VIN: the works / Rusty French De Tomaso Pantera Gr.4 chassis 2872
History of chassis 2872
Chassis THPNMR02872 was one of 14 Group 4 Panteras built.
Aside from the prototype (completed in December 1971), the remaining cars were assembled in 1972.
2872 was signed off on June 27th. It was one of the last four examples constructed, none of which raced that season.
Three of these Panteras subsequently embarked on a competition career in 1973. Two went to Jolly Club while chassis 2872 was retained as a works car.
2872 made its competition debut at Imola for round three of the European GT Championship.
Mike Parkes was recruited to drive and showed he had lost none of his old touch as he qualified on pole, posted fastest lap and won both 20 lap heats. Only the Kremer Porsche 911 2.8 Carrera RSR of Clemens Schickentanz managed to stay in touch but it never looked like getting ahead.
Parkes was then recalled for the next European GT Championship race which took place at Nivelles. He again qualified on pole despite not participating in the second practice session as a result of a suspect engine.
Parkes fluffed his start in the first heat and almost immediately picked up a puncture. He pitted at the end of lap one and emerged five laps down. 2872 retired on the 19th lap with a burnt piston and did not appear for the second heat.
The car’s third and final appearance of 1973 came at round seven of the championship which took place at Hockenheim. For this event, BRM team leader, Clay Regazzoni, was behind the wheel.
Only the third and final practice session was dry. Regazzoni took 2872’s third consecutive pole and, in the first 20 lap heat, he won from Schickentanz by nearly half a minute. Regazzoni’s margin of victory in the second heat was twelve seconds which meant he took a fine aggregate win.
Chassis 2872 subsequently returned to Modena where it sat unused for nearly two years.
In late 1975, it was sold to amateur Australian driver, Rusty French.
The French family own Skye Sands in Carrum Downs, Victoria. To this day, Skye Sands extracts sand, soil and clay which is supplied to the construction industry.
Rusty French began racing in 1966 with an Austin Seven-based machine. He subsequently moved up to a Chevrolet Impala which was followed by Hillmans and Valiants. French took a break from racing in the early 1970s to run a prestige import dealership in Sydney.
He returned to the track with the Pantera which, once landed in Australia, was converted to full dry-sump lubrication and McGee mechanical fuel-injection. The fuel tank was also repositioned and a weight reduction programme was undertaken.
2872 was soon switched to the black and gold livery French has since became famous for.
Rusty French raced 2872 in the Australian Production Sports Car Championship from 1976 to 1981. The series was thereafter switched to a GT championship for which French purchased a Porsche 935.
Rusty French still retains chassis 2872 today.
Notable History
De Tomaso Automobili, Modena, Italy
Red & Black livery
03/06/1973 EGT Imola (M. Parkes (#111) 1st overall, 1st in GT3.0+ class (#111)
24/06/1973 EGT Nivelles (M. Parkes) DNF (#35)
26/08/1973 EGT Hockenheim (C. Regazzoni) 1st oa, 1st in GT3.0+ class (#1)
1975 sold to Rusty French, Victoria (Holley Performance)
Raced in the Australian Sports Car Championship from 1976 to 1981
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ford - https://www.ford.com
