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1965 De Tomaso Vallelunga Competizione Rhd Coupe Chassis no.…
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Sydney
Date:
6-Dec-2009
Lot No.
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Description:
1965 De Tomaso Vallelunga Competizione Rhd Coupe Chassis no. Vld 1611Engine no. 8465061 'Argentina meets Italy meets England... the uncompromising Vallelunga is without doubt the best interpretation of mid- engined, roadgoing sports cars of its time...'Alejandro De Tomaso began racing in his native Argentina in 1951 before moving to Italy to drive for Maserati and Osca, the latter firm having been founded by the Maserati brothers after they sold up. This experience inspired him to form his own company - De Tomaso Automobili - in Modena, Italy in 1959. Racing was the order of the day to begin with, the fledgling firm building cars for Formula Junior, Formula 3, Formula 2 and Formula 1. De Tomaso's first road car - the Vallelunga - did not appear until 1965. A pretty, mid- engined coupe, the Vallelunga was built in small numbers and would contribute its short-wheelbase, backbone chassis - extensively re- engineered - to the Mangusta, the arrival of which in 1967 established De Tomaso as a serious automobile manufacturer.Styled and constructed by Carrozzeria Fissore, the Vallelunga prototypes - an alloy-bodied spider and a couple of closed coupes - first appeared around 1963/64. Named after the Italian circuit where De Tomaso had raced with some success, the Vallelunga featured a Chapman-esque backbone chassis frame and was powered by a 1.5-litre Ford Kent four-cylinder engine. Unusually, the latter acted as a stressed chassis member, a practice that has since become commonplace for competition cars but remains rare among passenger vehicles. De Tomaso's background as a manufacturer of racing cars was reflected in the Vallelunga's running gear, which consisted of all-round independent suspension by means of wishbones and coil springs, rack-and-pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes.It had been De Tomaso's hope that a major motor manufacturer would take on the project, but when no approach was forthcoming he decided to go it alone, turning production over to Carrozzeria Ghia, a company he would later acquire. The production Vallelunga featured striking glassfibre coupe bodywork - styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro - with more than hint of Ferrari 250LM and Dino 206 about it. Compared with the Fissore cars, there were numerous detail differences, the most obvious concerning access to the engine bay, which was by means of a glass hatch rather than the hinged rear body section of the prototypes. Although a humble pushrod unit, the Ford Kent engine was robust and tuneable, and when installed in the Vallelunga was fitted with Weber carburettors. Power was transmitted via a Hewland transaxle.Approximately 50 production Vallelungas were made during 1965/66 before De Tomaso moved on to the Mangusta. Only two are believed to have been constructed in right-hand drive configuration for delivery to the Uk, where Colonel Ronnie Hoare, boss of the official Ferrari importer, Maranello Concessionaires, had expressed an interest in the project. Of these two Rhd examples, chassis number '1601' was a road car while the other - chassis number '1611', that offered here - is one of only three built by the factory to competition specification and fitted with the 1,558cc Ford/Lotus twin-cam engine. In the event, Hoare decided against becoming involved with De Tomaso and '1611' was later sold to the well known racing driver and collector, Robs Lamplough.The Vallelunga later came to Australia where it was owned by Fred Vogel and then by Andrew Osmond, who raced the car (see Cams logbook on file). Since its acquisition by the current vendor, '1611' has been fully restored and comes with the relevant invoices. Completed earlier this year, it is presented in commensurately good condition and represents an exciting opportunity to acquire a unique Italian competizione coupe eligible for entry into a wide variety of the most prestigious historic motoring events. Click here to see Octane's review of the De Tomaso Vallelunga
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified