Vehicle Description
As a child growing up in Argentina, Alejandro De Tomaso became
infatuated with motor racing, particularly when it came to the
exotic machinery from Italy. Young De Tomaso dreamed of emulating
his hero Juan Manuel Fangio, and at 23 years old, he ran his first
race behind the wheel of a cobbled-together pre-war car - believed
to be an Alfa or Bugatti. By 1957, De Tomaso had married and moved
to Italy with the ambition to be a race car constructor. He set up
shop in Modena and soon built several racing cars before shifting
focus to road-going sports cars. His first effort was the lovely
Vallelunga, and after producing just 50 examples, it was superseded
by the Mangusta, which featured a similar backbone chassis but with
the previous Ford Cortina-spec Kent engine replaced by a
considerably more powerful small-block Ford V8. The Mangusta was
beautiful but flawed, as the powerful V8 caused the backbone
chassis to flex, creating tricky high-speed handling. Despite its
reputation as a widow maker, De Tomaso sold about 400 examples and
in the process, developed a strong relationship with Ford Motor
Company. Ever determined, De Tomaso moved on the development of the
Pantera, which would eschew its predecessor's backbone chassis in
favor of a rigid unibody-type design to ensure rigidity and
predictable handling at speed. Coinciding with the Pantera
development, De Tomaso had taken control of Carrozzeria Ghia,
eventually luring the genuinely talented American designer Tom
Tjaarda away from Pininfarina. Meanwhile, across the ocean in
Detroit, Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca were busy scheming up a new
mid-engine halo car to sell through select Ford dealers. GM and AMC
had been hinting at building their own mid-engine sports cars, and
Ford was eager to be first on the market. Given De Tomaso's
relationship with Ford, the Pantera was a natural choice for the
Blue Oval's project. It was a win-win as Ford saved on development
costs, and De Tomaso had the marketing power of Ford Motor Company
to help sell his products through a vast network of Lincoln-Mercury
dealers. The project was a relative success, with over 7,000 built.
Even after Ford dropped the program in 1973, De Tomaso continued to
develop and sell the Pantera until 1992! Along the way, the Pantera
has enjoyed an almost cult-like following thanks to the ease of
service, accessible performance, and timeless Italian style. This
1973 De Tomaso Pantera L is a superb example, beautifully presented
in its original shade ofGialloover Black interior. An outstanding
car, this Pantera remains true to its intended form, free of
modifications that otherwise spoil the fabulous original Tom
Tjaarda styling. The later L (for Lusso) model is readily
identified by the full-width black bumpers and lower front air dam,
which not only improved crash protection but also provided some
much-needed downforce at the front to prevent the high-speed lift
that afflicted earlier models. The yellow paintwork (code V502) is
exceptionally well done, applied to a straight and crisply detailed
body. Panel fit is excellent, and the detailing includes original
badges, lamps, and fittings. The previous owners have resisted the
urge to fit larger wheels and tires, retaining the marvelous
factory Campagnolo alloys, wrapped in BF Goodrich radial tires for
a pleasing balance between period looks and modern performance.
Compared to most 1970s Italian supercars, the cabin of the Pantera
is surprisingly comfortable. In classic mid-engine supercar
fashion, the driver sits slightly askew as the front wheel well
pushes the pedals toward the inside. Once situated in the roomy
seat, the expansive windscreen and thin pillars allow for excellent
forward visibility. This car features standard black upholstery in
excellent order, with black nylon carpets and De Tomaso logo mats.
The hard-wearing seat covers are superb, and the car retains the
rarely-seen original 3-spoke steering wheel. Factory Veglia
instruments with their distinct green numerals are in excellent
condition. Factory options include air conditioning and electric
windows. An original blanking plate covers the radio hole in the
console, but the restorers hid a modern AM/FM/CD player in a custom
plinth under the front hood, operated by remote control. The 351
cubic-inch Ford V8 is nestled just behind the seats. With the
removable trunk in place, there isn't much to see; however, the
engine is well-detailed in proper Ford blue paint, featuring subtle
upgrades to improve performance and reliability. A single
four-barrel Holley carburetor sits on an Edelbrock aluminum intake
manifold, with tubular headers feeding standard rear mufflers. The
engine also features wrinkle-finish De Tomaso valve covers and a
period-correct chrome air cleaner for the proper under hood
appearance. It runs strong and sends power through the robust
factory 5-speed ZF transaxle. Performance is on par with many of
its Italian counterparts, with the added benefit of American V8
reliability and parts accessibility. The De Tomaso Pantera
represents a tremendous value in the glamorous world of 70's
supercars. With timeless styling by the great Tom Tjaarda for Ghia,
it offers all of the street-cred of its purebred competitors, while
the thumping Ford 351 delivers tremendous bang for the buck.
Refreshingly standard and true to its original specification, this
example is in excellent condition throughout, and is a superb and
exciting motorcar for rallies and driving events the world over.
Offers welcome and trades considered