The De Tomaso P72 – Reviving Italian Craftsmanship and Legacy for the Modern World

The De Tomaso P72 represents a bold revival of Italian automotive elegance, not only in its visual design but in its dedication to honoring the craftsmanship and ethos that defined sports cars in the 1960s. De Tomaso, a brand that once captured the imagination of car enthusiasts worldwide, has returned with a model that transcends the ordinary boundaries of hypercars. The P72 bridges the gap between the nostalgic beauty of past endurance racers and today’s advancements, bringing together history, technology, and unfiltered driving joy.

The design language of the De Tomaso P72 is a stunning nod to endurance racing prototypes of the 1960s, where speed and beauty existed in harmony. Unlike today’s hypercars that focus on angular, aggressive shapes, the P72 embraces soft curves and flowing lines that make the car appear sculpted by the wind. Each element of the P72’s bodywork is carefully crafted to evoke a sense of movement, even at rest.

The P72’s rounded headlamps, wide stance, and teardrop cabin pay homage to the De Tomaso P70, a 1960s prototype developed by Alejandro De Tomaso in collaboration with Carroll Shelby. The P70 project, though short-lived, was De Tomaso’s early foray into endurance racing. The P72 honors this legacy by modernizing these design elements with cutting-edge materials and refined engineering. Carbon fiber, for instance, is used extensively to achieve both strength and a lightweight build, but it is treated with the same respect and attention as classic Italian materials, blending advanced performance with craftsmanship.

One particularly evocative feature is the “bubble” cockpit, which offers a panoramic view that’s both functional and visually captivating. The arched, glass-encased cabin gives the driver a near-360-degree view, enhancing the open-road experience while harkening back to the days when racers needed maximum visibility for endurance racing. Chromed accents and polished air intakes add elegance, bringing a refined, jewelry-like quality to the car’s exterior.

The interior of the P72 is nothing short of extraordinary, designed to be an extension of the car’s artful exterior. The cabin resembles a luxurious living room more than a standard cockpit, featuring hand-stitched quilted leather and polished copper accents that pay homage to Italian craftsmanship. These materials are chosen not only for their aesthetic value but for their durability and timeless quality, ensuring that the P72’s beauty will endure for generations.

One of the most striking details inside the cabin is the exposed gear linkage—a rare feature in modern cars. This meticulously crafted gear mechanism sits between the driver and passenger, allowing for a direct connection to the car’s mechanics. Watching the linkage in motion as the driver shifts gears is like observing a finely tuned piece of machinery in action, adding an almost mechanical “heartbeat” to the car. Analog dials, which are typically replaced by digital screens in contemporary hypercars, provide a tactile, classic experience, reinforcing the car’s retro feel and placing the driver firmly at the center of the driving experience.

Underneath the P72’s sculpted hood lies a testament to the brand’s racing DNA: a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine developed by Roush, an American powerhouse known for crafting high-performance engines. This engine produces an exhilarating 700+ horsepower, offering the kind of muscular performance often found in American supercars, yet it’s finely tuned to suit the P72’s sophisticated European design.

This choice of a V8 engine, paired with a manual gearbox, is a purposeful nod to De Tomaso’s racing heritage, focusing on providing an unfiltered, exhilarating drive. The car’s naturally throaty, raw sound is amplified by the supercharger, while the manual transmission offers a level of engagement that’s almost unheard of in today’s era of dual-clutch and automatic transmissions. Each shift is a tactile experience, a reminder that the driver is in complete control of this machine. The setup doesn’t just enhance speed; it enhances the sensory connection between car and driver, making each drive a unique and personal experience.

With only 72 units slated for production, the De Tomaso P72 is a rare masterpiece that’s designed for collectors and enthusiasts who value more than just speed. Each car is handcrafted, ensuring that no two models are exactly alike and that each vehicle carries its own unique character. This limited production run not only adds to the car’s exclusivity but also aligns with De Tomaso’s philosophy of creating cars that are as much art as they are machines.

De Tomaso’s choice to keep the production run so limited also speaks to the brand’s revival strategy. Rather than focusing on mass production, De Tomaso is choosing to prioritize craftsmanship, heritage, and the experience of owning something truly special. In a market where hypercars are often commoditized, the P72 stands out as a labor of love, a throwback to a time when driving was as much about art and emotion as it was about engineering.

The P72’s impact extends beyond the hypercar world. It redefines what it means to design a car with soul, capturing the spirit of a time when automobiles were celebrated as symbols of freedom, style, and personal expression. For those fortunate enough to see or own one, the P72 is more than a vehicle; it’s a time capsule, a tribute to Alejandro De Tomaso’s vision, and a reminder that the past can live beautifully in the present.