TOMASO CATCHUP

Did you presume De Tomaso’s revival was more wannabe Pagani vapourware? Amazingly, it’s finished. Allow us, and the dreamers behind it, to bring you up to speed...

- OLLIE KEW

In the realm of Very Fast Cars, things happen s-l-o-w-l-y. Last month, TopGear brought you a world exclusive Lotus Evija test drive. Revealed in 2019, the world’s most powerful road car wasn’t ready for either of its customers until mid-2025. If that strikes you as running later than a Northern rail service, what about the Aston Martin Valkyrie? The V12 F1 moonshot finally starred at TG’s 2024 Speed Week eight years (and two CEOs) after it was announced. And those are the cars that scramble out of the primordial ooze of a wishful rendering into carbon clad reality. If you slapped a deposit down on an Arash AF10 (2016), Dendrobium D-1 (2017) or heaven forbid the second gen Tesla Roadster (2017) your investment’s about as safe as $hawktuah coin.

So despite a knockout reaction back in the pre-saucepan bashing times of 2019, you probably didn’t expect to hear from the De Tomaso P72 again. When the rouge beauty was unveiled at that summer’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the company didn’t have a factory or a confirmed engine supplier. Classic vapourware.

Plus the curse of badge baggage: De Tomaso peaked in the 1970s, floundered in the 2000s and was bought out by Hong Kong financier Norman Choi (right) in 2014. Have a canter through the leagues of defunct sports car marques that new money’s gamely failed to resurrect. Brabham. Bristol. Delage, Marcos, Veritas, TVR. Even before COVID-19 or tariffs hit, the P72’s survival chances were lower than a plucky promoted Premier League side’s.

But knock me over with a peacock feather, it’s complete. First deliveries in time for Christmas to 72 very patient owners. Well, 71 originals - an elderly American deposit holder actually died waiting – but De Tomaso’s backers weren't worried. Its waiting list outstrips the number it’ll build 20-fold.