1978 DE TOMASO LONGCHAMP

Built by the same company that built the Mangusta and Pantera. This was their high speed "touring" version, to compete with the Mercedes SLC. Only 405 were built, and only 10 with five speed manual transmissions. This is one of those ten. The original German ZF transmission was getting tired and it was decided to replace it with a brand new Ford Super Duty T5 five speed transmission, which is a much better unit, is stronger, shifts better and will be much easier and less expensive to maintain or repair. The original ZF gearbox comes with the car. The steering rack has just been completely rebuilt.

Restored from the ground up in California in the early nineties. The cost to restore and paint the body alone was almost $20,000, which indicates how much time and effort went into making the body as perfect as possible. It has the GTS flares, but unlike the factory GTS that had the flares crudely glued onto the fenders, these flares are molded smoothly into the fenders and look like they are part of the fenders. Wheels are 16" front and 17" rear, and are polished aluminum Compagnolo/Pantera pattern with Goodyear Eagle radials.

There has been over $85,000 "invested" in the car and its restoration. Its rarity and superb condition make this a very unique vehicle, one of only ten in the world, and surely one of the ten best, if not the best, in the world. Great fun to drive, sounds great with twin tipped dual exhaust, and you won't see another one like it anywhere.

Will consider offers in the $45,000 range.