RE: De Tomaso Pantera: Spotted
Discussion
TR4man said:
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.If nothing else, they look fantastic (IMHO) from the back:
easytiger123 said:
This was the car I always hankered after as a kid. Even more than the Countach.
Would love to hear from any owners about what any of the Panteras are like to own and drive.
How funny, me too. I adored the Pantera from the age of eight. In 2011, I was very fortunate for my perfect car to become available (the previous owner had it for 25 years!!!)Would love to hear from any owners about what any of the Panteras are like to own and drive.
Keen eyes will note that mine is not standard, but to me the combination of the Porsche Iris blue paintwork (originally white with black bonnet and Pantera GTS graphics along the side, so 80's) and the cream and blue leather interior (originally black) just serve to make a much more special car.
The biggest challenge in buying a Pantera in the U.K. is finding one of the right hand drive ones, there are very few, and I've not seen one come to market in the almost seven years I have owned mine.
The looks captivate me, the sound haunts my dreams. It's a big Loping guttural V8 at idle (351 cubic inches but mine is now 393), that develops into a hard edged bellow in the mid range before soaring (in mine) to a 6,500 rpm redline with a howl that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
To drive....hmmm....easy to get into, leg, bum, plop. Seating position is offset with feet quite central, but nothing as bad as say a 288GTO with it's almost horizontal steering wheel. Ride is excellent on those tall-sided tyres, and mine handles superbly but then it is running a full Ohlins set up. Gearshift is fabulous, click clack through the open gate, and the ZF gearbox is bombproof. Brakes are good, but all that rearward weight bias, they do have a tendency to lock the fronts under very heavy braking. Switching the Pirelli front tyres to Yokohama has made that less of an issue. Handling is sublime and it's very predictable if you ever break rear traction, as long you keep your toe in.
The Ford 351 Cleveland engine is a total beast (mine even more so) a real torque monster which makes for effortless driving. I just drove 1,100 mile round trip to Angouleme for the Circuit Des Remparts and aside from needing to wear noise-cancelling headphones, I was so comfortable, and not knackered in the slightest.
Electrics are shocking, but I have now had someone brilliant add some modern magic to the loom to reduce the strain on the system. I am also very lucky to have a brilliant mechanic local to me who is used to working on these and Countach regularly, as well. Biggest annoyance are probably those rear tyres which aside from being £500 each, are only made in limited batches by Pirelli every few years. Second is probably the number of people that see a badge they don't know, and a Ford engine slung out back, and ask whether it's a Kit Car.
Fuel economy is shocking, space for luggage is laughable, it tramlines for Britain on Sussex B-roads and it make me deaf when I drive it. But as I sit there with my ear drums tingling, and every hair on the back of my neck standing up, I have a smile on my face that you will all know so well. A smile of such enormous pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness.
Edited by tch911 on Monday 15th January 21:38
Ring Brothers did a nice version:
More pics at https://ringbrothers.com/1971_pantera_adrnln - Interior is awesome!
More pics at https://ringbrothers.com/1971_pantera_adrnln - Interior is awesome!
Muntu said:
Ring Brothers did a nice version:
More pics at https://ringbrothers.com/1971_pantera_adrnln - Interior is awesome!
Possibly (on the exterior at any rate) one of my favourite supercarsMore pics at https://ringbrothers.com/1971_pantera_adrnln - Interior is awesome!
That's one of the great things about this site - an enthusiast like Tom pops up and tells us all about actually living with the car.
The fact that his writing and photos are better than those in the original article is a nice bonus, too.
Many thanks for sharing your experiences of owning and driving this remarkable machine.
The fact that his writing and photos are better than those in the original article is a nice bonus, too.
Many thanks for sharing your experiences of owning and driving this remarkable machine.
irocfan said:
tch911 said:
Parked up after the haul down from Sussex to the Dordogne. 550 miles in one journey, cold beer never tasted so good!
Blue meanie - absolutely gorgeous!Edited by tch911 on Monday 15th January 21:48
Is that your barn restoration in the background??
tch911 said:
Parked up after the haul down from Sussex to the Dordogne. 550 miles in one journey, cold beer never tasted so good!
Fabulous GT5 in a great colour, I don't recognise that car and I know most of them. Was that photo taken when touring the Dordogne with the De Tomaso group in 2016 by any chance?Edited by tch911 on Monday 15th January 21:48
I owned a GT5S for 10 years, one of the most charismatic cars i have had the pleasure of caretaking, and regrettably sold it a few years ago.
It was featured here.
https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-carpool/ph...
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