September 4th 2008: Restoration of 1970 F1 505-381

For the 1970 Formula 1 season, De Tomaso constructed a trio of Tipo 505 cars. The third (chassis 383) remains partially dismantled at the factory in Modena whilst the second (382) was destroyed in Piers Courage's fatal accident at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. The first car (chassis 381) has long been something of a mystery after it was written off following a qualifying accident at the Spanish Grand Prix.

As De Tomaso already had a lightened version of the Tipo 505 in an advanced stage of production, it wasn't considered worth repairing the damaged monocoque of chassis 381 and the car slipped quietly into obscurity for nearly 35 years.

During this time there were rumours of 381's whereabouts but no concrete evidence until De Tomaso went into liquidation in 2004. At this point, Swiss De Tomaso collector Marcel Schaub was able to acquire the damaged chassis 381 direct from the factory and subsequently all the remaining parts from the 1970 F1 programme. In March 2006 chassis 381 was sold to respected UK restorer Rick Hall whose firm Hall & Hall undertook a complete rebuild to original specification. The results speak for themselves and the completed car has now seen action at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Silverstone Classic. More photos can be found on 381's Registy entry in the Monoposto secion.