De Tomaso Vallelunga

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De Tomaso Vallelunga
Image:De tomaso vallelunga
Manufacturer De Tomaso
Production 1964–1968
Assembly Ghia
Successor De Tomaso Mangusta
Class Sports car
Body style(s) Coupe (53 produced)
Spider (one-off)
Layout RMR layout
Engine(s) Ford 1592 cc straight-4
Transmission(s) 4/5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2,310 mm (90.9 in)
Curb weight 726 kg (1,601 lb)

The Vallelunga was an extremely rare mid-engined, rear wheel drive sports car produced by De Tomaso from 1964 through 1968.

Contents

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[edit] History

The Vallelunga was based on a roadster designed by Carozzeria Fissore[1] and named after the Autodromo di Vallelunga first shown as a concept car at the Turin Motor Show in 1964[2]. De Tomaso had hoped to sell the design of the concept to another company, perhaps Ford[2], but when there were no takers had the car produced by Ghia[1].

[edit] Specifications

The engine was a 1.5L straight-4 Kent engine from the Ford Cortina[2] with 104 hp (78 kW) at 6200 rpm[1]. A Hewland transaxle was fitted[1]. The chassis was a pressed steel backbone with tubular subframes. Suspension was double wishbone and coil springs at all four corners[2] with uprights sourced from Triumph. The small car weighed just 726 kg (1600 lb)[1] with a fiberglass body and loads of drilled aluminium parts[1]. Brakes were disc all around.

[edit] Demise

Unfortunately the chassis was not as stiff as one would have hoped, and drive train vibrations were a constant problem. Only 53[1] cars were built before it was quickly replace by the De Tomaso Mangusta. The Mangusta used the Vallelunga chassis re-engineered to take a Ford Boss 302 engine with a body by Giorgetto Giugiaro.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Rosetti, Giancarlo. De Tomaso Vallelunga Just the beginning for Alexjandro European Car Magazine Accessed October 24, 2007
  2. ^ a b c d e Lawrence, Mike (1997). A to Z of Sports Cars 1945-1990. Bay View Books Ltd. ISBN 1-870979-81-8

Rosetti, Giancarlo. De Tomaso Vallelunga Just the beginning for Alexjandro European Car Magazine Accessed October 24, 2007