[DeTomaso] Modena from the air

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/9/08 15 10 51, msm at portata.com writes:


> On a lark, I typed in the address for De Tomaso into Google maps and was 
> surprised to find good maps and aerial pictures of the factory, the town of 
> Modena and nearby Campogalliano, and the many storied towns throughout Italy.
> 
> Check it out.  Go to
> http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
>  
> Enter this address and switch to Satellite view.
> Viale Virgilio 9, Modena, Italy
> 
> 

Very interesting!

I've been there many times, and remember the place well.   The complex 
consists of three buildings.   The L-shaped building with the white roof consists of 
the museum (in the larger portion towards the north) and a series of offices 
on the long arm of the "L".   You can see the large De Tomaso logo sign 
mounted on the roof.

The building immediately to the west has an angled roof, with vertical 
skylights on each of the roof sections.   This is where most of the Pantera parts 
were stored, and it was also the service area, and the assembly area for the 
post-Ford cars, i.e. GT5/GT5-S/Pantera Si/Guara.

The building to the north is the 'secret' building, which has piles and piles 
and piles of miscellaneous parts, bits of old cars, leftover '60s Mangusta 
chassis, and who knows what else.   In fact, nobody at De Tomaso really has a 
clue what is in there anymore, as all the original employees simply kept track 
of the inventory in their heads and they are all long gone.   It's like an 
Aladdin's cave in there.

Just to the east of that is a very regimented grove of trees, and a tiny 
stables where Isabelle De Tomaso keeps her miniature horses.

I haven't the slightest idea where the original De Tomaso factory was, in 
relation to these buildings.   There was a formal assembly line where the 
drivetrains etc. were installed in the Panteras after they were trucked down from 
Modena, but I don't think this took place in any of these buildings?

I hope we can visit again when we go to Modena for the International Meeting 
in 2009....:>)

Mike


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