DeTomaso Mailing List: January 2001, Message #161

  Hope everyone had a good holiday.  San Antonio is
FREEZING!!(40 degrees),and Exxon Supreme is almost
$1.15 now.  My world is falling apart!  Seriously..I
was given a copy of an Italian repoters' interview
with Mr. DeTomaso. I think it was published in
"Republicca" on 21 Dec. 00.  The translation is from a
friend and not word for word, yet close.  It's very
interesting.

   This is the 1st interview since his 1993 illness.
The meeting was in his hotel in Modena.  His nurse and
secretary attended to help with translation.  His
speech is very difficult to understand, very rough
from damaged vocal chords.  He used a small computer
to write more detailed answers and instructions to
those around him.  His vision is undamaged, and you
can see in his eyes that he is still in command, still
curious and energetic.  He has built a new factory in
Calabria to produce a Russian based SUV. (Simba).

How do you feel?
"I feel as you see me.  A man in a wheelchair,
paralyzed legs and vocal chords"

Your mind is intact?
"My thinking and talking are slower, but I do think
and talk. I am making progress. My will is superior
to any of my suffering".

(relating to the incident)
"I was in my room and not feeling well.  I collapsed.
There was a great deal of confusion around me.  I
could hear Santiago saying "stroke".  I was not
convinced.  I asked for a toothpick and poked my
tongue. I had no feeling.  I said it was an Ictus(?)
take me to the hospital. 3 doctors attended me. Cat
scans confirmed an ictus. (still not sure of a
translation, like a stroke.) I was in a coma for 4
months.  I was taken to Insbruck for care.  It was
4 months more before I could speak".

(relating to time in the hospital)
Do you know Federico Fellini?
"I did not know him before this.  He is a genius.
His room was next to mine.  He would stay up all
night.
He would bring me coffee with onion.  I was not sure
if he really liked it or if it was a joke.  He did
not have the will power I have".

Is your will the secret of your survival?
"No, I've had much help.  I am exercising my legs and
I will walk again".

The new factory and cars?
"I go to the factory every day and see horses I keep
there. I don't want to talk about the factory and
those
projects.  You can get information about those
subjects
from the factory administration".

What about your friendship with people like Peron and
Guevara?
"My father was Minister of War in Argentina.  Juan
Peron was his secretary.  We saw him often.  Later I
disagreed with his political views and avoided him.
He attended one of my races and by that time I would
refuse to shake his hand".

Che Guevara?
"Our mothers were good friends.  We went to school
together and shared a desk.  We lost contact later.
I next saw Che in Havana when he walked into my hotel
room carrying an automatic rifle.  He said they would
send Fangio back to Miami.  I was the only person
to resist the kidnapping of Juan Manuel Fangio. I
picked up an object from a table but another guerilla
said he would kill me like a dog and I stopped. Fangio
said don't resist.  He was loaded into a Chevrolet
full of armed men.  I started to follow but was
distracted by a blonde woman who told me I would be
killed.

You carried a gun in the 70s? Would'nt an escort be
easier?
"I don't trust escorts. I don't believe someone would
allow himself to be killed for someone else.  I
carried
a pistol.  I did not use it but was ready.

You built beautiful automobiles, with the unions!
"The union workers destroyed more that they built. The
unions are the New Barbarians. They are responsible
for the degredation of work and life". (He told of
firing workers, which is almost impossible to do)

You are friends with Henry Ford II, President of Fiat,
heads of government?
"Yes Mr. Ford was like a country man, a peasant. Once
in London, he was very drunk, very rude, touching all
the women.  Everyone was afraid to tell him no.  I was
the only one to tell him to his face that he was
wrong.

Lee Iacocca? you have an almost symbiotic
relationship?
Iacocca is manufacturing electric bicycles.  He asked
me to market them. I work for Detomaso, not Iacocca.

Your relations with the heads of governments?
"I don't vote, as I am a foreigner.  Since I don't
vote, I don't have an opinion".

  After 3 hours together, the repoter said Detomaso
was more animated, the speech was clearer with no need
for a translator.  He was very enthusiastic and
theatrical in his answers.  He saw no reason to
believe that he would not make a full recovery. 

There it is.  It was interesting to see something new.
Hope you enjoyed it.  

Michael
RED3644...Still going back together. 



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