De Tomaso P72: A 1965 Dream Reborn

In an era where automotive design is increasingly driven by data and digital imperatives, De Tomaso Automobili stands defiantly apart. With the unveiling of the production-specification P72, the storied marque delivers a masterclass in analogue purity, mechanical artistry, and timeless design—an homage to its 65-year heritage and a declaration of intent for the future.

First revealed as a concept at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the P72 captured imaginations with its sweeping curves and retro-futurist aura. Now, nearly six years later, it emerges in its final form: road-ready, production-spec, and faithful to the soul of its inspiration—the 1965 De Tomaso P70, a collaboration between Alejandro De Tomaso and Carroll Shelby.

Form and Function, Woven in Carbon

Beneath the P72 lies an all-new, clean-sheet carbon fibre chassis, woven entirely in 4x4 twill weave, extending from the central monocoque through the front and rear subframes. At its core is a remarkable unibody monocoque, formed from a single, uninterrupted piece of carbon fibre with no bonded sections, a rare and complex achievement that enhances rigidity, reduces weight, and sets a new benchmark for structural purity.

Developed over several years through a rigorous and iterative engineering process, the P72’s platform is the result of relentless refinement. Rather than adapting an existing architecture, De Tomaso pursued a ground-up solution, one that would allow for precise control over suspension geometry, mounting points, and overall chassis balance. The final structure was meticulously tailored to support the P72’s low-slung driving position, while centering the powertrain at the lowest possible point within the chassis. The result is a platform that delivers optimal weight distribution and a low centre of gravity, fundamental to the P72’s intuitive, analogue driving feel.

Encasing this structure is a full carbon fibre body, available in a curated range of heritage-inspired paint finishes, or as a visual carbon exterior.

A Sanctuary from Screens

Step inside the P72, and you’re transported to a world that has all but vanished in the modern age. There are no digital interfaces, no infotainment systems, and no artificial overlays—just hand-polished metals, stitched leathers, and the glint of precision-machined aluminium.

At its centre is a masterfully designed exposed linkage shifter—a suspended sculpture in polished metal that connects the driver to the six-speed gearbox through feel, not code. It represents everything De Tomaso stands for: tactility, artistry, and emotion.

From hand-stitched leather to the finishing of machined metal, every surface carries the intentional signatures of the human touch. Throughout the interior and exterior, De Tomaso utilises individually milled aluminium components, each crafted by artisans. These parts are finished in one of three distinctive treatments—bead-blasted, hand-brushed, or hand-polished—composed with the same care found in a mechanical timepiece.

Built For Feeling, Not Just Figures

At the heart of the P72 beats a hand-assembled 5.0L supercharged V8, developed exclusively for the ‘P’ platform. With bespoke forged internals and an all-new De Tomaso supercharger, the engine produces 700 hp and 820 Nm of torque. With short gear ratios, the powertrain is tuned not for top-speed dominance, but for exhilarating in-gear performance, immediate, responsive, and emotionally rewarding.

Paired with a 1960s-inspired header design, the P72’s V8 becomes a living instrument, raw and expressive. There are no drive modes, no shortcuts—just the road, the engine, and the driver in perfect harmony.

Beneath the carbon monocoque is a push-rod suspension system, developed to deliver a decidedly classical driving feel. The 3-way manually adjustable damping system enables drivers to tailor the car’s behaviour to their preference.

A Promise Realised

Each of the 72 production cars will be individually commissioned and crafted with tailored finishes and aesthetic options that reflect De Tomaso’s core values.

“The P72 was our promise to faithfully revive a historic marque,” says Norman Choi, CEO of De Tomaso Automobili.

“This first production-specification vehicle embodies everything we stand for: a mechanical soul, timeless beauty, and a driving experience that rises above modern convention. It is our echo through time—now made real.”

With the P72, De Tomaso reasserts its belief in a driving experience grounded in emotion.

Deliveries will commence in late 2025.