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A nearly forgotten piece of motorsport history is roaring back to life—and into the auction spotlight. The De Tomaso P70, a radical Can-Am prototype from the mid-1960s, has been fully restored after decades of obscurity. But its legacy is more than mechanical. It’s a story of ambition, betrayal, and a feud that fractured one of racing’s most famous figures: Carroll Shelby.
In 1964, Shelby, riding high on the success of the Cobra and his work with Ford, joined forces with Italian industrialist Alejandro de Tomaso. Their goal: to create a cutting-edge Can-Am car that could dethrone McLaren. Designed by Shelby's trusted partner, Peter Brock, the De Tomaso P70 was meant to marry American muscle with Italian innovation. It featured a lightweight chassis, sleek bodywork, and a Ford V8—on paper, a winning formula.
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But the partnership unraveled quickly. Tensions flared between Shelby and de Tomaso over delays, engineering decisions, and communication breakdowns. Shelby, frustrated and convinced the project was doomed, walked away. De Tomaso pressed on, reworking the P70’s DNA into what would eventually become the backbone of the production De Tomaso Mangusta—a car with a name that means “mongoose,” chosen for its reputation as a cobra killer.
While the Mangusta became a cult classic, the original P70 was quietly tucked away and forgotten by most. Now, after an extensive restoration, the lone prototype has reemerged—reborn in its original form and slated for auction.
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Collectors and historians alike are watching closely. Beyond its value as a rare race car, the P70 represents a pivotal “what if” moment in American racing. What if Shelby had stayed the course? Could it have rewritten Can-Am history?
The auction may answer one question—its value—but the debate over its legacy is just getting started.
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