The De Tomaso Deauville was a luxury four-door saloon first shown at the 1970 Turin Motor Show. It used the same 5.8-litre Ford Cleveland V8 as the Pantera, had independent rear suspension very similar to Jaguar’s, and was built in small numbers until 1985.
De Tomaso Deauville at a glance
| Maker | De Tomaso, Modena |
|---|---|
| Production | 1970–1985 |
| First shown | 1970 Turin Motor Show |
| Body | four-door luxury saloon |
| Engine | 5.8 L (352 cu in) Ford Cleveland V8 |
| Power | 330 hp (246 kW; 335 PS) |
| Top speed | 230 km/h (143 mph) |
| Rear suspension | independent, similar to Jaguar |
| Brakes | ventilated discs front and rear |
| Chassis shared with | Maserati Quattroporte III |
| Built | 244 cars |
| Variants | early series 1, late series 1, series 2 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Deauville.
History of the De Tomaso Deauville
A Modena saloon
The Deauville was De Tomaso’s only luxury four-door, first exhibited at the Turin Motor Show in 1970. Its styling was similar to that of the Jaguar XJ, and underneath it had independent rear suspension very similar to the Jaguar arrangement, with ventilated disc brakes at both ends. Power came from the same 5.8-litre Ford Cleveland V8 as the Pantera, rated at 330 hp (246 kW; 335 PS), which gave the car a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). The Deauville shared its chassis with the Maserati Quattroporte III, while a shorter version of the same chassis underpinned the Maserati Kyalami and the De Tomaso Longchamp grand tourers.
Three series
A total of 244 cars was produced in three variants. The early series 1 ran from 1970 to 1974 with serial numbers in the 10##, 11## and 12## ranges. The late series 1 covered 1975 to 1977 with serial numbers in the 14## range, and the series 2 was built from 1978 to 1985 with numbers in the 20## and 21## ranges. Production was always low, and the car remained a rare sight even in Italy.
Special bodies
One Deauville station wagon was built for Mr de Tomaso’s wife. Two armoured cars were also produced, one for the Belgian royal family and the other for the Italian government; the Italian car is displayed in the Museo delle Auto della Polizia di Stato in Rome. A third armoured Deauville appears to have been built for an Italian businessman.
The 2011 revival
At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show the briefly resurrected De Tomaso marque presented a new model that revived the Deauville name. It was a five-door crossover with all-wheel drive, styled by Pininfarina with references to BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The planned range included two petrol engines of 300 PS (2.8-litre V6) and 500 PS, plus a 250 PS diesel from VM Motori, with a sports car and a limousine to follow. The new Deauville never reached production because the company chairman was arrested on charges of misappropriation of funds.
Design and features
- Ford Cleveland V8: the same 330 hp engine as the Pantera.
- Jaguar-style rear suspension: independent layout with ventilated discs all round.
- Maserati connection: chassis shared with the Quattroporte III.
- Rare bodywork: a single station wagon and two armoured cars.
- Long model life: three series over fifteen years.
De Tomaso Deauville versions
- Early series 1 (1970–1974): serial numbers 10##, 11## and 12##.
- Late series 1 (1975–1977): serial numbers 14##.
- Series 2 (1978–1985): serial numbers 20## and 21##.
- Station wagon: one car built for de Tomaso’s wife.
- Armoured cars: two built, for the Belgian royal family and the Italian government.
The Deauville’s shortened chassis underpinned the Longchamp, and its engine also powered the Pantera. More De Tomasos are in the De Tomaso collection.
Video: Garagem do Bellote TV: De Tomaso Deauville
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- De Tomaso Deauville, English Wikipedia: history, engine, suspension, production, series, special bodies, 2011 concept
_(53769237887).jpg){kind=link}