1978 DeTomaso Longchamp GTS (THLCPN03001)
We sold the Longchamp. But I've left the history and info as I know it here. The car is now in Michigan with a new owner and he says he's enjoying it!
In addition to #3001 (which you'll see more about below), I have some links and pictures from other Longchamp owners.
Lars Holgersson has a white Longchamp GTS also which he runs at ralleyes in Australia.
Lars sent me several pictures of his car that were taken during the Australian Indycar Rally.
And, for those who like real mean Longchamps, here's John Attard's turbocharged, EFI and nitrous equipped Longchamp!
And Josep-Lluis Aguiló sent me pictures of his recently restored Longchamp. I think he's quite right to be proud considering what he started with!
As for #3001....
Back in 1987, my wife and I attended one of the CECA (Colorado Exotic Car Association) events in Aspen, Colorado with my Pantera. There was an absolutely stunning Longchamp GTS Spyder there which a doctor's wife owned. My wife fell in love with it and has been talking Longchamp ever since.
Trouble is, there aren't a lot of Longchamps around (a total of 410 or so made) and only 5 Spyders in the whole world. When I found out about a GTS for sale in South Carolina, we jumped in the Explorer we had then and drove 1900 miles over the Fourth of July weekend and picked up the car. Drove it back the entire way without a single problem. I was surprised at the amount of comments and looks we got on the way back......
Original pictures of the car as purchased.
More pictures of #3001 are available.
A history of the Longchamp as far as I know it......
1978 - Mrs. DeTomaso's personal car until 1982. The previous owner passed
this info on to me and a confirmation was received from Matt Stone.
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 05:40:11 -0400 (EDT)
To: DeTomaso@wgate.com
Subject: Kirby's Longchamp GTS...
Sender: owner-detomaso@wgate.com
Hello all,
Shooting the breeze with Matt Stone, I asked him if he knew anything about
Kirby's new Longchamp, the '78 that was supposedly converted to GTS spec by
the factory. Here's his reply:
Regarding Kirby's GTS, I'm very familiar with the car he bought.
I visited Kirk Evans in 1994 or 95, and he was driving the white GTS coupe
at the time. I was there for several days, and drove the car extensively.
It was indeed Mrs. D's car, and though not originally built as a GTS, was
converted to same by the factory prior to shipment to the US. I seem to
recall it being an earlier car, to which they added the GTS stuff, and a
Bordeaux colored interior with wood and all the latest gauges. Kirk put
his own modular wheels on it.
He showed me photos of it coming out of the container at the dock; it
broke loose in the box, and sustained some very minor damage, but Kirk
had a great body and paint guy on staff, and when I saw the car, it was
absolutely stunning. Kirk also did the white "AMG" trim treatment,
though the factory painted it white prior to shipping. Based on seeing
the car, the photos, the container, etc., I have no reason to doubt
that this part of the story is 100% true, and it matches what Kirby
was told, and what I experienced nearly 15 years ago.
As far as Kirby's comments about the wiring, well, yeah, they do
strange things. Mine has a relay or two that makes funny noises when
you press certain things, but everything works. I had both of my
tanks flushed, sealed, and joined via a 2" aircraft hose and some
fittings. This avoids the whole tank and switch thing, and its nice
to fill from either side of the car.
See the info from Matt.
(I think Matt means he visited Kirk in 1984 and 1985.....)
1982 - Rebuilt and converted to GTS by the factory, then shipped to Kirk Evans
in Ohio.
1987 - Sold to Al Morris in Pickens, South Carolina.
Al Morris also had a Deauville for sale at the time, but it's been sold and is
now in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
1997 - Purchased from Al Morris on July 5th, 1997. It had 23,500 actual kilometers on
the odometer when purchased.
The car has the 'Quattroporte' leather interior, the
A/C system has an updated condensor and rotary compressor. The steering rack was
replaced last year.
The wheels are three piece Campagnolo copies. Both the front and back are 10"
wide, but the rears are offset another 1/2" to the outside of the car.
The car had not been driven very much in the last 10 years, so I've had to
do the following over the last month.
- Welded and trued up the exhaust manifolds plus new gaskets
- New custom built exhaust system from transmission area all the way back
(Glass packs and Ansas at the rear; same as before)
- Changed automatic transmission fluid and filter, flushed brake fluid
- New tires (BFG T/A's; 245/50 front and 265/50 rear; the 305's were too big!)
- New shocks and springs from Wilkinson plus alignment
- Replace the gas tank switch in the dash
First 'event' was the August 9th visit to the local Space City Pantera meeting
at Dirty's restaurant.
September 7 - Attended the annual Italian Concours event at the Dallas Southfork
ranch. A total of 10 Panteras plus the Longchamp were there. The car generated
LOTS of interest!
1998 - 4-5 May 98 - 'Classic Wheels and Wooden Keels' car show. Our class consisted of four
Panteras, the Longchamp, a Mangusta and an Iso Grifo
August - Car up for sale. $27,500
My wife decided she was too worried about driving it around Houston
30 Oct 98 - Damage to left front fender and hood during an accident
2000 - Replaced the Campagnolo copies which were cracked with the real thing.
8" front Campagnolo, 10" rear Campagnolo
Damage repaired and car repainted.
Had some requests for some more pictures of various parts of the car.
Some better pictures of the interior, along with the engine bay, trunk, etc.
Have a look!
2001 - January - Posted the car on eBay. Reserve not met. No sale.
2002 - 13 May - Sold
