Restore or modernise is a classic car debate that will run and run. For every Eagle E-Type there's a Gullwing AMG and each
Singer
product is guaranteed to have an equal at the opposite end of the classic desirability scale.
And the restored car. Pretty
Here the two extremes are brought together; in the red corner sits a meticulously restored '74 Pantera and in the, um, sunshine yellow corner is a '71 Pantera totally overhauled by Ringbrothers to create their reinterpretation of De Tomaso's most iconic car.
It would be easy to dismiss the Ringbrothers' car as a gaudy paint job and some blingy rims but it's so much more than that. Nearly all the bodywork is now unique, with certain areas rather more successful than others. But there's evidently a lot of work behind the project, and huge potential given the tech inside it. We'd definitely leave the 'by Nike' interior though.
In fact, the restored car is far more desirable from here. Built before the ostentatious and bewinged Pantera phase, it looks especially delicate next to the Ringbrothers' effort. And it's far from bad to drive either going from Matt Farah's verdict. Decision made then, even given the huge effort behind the modified car. Now to drive the rally-spec version perhaps?