The iconic Jaguar XJ made its debut in 1968 with the XJ6. The luxury sedan was offered with three engine choices, the 2.8L making 140 hp, the 4.2L making 186 hp, and the 5.3L V12 making 250 hp. The car became an icon with its quad round headlamps and elegant styling.
Just two years later, Italian car maker DeTomaso came out with their own super saloon. The Deauville was introduced in 1970 and was produced through 1985. Keen-eyed viewers will observe the strong resemblance of the Deauville to the Jaguar XJ6. Is it a coincidence that both cars were in production at the same time?
DeTomaso’s car was much more powerful, with a 330 hp Ford 351 V8 engine under the bonnet. The body was hand crafted by Ghia in Italy. 
DeTomaso’s biggest commercial success was the two-seat Pantera, which saw 7,260 units produced. The Deauville saw just 244 of these cars built during the fifteen year production run. That is not what I would call a commercial success. 
Still, the Deauville is an interesting car for its rarity. I caught up with this one at the Mecum Collector Car Auction in Glendale, Arizona in March 2023. The car failed to sell at auction and was listed in an after-auction page on Mecum’s website.
To me, the Deauville lacks the style and elegance of the Jaguar. It looks like the imitation version of the Jag that you would buy at the dollar store. The car’s lack of commercial success and obscurity make it an interesting curiosity, but I’d definitely rather have the Pantera.
