Drivers Becoming Constructors: Alejandro de Tomaso

Alejandro de Tomaso arrived in Italy from Argentina in 1954 to continue his racing career. His destination was Modena, which was "the world capital of racing" at that time. There he met a young American woman, also a racer, named Elizabeth Haskell, who would be his lifelong companion. In his early thirties, Alejandro raced with an OSCA and together they competed in major races, including the famous Mille Miglia. Although he wasn't poor, she was very wealthy and they quickly made their way, soon opening a workshop with support from the Maserati Brothers, then builders of the OSCA in Bologna. This workshop soon became the platform for his life's success. Despite racing in a few Formula 1 events with Scuderia Centro Sud, Alejandro realized he shouldn't persist in racing, and his wife helped him finance what would become Automobili De Tomaso.

Based in Modena, Automobili De Tomaso designed and produced both single-seaters and sports cars. Brilliant and empathetic, the young Argentine also gained the support of future design talent Gianpaolo Dallara. His ambitions extended beyond racing: In the mid-1960s, he introduced an attractive road car, the Vallelunga, which brought De Tomaso fame and respect. During this time, thanks to Elizabeth's influential family connections, he attempted a collaboration with Carroll Shelby, the creator of the Cobra. When they didn't meet, Alejandro sought revenge by creating the Mangusta with Giorgetto Giugiaro, a deliberate response to Shelby.