Vehicle Description
1972 De Tomaso Pantera THNMG03340
This gorgeous and upgraded 1972 De Tomaso Pantera is a gorgeous
supercar that is thrilling to drive. The magnificent supercar has
been tastefully upgraded to improve performance, reliability and
comfort without altering the core originality of the vehicle.
Modifications to the exterior of this stunning Pantera are minimal.
Italian coachbuilder Ghia designed the sleek body, so the biggest
modifications are the addition of a GTS factory-style front spoiler
and a pair of subtle cooling grills on the hood to feed air to the
otherwise hidden radiator. The car wears coveted Euro-style
taillights from a Group IV Pantera, but the rest is all
original.
As few performance tires are available for the original 15-inch
wheels, the owner switched to a set of GT5-style aluminum units in
a larger 17-inch diameter shod in brand new 17" tires all
around.
The original 351C in the immaculate engine compartment was
significantly upgraded. The block's displacement was increased to
381 CID. Forged custom rods and pistons spin on the Ford SVO 351W
crank, and the cam is a Crower solid lifter. A Holley 750HP carb
(flowing over 800 cfm) tops the Roush single-plane tunnel ram
intake manifold, which bolts to a set of Blue Thunder heads.
The engine's oiling system is modified too, with an Accusump system
with an external line and an Aviad 10-quart pan. MSD ignition
starts things up, and the headers are one-off custom pieces with
polished stainless pipes and mufflers. A new aluminum radiator and
dual electrical fans keep the motor cool. The transmission is a
5-speed ZF transaxle with a diaphragm-style assisted clutch for
easy shifting. Billet half shafts provide additional strength to
help get the power to the wheels.
To improve the handling, modifications to the chassis of this Pre-L
model Pantera include Timken tapered roller bearings on the rear
uprights and new polyurethane bushings. Koni shocks and a set of
1-inch sway bars keep the car level through the turns, and the
handling is quite impressive for a car of this vintage. Wilwood
four-piston brake calipers bring the light car to a stop in a
hurry.
Interior alterations focused on functionality. The updated front
seats are modified with five-point harnesses and provide more room
for occupants to wear helmets during a track day. Most of the
factory Lucas wiring system was updated and installed by hand.
The car is painted in Ferrari red and attracts serious attention
wherever it goes. The engine bay was smoothed and painted a glossy
black. The body paint is very nice, though not perfect with minor
imperfections on the factory bodywork from driving the exotic
Italian supercar.
This car has a rich provenance. A prized car in the collection of a
former Pantera Owners Club board member, the previous owner said he
came in second in the famed "Cannonball" competition. The
award-winning DeTomaso was even featured in the "Wall Street
Journal" and on the pages of "Pantera International" magazine.
The approach to building this Pantera was to preserve those aspects
of the car worth keeping and modernize aspects that could be
improved. This is a rare opportunity to own a '72 Pantera with
beautiful Italian styling, incredible American power and tasteful
upgrades allowing it to perform on par with most current Italian
supercars.
Licensed in Texas with 60016 miles on the odometer.
