Au début des années 70, Alessandro De Tomaso a le vent en poupe : sa berlinette Pantera, belle et performante, semble vouée à un succès durable. Du coup, De Tomaso entrevoit la possibilité de développer une gamme.
   L'idée a déjà pris tournure avec la berlinette Deauville (dotée d'un V8 5,7L américain), reste à occuper le créneau du coupé à tendance plus bourgeoise que sportive. C'est chose faite au salon de Turin 1972, avec la Longchamp.
   D'un style cunéiforme et agressif, la Longchamp est donc un coupé trois volumes, offrant quatre places. Le moteur se retrouve ainsi à l'avant (central arrière sur la Pantera) et demeure un V8 Ford de 5,7L, qui distribue puissance, fiabilité et sonorité à bon compte.
   Discrète, la Longchamp saura séduire les "repentis" de la Pantera qui, l'âge aidant, ont besoin de plus d'espace et de confort, sans pour autant (trop) sacrifier les performances.
   La carrière de la Longchamp est lancée et pour longtemps : malgré les nombreuses vicissitudes de la marque face aux réalités économiques, le coupé alignera dix-huit ans de bons et loyaux services, en dépit d'une évolution bien maigre : version GTS (30 cv de plus et extensions d'ailes) en 1980 et cabriolet l'année suivante.
   La Longchamp ne fera jamais parler d'elle, mais exister aussi longtemps n'est pas donné à n'importe quelle GT, preuve d'une certaine qualité de construction.
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   As with the Deauville sedan, the Longchamp 2+2 was part of DeTomaso’s plan to provide a complete line of exclusive, high performance cars. Also styled by Tom Tjaarda, the Longchamp features a square-rigged body shape with classic long hood, short deck proportions. Ghia did the body stampings, the Longchamp being rendered in steel panels with a full monocoque chassis layout.
   Ford’s 5.7 liter (351 cu. in.) V-8 was called upon, and rated at 300 horsepower (DIN). A Ford 3-speed automatic transmission was initially the only offering, however approximately 17 cars were built featuring a ZF 5-speed manual transmission. The Longchamp employed essentially the same suspension as the Deauville, fully independent, with inboard brakes and dual shock absorbers at the rear. These combine to give the car an exceptionally comfortable yet stable ride, and confident handling. Power rack and pinion steering, and 4-wheel power disc brakes were standard.
   
   The coupe’s interior was fully trimmed in leather, including the seats, door panels, dash fascia and console areas. Power windows and a tilt steering column were also included, as were dual gas tanks and fuel pumps. Beginning in 1981, an updated interior and exterior package included a more integrated bumper design, revision to the heating and air conditioning controls, and the introduction of the Longchamp GTS model.
   
   The Longchamp GTS is similar in concept to the Pantera GTS, that being a bolder looking and better handling version of the original model. The body was upgraded with flared fenders and a revised rocker panel, and the standard 7" x 15" magnesium wheels were replaced by 8" x 15" and 10" x 15" (front and rear, respectively) Campagnolo units wearing Pirelli P7 Z rated tires.
   
   Approximately 410 Longchamps were built during the car’s production life. Carrozerria Pavesi of Milan was also called upon to factory convert 5 Longchamps into handsome convertibles. A very few of those were also GTS models, making the Longchamp GTS Spdyer an exceptionally rare and desirable machine.
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