Vehicle Description
Until recently, the automotive public wasn't quite sure what to
make of the DeTomaso Pantera, but steadily increasing prices have
pretty much cemented their position as high-grade hardware worthy
of serious consideration. This gorgeous 1973 Pantera is the one to
own if your idea of fun is actually driving it instead of rubbing
it with a diaper, especially with an over-built stroker motor and
slick red paint.
The Pantera is a curious, but not unprecedented mixture of Italian
craftsmanship and American muscle, and when it was new, there just
weren't many cars of any kind that could keep up with it. Perhaps
it's because of that Ford DNA in its history that kept prices low,
but today collectors are realizing that these cars deserve a spot
in Italy's illustrious supercar traditions. That also explains why
this one received such a high-end restoration, which, although not
totally stock, delivers on the promises made by the Pantera's
gorgeous bodywork. Bright red accentuates the 1970s wedge shape,
which has aged at least as well as the Ferrari 308 and still
commands respect among aficionados. Fit and finish are probably
better today than they were when the car was new and it was
finished in 2016, so it remains in first-rate condition throughout.
There are 1971 bumperettes up front and the rear bumper was shaved,
so it has a bit of a custom look, and there's no disputing that
this car generates a ton of attention everywhere it goes.
The interior is pure Italian, complete with the usual gorilla-style
driving position and gated shift lever for the 5-speed manual
gearbox. Leather buckets have attractive pleats and textured
inserts and they're surprisingly comfortable for long hauls. The
instruments are housed in very cool twin pods with auxiliary gauges
running down the center stack and the overall look is unique and
very attractive. A leather-wrapped steering wheel feels suitably
Italian in your hands and while the shifter takes some muscle and
some familiarity, it's quite rewarding to master. You'll probably
never get tired of the sonorous V8 that inhales and roars just
behind your head, but there's also a vintage AM/FM/cassette stereo
fitted horizontally, which is the only way it would work. There's a
bit of storage space up front in a nicely appointed trunk area,
although it's largely full of battery and a modern Wilwood master
cylinder.
The Pantera always used a 351 cubic inch Ford V8, but this one is
powered by an all-new Ford stroker motor punched out to 425 cubic
inches. That's big block power in a small block package and the
extra cubes make this car feel totally invincible on the street. It
surely lives up to the promises made by the outrageous bodywork and
with bulletproof Ford mechanicals, the Pantera is far from fussy
and remains inexpensive to maintain, even for the do-it-yourself
hobbyist. It's intimidating looking into that engine bay, but the
engineering is solid and straightforward so if you've been under
the hood of a Mustang, you'll see a lot that's familiar here. It's
also framed by beautiful custom sheetmetal work that makes it look
like a piece of sculpture. The exhaust system is beautifully
crafted and sounds downright nasty, and with a ZF 5-speed manual
transmission it's a joy to drive. A capable suspension, 4-wheel
disc brakes, and custom 18-inch wheels give it confidence on and
off the track and it wears oversized 245/35/18 front and 335/30/18
rear Michelin Pilot radials.
The Pantera has become an A-list celebrity and this one with a
frame-off restoration and a brutal powerplant makes the argument
that Ferraris may be garage art, but Panteras are meant to be
driven. Call today!
