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Sbarro Replica GT 40 - Test drive with a civilized racing car

Name: de Tomaso Pantera 1978
Brand: de Tomaso

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Created on July 23, 1981

Text:

Roger Gloor

Photos:

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Sbarro GT 40 (1981) - the GT 40 Replica at full speed

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Sbarro GT 40 (1981) - In contrast to the original, the Sbarro comes with left-hand drive and a luxurious interior in leather and velour

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Sbarro GT 40 (1981) - The windows also let in more air than the original, and electrically retractable windows are even available on request

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Sbarro GT 40 (1981) - an astonishingly large trunk is also offered at the rear

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Summary

In 1981, Franco Sbarro began to build replicas based on existing old parts and the chassis of the de Tomaso Pantera Ford GT 40. One of these vehicles was dedicated to AR and displayed on the stand at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show. Roger Gloor was able to test drive this car in the summer of 1981. This report summarizes his experiences with this fast road sports car.

This article contains the following chapters

Franco Sbarro and the GT 40
Restrained racing sound
"Largely neutral"
Small youth protest
With left-hand drive
No sweaty ride...

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

We eagerly awaited the angry "bubbling" of an American V8 engine. However, the eager grinding of the powerful starter motor was followed by a rather atypical background noise for US engines, namely the initially somewhat hoarse gurgling and hissing of a hot sports machine, which was not easy to hear due to its design - a central camshaft. After the first thousand revolutions, the eight cylinders from the Italian-flavored Ford kitchen found their rhythm and promised an exciting ride. The test drive with the Sbarro Replica (Ford) GT40 presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1981 could begin.

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