My 1972 De Tomaso Pantera

[tberg]

I've owned a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera for about 18 years but was never driving it, especially since I bought a 5.0L Jag XKR in 2013. The Jag was quicker, more comfortable, started every time, didn't care about traffic or exterior temperature. The Pantera never wanted to start without pulling the air cleaner, dumping gas into the carb, and praying a lot. So five years ago, I decided that I was going to make it driveable or get rid of it. First thing was to change to fuel injection. Now it starts with a simple turn of the key, first time, every time!. Then we did everything I ever wanted to do to the car: Transplant a new 500+hp 351C engine, pull the entire interior out and install C4 seats, all leather with diamond quilted and stitched seats, firewall, and dash. harnesses, flush windshield, headers, exhaust, new paint, and lots of little improvements or replacements. The car is gorgeous, ferociously loud, and driveable. There are still a few kinks to work out, but we'll get them done, and I have enjoyed driving the red cat over the last couple of months since I got her back after 4+ years of restoration/modification. My XKR is still my beloved daily driver, and is still a pleasure to drive with a 600hp supercharged engine leading the way, certainly the best car of several dozen I have ever owned.

Edited by tberg on Tuesday 15th October 04:00

[tberg]

Thank you for the kind words. I haven't taken a lot of pictures but here are a few:

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Again, thank you all for the compliments. I have always thought that the Pre-L Panteras represented the best example of the 1970's Italian wedge design. When I went looking for one many years ago, I did not like the later wide bodied GT5S with the flared fenders and the Countach spoiler as much as the original svelte Tom Tjaarda design, which 50 years later still looks contemporary amongst its younger counterparts. I'll be taking some more photos at Malibu Cars and Coffee tomorrow morning and will post them afterwards.
Thanks.

[tberg]

The 15" Campys are classic and especially the big sidewall of the corresponding tires. When I first bought the car many years ago, I wanted to upgrade the brakes, and once you do that, the new calipers won't fit under the 15" wheels. So, I did the next best thing which was to buy the 17" Campy clones to maintain the original look. And those huge rear 335s on the rear are just massive.

[tberg]

Thanks again for the compliments, you're all very kind. I just love the early Pre L cars of 1971-72 the best. Tom Tjaarda's splendid design made for an exceptionally beautiful, yet aggressive design, and it has aged so well 50 years after initiation. I enjoy looking at her as much (if not more) than driving the scalded cat and listening to the absolute roar of the exhaust. Any Pistonhead members traveling to Los Angeles any time in the future are welcome to take her out for a drive, just send me a message. I took some new pictures at Malibu Cars and Coffee this morning, and when I get a chance to download later on, I will post some more photos.

[tberg]

PugwasHDJ80,
It's not that I dislike the later wide bodied Panteras, it's that the simplicity of design of the original cars have a sensuousness to the body that is marred by all of the additional wings, rockers, flares, etc. It's the same reason I detest virtually all Lamborghinis since the Miura. Lambo feels the need to appeal to the "boy racer" in all of us by adding so much "gingerbread" to the bodies that it's all that you can look at rather than the shape itself. Compare an Aventador to a Miura and which one would you prefer? Some car manufacturers have, I believe, worked very hard to perfect a simple, elegant look to their cars that seems to transcend the eras that they were produced. I think of Jaguar as one of them. Look at a Series 1 XKE, or an X100 XKR or and XJ sedan, even the F-type, all instantly recognizable, classy, sensual. simple. This has always guided my criteria in choosing a car I'm going to have to look at everyday for a long time.

[tberg]

Pantera Marque Day at Supercar Sunday a couple months back. Sixteen Panteras showed up of all different flavors, Pre L's, GT5's, GTS's, modified cars, customized cars, etc. Then we all went for a short ride to lunch. The ground was trembling with the roar of all sixteen, none of them very quiet.

[tberg]

Thank you very much.

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67Dino,
One of my best friends had a 512BBi, and many of them had that same paint scheme, and I liked it a lot. The Pantera has a slight body line crease right at that point, so it made a natural line at which to do that paint modification. So, yes, the Ferrari was my inspiration in doing it.

Legacy WR,
Yes, I did take some pictures of the other Panteras. I will try and post some in a few minutes.

Edited by tberg on Tuesday 15th October 15:54

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67dino,
The Ares car is a Pantera bodied Lambo Huracan, And it certainly looks better than anything Lambo has ever made since the Miura. The company that bought the rights to the De Tomaso name and intellectual properties is promising a new Pantera very shortly, and is testing them now. Also they did release at Goodwood a couple of months ago, the mouth-watering P72 that is just incredible!

[tberg]

Mr Tidy,
I have driven it more than I did in the 5 years preceding the restoration/modification. However, I'm still having an issue which is troubling. Even with fuel injection, I am getting vapor lock. When the car is hot (but not overheating), it will stumble and then shut down, and I have to sit for 10 or 15 minutes and let it cool enough to start and drive away. It has left me in some troubling intersections, and I will only take it out early in the morning right now. It is going back to the shop this weekend to sort this out. I'm just too nervous about getting stuck in heavy traffic on the freeway. Other than that, it runs great in the cool air and is positively ferociously loud.