De Tomaso Guarà Spider

The De Tomaso Guarà Spider was the open version of the Guarà, the last production model developed by De Tomaso. Designed by Carlo Gaino for Synthesis Design, it was produced in very small numbers, with only around five examples generally recorded. The Spider shared the basic structure and mechanical layout of the Guarà coupé and barchetta, but adopted a more usable open body configuration. Unlike the barchetta, it had a fixed windscreen and a fabric soft top, giving it greater practicality while retaining the character of an open sports car. When folded, the soft top was stored behind the seats under a dedicated plastic cover, preserving the clean rear profile of the body. The design required specific engineering work. The Guarà had a compact central structure and a low, short body, leaving very little space for a roof mechanism or storage compartment. The Spider solution was therefore relatively simple but effective: a manually operated fabric hood, completely foldable, with a separate cover behind the cockpit. Early Guarà models were fitted with BMW engines, and the Spider was developed around this mechanical package. The dimensions of the BMW powertrain allowed enough space for the hood storage area behind the seats. In 1998, De Tomaso changed to Ford engines. The larger Ford unit created packaging problems, and the soft-top box could no longer be used in the same way. This limited the development and production of the Spider version. The Guarà Spider remained a rare derivative rather than a regular production model. It combined the wedge-shaped body of the Guarà with a more traditional open-top layout, positioned between the extreme barchetta and the closed coupé. Its limited production, specific roof arrangement and connection to the final years of De Tomaso make it one of the least common variants of the marque’s last sports car.