Rare 1978 DeTomaso Deauville

A rare blue 1978 DeTomaso Deauville arriving at and leaving the 2024 San Marino Motor Classic at Lacy Park. Introduced at the 1970 Turin Motor Show, the Deauville was DeTomaso's attempt at building a luxury four-door sedan to compete with manufacturers such as Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz. It featured bodywork designed by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia and is powered by a 5.8-liter Ford Cleveland V8 engine also used in the Pantera. This example is one of 244 Deauvilles built over a 14-year production period.

This is one of those cars that most people today might walk past without giving a second glance. By modern standards it really doesn't look particularly interesting, but for those nerdy enough to recognize it, it's certainly a special sight. DeTomaso is best known for sleek high-performance cars like the Pantera, but here is its attempt at a luxury four-door sedan. Many people think its styling resembles that of a Jaguar, so much so that the owner got a custom license plate to help them educate themselves. I personally don't think it looks that much like a Jag, except maybe from the back. And with the same muscular Ford V8 engine used in the Pantera, it certainly has a totally different character. With so few units built, it was far from successful compared to other contemporary European luxury sedans. But its rarity now adds to its charm as a classic car that few have ever heard of and most have never seen.

Would you choose this DeTomaso Deauville over a contemporary Jaguar XJ? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!