designs made by Tom Tjaarda). And in the todays modern era, De Tomaso has been revived and launched the beautiful De Tomaso P72 and the fierce De Tomaso P900 on the racing track. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DETOMASO-AUTOMOBILI | UNCRATE | ROBBREPORT | COOLMATERIAL | CARSCOOPS | DANNATAVINTAGE | WIKIPEDIA | ES.MOTOR1 ]
While, Alejandro De Tomaso then continued part of his dreams by launching the De Tomaso Pantera in 1970, which in design looked similar to the Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione (possibly because both were built based on designs made by Tom Tjaarda). And in the todays modern era, De Tomaso has been revived and launched the beautiful De Tomaso P72 and the fierce De Tomaso P900 on the racing track. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DETOMASO-AUTOMOBILI | UNCRATE | ROBBREPORT | COOLMATERIAL | CARSCOOPS | DANNATAVINTAGE | WIKIPEDIA | ES.MOTOR1 ]
