Michael Satterfield
TGR Staff
This handsome coupé based on the Fulvia 1600 was released at the 1969 Geneva Motorshow, the chassis was modified by De Tomaso and the design was by American Tom Tjaarda who also designed the De Tomaso Pantera. The project was the brainchild of Ghia’s Alejandro De Tomaso, who in the late 1960s thought he could lure Ford into purchasing Lancia outright if he could show that Lancia could be a competitor to Ferrari. After all his first road-going car, the De Tomaso Vallelunga was powered by a Ford Cortina engine, as was the later Mangusta and Pantera.
His hope was that if he could arrange the sale of Lancia to Ford, his close friend Lee Iacocca and CEO of the Ford Motor Company would then install him as CEO of Lancia. Helping him achieve his dream of running a car company. Fiat caught wind of the deal and purchased Lancia outright for themselves. However, the car that De Tomaso hoped would act as the honey trap for Ford did become a reality and it was unveiled at the 1969 Geneva and Turin Motorshows, the HF Competizione.
Built on a Fulvia chassis, the HF Competizione featured cutting-edge aerodynamics including folding headlamps and a retractable rear wing. The car also had a built-in roll bar, plexiglass windows, and quick-release fuel filler, all adding to its sporting image. De Tomaso modified the chassis to lower the engine by 30 mm, replaced the solid rear axle with two independent oscillating wishbones and a large aluminum tank was added to the rear compartment. It is believed that the car was subsequently modified and tested for Le Mans in 1970 before the program was abandoned.
This car is currently being offered for sale by RM Sotheby’s Private Sales.
