Mention De Tomaso, and many will think of exotics like the Mangusta and the Pantera. However, the company also produced the Deauville, a four-door Sedan featuring Italian flair and a healthy slice of Detroit cast iron under the hood. This 1979 example is a tidy survivor and is a turnkey proposition requiring a new home. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting the Deauville listed here on eBay in Fallbrook, California. The seller set their BIN at $47,500, and it appears they are fairly firm on that figure.
De Tomaso launched the Deauville in 1971, with the last cars rolling off the Modena assembly line in 1985. The company turned to Tom Tjaarda from Ghia to pen the design, the man responsible for the Pantera, and who would later give the world the 1989 Aston Martin Lagonda Coupe, the Longchamp, and the Chrysler LeBaron. Tjaarda delivered styling strikingly similar to the Series 1 Jaguar XJ, which has been widely praised for its sleek appearance. This Deauville left the line in 1979, making it a Series 2 vehicle. I’ve searched long and hard for 1979 De Tomaso color charts with no success. Therefore, I am forced to refer to the paint shade as Charcoal Gray. It presents exceptionally well, though I will qualify that by noting the seller doesn’t indicate whether the car is a genuine survivor. The paint holds a mirror shine, and there are no visible panel imperfections. I see no evidence of rust, while the glass, trim, and wheels look in good condition for a driver-grade classic.
De Tomaso enjoyed a strong working relationship with Ford when developing the Pantera and the Deauville. Therefore, finding a Blue-Oval V8 under the hood is unsurprising. De Tomaso equipped their luxury Sedan with a 351ci V8, Ford’s C6 automatic transmission, power steering, and four-wheel power disc brakes. Interestingly, the Deauville also featured four-wheel independent suspension, providing surprisingly sure-footed handling for a car weighing approximately 4,300 lbs. Alejandro de Tomaso was very focused on performance for all of his company’s vehicles, making the V8’s power and torque figures of 286hp and 325 ft/lbs look very respectable for the period. The factory quoted a top speed of 143mph, and with the Deauville’s sleek lines, that figure sounds plausible. The seller states that this gem recently received new Michelin XWX tires and that it runs and drives well. That makes it a turnkey proposition, but there is one further point to consider. Some enthusiasts worry that the supply of spare parts could be an issue for cars like this. However, with so many of the major (and minor) mechanical components sourced from Detroit, that may not be a genuine concern.
The Deauville’s interior is all that buyers should rightly expect from a prestige classic. This car’s first owner chose Black leather and Gray cloth trim, with the usual splashes of woodgrain to emphasize its luxury leanings. The interior makes a positive first impression, but close inspection reveals a few shortcomings. The outer driver’s seat backrest appears to have a seam separation, and a couple of minor controls are missing their appropriate knobs. The upholstery issue shouldn’t be a major problem, but locating the knobs could be more challenging. The dash looks nice, there is no significant wheel wear, and no obvious crumbling plastic. It appears that someone updated the stereo, and while there isn’t air conditioning, this Deauville does feature power windows.
De Tomaso produced 244 examples of the Deauville during its fifteen-year production run. Various sources suggest that only around six of these classics made their way to North America, and the relative rarity is reflected by the fact that this is only the third we have seen at Barn Finds. Therefore, placing a value on any classic that rarely hits the local market is challenging. The seller’s BIN aligns with the figure quoted by Hagerty for a #2 vehicle, but I decided to cast a wider net to discover whether it is realistic. I located a few successful foreign sales and converted the prices to US dollars. What I discovered is that the seller’s price looks quite realistic in that context. Is that thought and the rarity of this Deauville enough to tempt you to pursue it further?
It’s a pretty handsome car, especially when compared to modern “designs” that are overly dramatic and derivative. The Ford mechanicals are a “plus,” too.
The only drawback I can see is that De Tomaso’s workers weren’t well-known for screwing their cars together too well, as evidenced by the myriad small issues that plagued the Pantera. Rust-proofing could be a problem, too. The finish looks good, however.
If I were looking for a sedan in this price range, I’d take a chance on this Deauville. It has all the basics — especially style and power — and you’re unlikely to see another at Cars & Coffee.
Gotta love that Italian beauty with a honest American heart.