Two months after it was delivered, this De Tomaso P72—ordered seven years ago—crossed the Atlantic and is now on the road for a charitable cause

Two months after its delivery, the very first De Tomaso P72 The series continues to lead a life quite different from what one might imagine for such a rare car. After Germany and Monaco, the P72 «Aurelian Night» has just crossed the Atlantic to reach the United States. Its owner took it out this time for the Dream Ride Experience 2026, a major charity automotive event. After waiting nearly seven years to receive his De Tomaso, its owner seems determined to make the most of it.

After Monaco, we're off to the United States

The story of this particular car really began in early June 2026, when De Tomaso unveiled The first P72 intended for a customer, nearly seven years after orders opened in 2019. Contrary to what one might have expected, the car did not immediately disappear into a private collection. A few days after its delivery, it was spotted in Munich, then in Frankfurt in late June. By July, it had already changed scenery, appearing on the streets of Monaco.

A month later, another trip—and not just any trip. The same P72, recognizable by its spectacular «Aurelian Night» configuration, was photographed in the United States during the Dream Ride Experience, to be held August 21–23, 2026, in Farmington, Connecticut.

408 cars gathered for the Dream Ride

The Dream Ride Experience isn't just a car show. Organized by The Hometown Foundation, the event brings together car enthusiasts, motorcyclists, volunteers, and families every year around a common cause. At the heart of the event are the «Dream Riders»—people with intellectual disabilities or developmental disorders from the United States and other countries. The weekend aims, in particular, to promote inclusion and provide them with a memorable experience.

Despite uncertain weather, the 2026 event featured an impressive lineup. The organizers announced 408 cars for Saturday’s parade, including this De Tomaso P72. It was a rare opportunity to see a car—of which only 72 will ever be produced—on the move, surrounded by hundreds of other classic and exotic cars. Most importantly, the weekend raised over $8 million, thanks to sponsors, donations, ticket sales, registration fees, and volunteers who supported the event.

A 7-year wait, but certainly not a lifetime in the garage

This latest appearance is all the more interesting given that the P72 already has all the hallmarks of a future collector’s item. Unveiled at Goodwood in 2019, it combines a body inspired by the De Tomaso P70 with a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine—originally from Ford and tuned by Roush Performance—that produces approximately 700 ch and 820 Nm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a rare six-speed manual transmission.

But its first owner clearly has no intention of keeping it under a cover. In just two months, his P72 has already been spotted in Germany, Monaco, and then the United States, where it recently took part in an event that raised several million dollars for charity. After waiting seven years to take delivery of his car, its owner now seems determined to make up for lost time.