DeTomaso Mailing List: February 98, Message #195
     



From: 	pantera@shiseis.com (Shane F. Ingate)

Subject: Re:  Motor Trend & Good Guys!

Date: 	Wed, 4 Feb 1998 11:53:11 +0000



Mad Goat wrote:

	> Matt says he has an interesting Motor Trend story that's a "Ford"

	>vs "Chevy" vs "Chrysler" powered hybrid story coming out soon that compares

	>the DeTomaso Pantera, the Jensen Intercepter (reading this Greg?) and what

	>was the Chevy hybrid again???!!!



As I recall, there were 2 Italian-Chevv hybrids; the Iso (the test would

likely use the Iso Grifo) and the early Italias.  Italia recognized their

mistake by 1969 and switched to the Ford 351.  Does anyone know if they

used Clevelands or Windsors?



Now if the article also include Brit hybrids, then the field is considerably

more open.  Lola comes to mind....



Rambling back to the Lotus thread yesterday, someone mentioned the GKN

Special, the Lotus Europa/Rover V8 hybrid.  Wickedly fast, hellishly

damnable.  No offense to Europa fans, but I dont know of any Europa

that has successfully completed 500 miles without a serious breakdown.

Its not the motor (which proved itself as a memorable and reliable 

donk in the Lotus Cortina), its Lotus' use of fiberglass.  Although

they are magic vehicles, I'd never own a glass-car, 'cuz I'm not into

museum pieces.  The 7 and the Elise (and also the revived Isuzu-Elan)

use metal, and dont suffer the Lotus problems of collapsing body-frame

mounts.  Its a shame, 'cuz the new V8 Esprit looks like it coulda been

the car that any Pantera freak would love - V8 super-lightweight middie

that brakes and handles like a Formula racer.



	Shane Ingate in San Diego