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de Tomaso Pantera
Engine: Ford V8 5763cc
Configuration: mid-engine
Driver: Chris Meek
Class: Production Sports Cars
Date taken: May 1975 under Footbridge, CroftCroft
Alejandro de Tomaso(1928-2003) was a half-Italian, Argentinean who move to Modena, Italy to produce, amongst other things, F1 racing cars. The Pantera, Portuguese for Panther, was initially a joint venture with Ford to produce a supercar which could be serviced at Ford dealers along with more mundane models. The body was a steel monocoque and the engine a Ford V8. Performance-wise the various models had top speeds ranging from 160 to over 170mph, and 0-60 times in the low five seconds. With supercar performance and reasonably low price tag, this car was a natural choice for production sports car racing; however, its price put it out of the range of most competitors, so the upper price limit was lowered to exclude cars such as this. This car was works backed, being built especially for Chris in de Tomaso's Modena factory in 1973 with a view to competing in Production Sports races in the UK, and international Group 3 events. Chris Meek had many outright wins with this car and became class and outright champion on many occasions. He raced a Lotus Europa, and at least once a MG Midget, in the following seasons, winning the D.C. Cook Production Sports Car Championship.
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(Ferrari) Dino 206
Engine: Ferrari 1973cc, 4-valve per cylinder V6
Configuration: mid-engine
Driver: Richard Charnely
Class: Historic Sports Cars
Date taken: 1975 at Start Line, Croft
Although universally known as a Ferrari, the Dino was in fact as a separate marque formed in honour of Enzo Ferrari's late son, Dino. The Ferrari, 4-valve per cylinder, 65 degree V6 engine dated back to the 50's, and, in an updated 2400cc form, was previously used in the Fiat Dino. A later reduction in capacity to under 2000cc was brought about to allow the annual 500 unit production run which admitted the engine into Formula 2. The Dino 206 had this 2 litre, 180bhp, all aluminium engine fitted from the start of production in 1968. Later model Dino 246s had a new, 2418cc, 90 degree V6 engine mounted transversely.
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