For Sale: 1972 De Tomaso Pantera in Irvine, California

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.