RE: De Tomaso Pantera: Spotted

RE: De Tomaso Pantera: Spotted

Sunday 14th January 2018

De Tomaso Pantera: Spotted

Why it's worth negotiating one of the ultimate examples of 70s supercar compromise



The chequered history of De Tomaso is littered with some gorgeous cars.

Though to drive and to own some of its products were as unstable as the firm's financial affairs, to look at they were nearly always a pleasure. Consider the Giugiario-designed Vallelunga and Mangusta - both stunning, by the standards of their times - and even the later Deauville and Longchamp were not without their charms.

Pretty and Italian on top...
Pretty and Italian on top...
Consider most of all, though, this Pantera - it's divine. Look at its little Campagnolo wheels and its bits of chrome glinting in the sun. Look at that rump, too - so pert. The overall look is dainty but aggressive, and how perfectly that suits what it is; a delicate Italian-made supercar with some butch bits of Ford muscle underneath.

It was designed by Tom Tjaarda, then at Ghia, and the body surmounted a Dallara-designed monocoque that featured double wishbones and all-independent suspension. There was a five-speed ZF transaxle in there, too, and, mid-mounted, a 330hp all-iron 5.8-litre Ford Cleveland pushrod V8, similar to what you might have found in a tarted-up Mustang or a Torino. Think 0 to 60mph in 5.5 seconds, and 170mph flat out.

This is a relatively early 1974 example from the US, where Panteras were sold through Ford's Lincoln Mercury dealers, the American giant at that time owning a considerable stake in De Tomaso. Refurbished and refreshed, with a full service and a health check, you might think it worth a punt.

... all-American underneath!
... all-American underneath!
What you'd probably get is a car as temperamental and as difficult to drive and own as any other 1970s supercar, with its heavy steering, awkward driving position and compromised visibility, not to mention its complete lack of ventilation.

All this might be worth it, though, when the sun is high and the blood is bubbling and you find the right road snaking ahead of you - those that have driven Panteras certainly seem to like them. Be warned, though - Elvis had one, and he was so frustrated with his he shot it.


SPECIFICATION - DE TOMASO PANTERA

Engine: 5,752cc, V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 330@N/A rpm
Torque (lb ft): 325@N/A rpm
MPG: Good one
CO2: Excessive
First registered: 1974
Mileage: 21,000
Price new: N/A
Price now: £109,900

See the full ad here.

Mark Pearson

Author
Discussion

galaxie500

68 posts

162 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
A good friend of a good friend in the US Midwest has a similarly early Pantera bought in the late 70’s from the original owner and its tricky reputation is born out by a mere 60K miles from new. It is exercised from time to time and the beautiful body combined with the simple Ford motor makes for a compelling experience. I hope to drive it on my next visit if the owner lets me!



Puddenchucker

4,036 posts

217 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
I've always liked Panteras.
If nothing else, they look fantastic (IMHO) from the back:




BrettMRC

4,033 posts

159 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
I *need* one!


Love these so much biggrin

irocfan

40,152 posts

189 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
cloud9

samoht

5,631 posts

145 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all

Thread seems to have become detached from its original article.

I enjoyed Jay's piece on the Pantera here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd2Unce43wI

OddCat

2,514 posts

170 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
I love Panteras. For me they have a unique blend of exotic supercar and muscle car. Superb.

TR4man

5,207 posts

173 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
Puddenchucker said:
I've always liked Panteras.
If nothing else, they look fantastic (IMHO) from the back:

Those lopsided rear lights would annoy my OCD.

OddCat

2,514 posts

170 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
TR4man said:
Puddenchucker said:
I've always liked Panteras.
If nothing else, they look fantastic (IMHO) from the back:

Those lopsided rear lights would annoy my OCD.
Granted, the fog light looks a bit squiffy - but the rear lights look OK to me ?

Gameface

16,565 posts

76 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
It's the fog light that spoils that view.

bockaaarck

393 posts

167 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
Love the Pantera so much, it’s got such character and I know it’s flawed. But it has something about which, for me, ‘ticks the boxes’.

TR4man

5,207 posts

173 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
OddCat said:
TR4man said:
Puddenchucker said:
I've always liked Panteras.
If nothing else, they look fantastic (IMHO) from the back:

Those lopsided rear lights would annoy my OCD.
Granted, the fog light looks a bit squiffy - but the rear lights look OK to me ?
No, that's not what is making my teeth itch. The rear light binnacle on the right hand side are sloping downwards.

Hungrymc

6,642 posts

136 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
Spectacular looking car. Nothing about it is making my teeth itch

Off course there are some dodgy details - but it’s just spectacular and that out shines any of the minor details.

FN2TypeR

7,091 posts

92 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
Phwoar cloud9

powerstroke

10,283 posts

159 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
Yep nice and unlike some it has a proper engine not some tiny fragile overstressed thing with a million valves just waiting to explode driving

timmm

Original Poster:

1 posts

140 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
quotequote all
Nice to see an article on the Pantera here smile
However the crucial phrase in the article is 'What you'd probably get...' because clearly this gentleman has not driven the car, når does he know what he is talking about.

Puddenchucker

4,036 posts

217 months

Monday 15th January 2018
quotequote all

irocfan

40,152 posts

189 months

Monday 15th January 2018
quotequote all
yup - thread merge needed

Tim bo

1,956 posts

139 months

Monday 15th January 2018
quotequote all
Rear end looks like someone's given it a wedgie.

easytiger123

2,591 posts

208 months

Monday 15th January 2018
quotequote all
This was the car I always hankered after as a kid. Even more than the Countach. They did make a rather tasty looking final version including one with a removable roof panel

https://www.supercars.net/blog/1994-detomaso-pante...

Would love to hear from any owners about what any of the Panteras are like to own and drive.

rigga

8,727 posts

200 months

Monday 15th January 2018
quotequote all
easytiger123 said:
This was the car I always hankered after as a kid. Even more than the Countach. They did make a rather tasty looking final version including one with a removable roof panel

https://www.supercars.net/blog/1994-detomaso-pante...

Would love to hear from any owners about what any of the Panteras are like to own and drive.
Much prefer the earlier car styling over that later varient, first gen more muscular are far better for it.