Chassis No. ZDT8940000A800015

After three decades of blending Italian styling with American muscle, De Tomaso faced the challenge of replacing the legendary Pantera for a rapidly changing 1990s. The answer was the striking Guarà, a futuristic mid-engined sports car based on the 1991 Maserati Barchetta Stradale prototype. Unveiled at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show, the Guarà continued the marque's tradition of potent outsourced powerplants, this time adopting BMW's 4.0-liter V8-though De Tomaso quickly switched back to the cheaper Ford 4.6-liter Modular V8 and only a handful of Guaràs were outfitted with the BMW engine after 1995. The Guarà featured an aluminum honeycomb backbone chassis clad in bodywork constructed from a clever blend of Kevlar, carbon composites, and fiberglass. It also sported a racing-derived suspension with rose joints designed by noted Formula 1 engineer Enrique Scalabroni. The Guarà's reign was as brief as it was significant, as De Tomaso's final model produced under the guidance of Alejandro De Tomaso before his passing in 2003.

This 1996 De Tomaso Guará Coupé is one of approximately 21 examples produced, and is presented as originally delivered in Porsche Blue Metallic (374) over a Pelle Grigio interior. According to its included factory build certificate from De Tomaso, this example was delivered in September 1997 and was registered to its first owner in London in 1999. The Guará passed to its second owner in the U.K. in September 2007, who secured features for it in the February 2009 issue of BMW Car and July 2011 edition of Classic & Sportscar.

Acquired by the consignor in September 2012 and deregistered two years later, this example has continued to receive diligent care and maintenance and has been driven seldom since.

Showing just over 25,000 kilometers at cataloging and offered with its original build documentation, this 1996 De Tomaso Guará Coupé is unique even amongst De Tomaso's well-published lineup of Italian, Argentinian, and American sports car combinations. It is sure to attract intrigue and fascination wherever it appears, whether at curated supercar gatherings or prestigious concours events worldwide.