The Pantera was a mid-engine sports car produced by De Tomaso in Italy from 1971-92. They were available in the U.S. for about five years through a partnership with Ford. Most of the cars were powered by Ford’s 351 cubic inch V8s. The seller’s car was the 27th one imported by Ford for 1971, one of 73 painted white in the first model year, and one of 75 with push-button doors. It has just been treated to a no-expense-spared restoration where the seller strived to preserve its factory correctness. Located in Orange County, California, this rare machine is available here on craigslist for $179,000. Thanks, Pat L., for finding this beauty for us.
The Pantera was the brainchild of Alejandro De Tomaso, who founded De Tomaso Automobili in Italy. With its steel monocoque chassis, the Pantera was developed to replace the Mangusta, which had used a steel backbone chassis. De Tomaso reached out to Ford to supply engines for the cars and to set up an arrangement to sell them through Lincoln-Mercury dealers in the U.S. That began in 1971 and the last Pantera’s were imported in 1975, although Ford would continue to supply the cars’ motors. About 5,500 Pantera’s made it to the States during the ‘70s and production diminished after that, with De Tomaso making no more than another 2,000 Pantera’s through 1992.
The first 75 of the Pantera’s that were imported were hand-built in Turin, Italy and had push-button door handles molded into the sheet metal along with a push-button actuator. That would be changed going forward with production then moved to De Tomaso’s own factory in Modena. Besides the door handles, the early cars also had single slot Campagnolo wheels, brass window frames, clear glass, a different transmission bell housing, and an aluminum gas tank.
It’s always great when a car has a story and this one delivers. The car was first purchased in New Jersey and the original owner kept it for about two years. He/she (first name Jan) sold it to a buyer in Virginia in 1973 with just over 14,000 miles on the odometer. Sometime in the 1980s, that owner began a bare metal restoration at 35,000 miles but did not complete it due to his passing. A third person came into the picture around 2007 and got it as part of an estate sale. He kept the Pantera for about 10 years, doing little to it during that time, so the current seller acquired it from him and finished the work others had started. The car has seen less than 100 miles since being brought back to new condition and a Marti Report is provided to substantial the automobile.
The motor was disassembled and resealed but not technically rebuilt. It retains the high compression, closed chamber stamped cylinder heads that were standard on the ‘71 Panteras. The ZF transaxle with its unique push-button bell housing is also unrestored and operates well. What we see now is a car that is probably as close to its production date in March 1971 than it could ever be again.
The Marti Report says that only 743 Pantera’s were built during the first year. According to the seller, only 26 other cars were built by hand before this one. Hagerty says one of these cars in Concours condition would set you back $122,000. There’s no telling what the seller spent on this project and the car has the additional rarity of being one of the few “push-button” examples likely to survive. So, this begs the question: are those factors worth a substantial upcharge? That will be up to the buyer to decide.
I saw a new one in’74 (yellow) & thought it was really cool.
A few years back,I saw a yellow one drive by our house.I was
surprised to see it turn around & stop in front of the driveway.
Turns out that a friend of mine bought it,& stopped to show
it to me.After a while,I realized that I’d have no interest in owning
one.They’re a fairly large car,& if you drove it as it should be driven,
you’d probably loose your license.
I doubt that you’d ever be able to talk your way out of a
speeding ticket – with these,it’s “guilty until proven innocent”.
Very very nice. A use-able exotic….
Last year I saw one at a local show. It looked good but a bit worn. I got to talk to the owner. He had owned it for several years and, after getting it into dependable condition, told me that he regularly drove it to shows and for fun. He told me about several 100+ mile trips he had made with it over the previous year or so. More power to him!!
Now that’s a nice example of a Pantera not like the three over priced piles of.I’ll be nice
I have heard the ZF transaxles can be problematic.
They were truck transmissions used BMW M1, Ford GT and flipped upside to be used in the Mangusta. I had a 72 (3388) and it was the most expensive part in the drive train. 71 was a rare year with push button doors and battery in a strange place. Parts are harder to find for a 1971. Some were rust bucket from the northern states. I paid $30k for mine and sold when they were still worth peanuts. It now resides in Florida.
Wow… first white Pantera I have seen and it wears it well. I saw my first one in 1973 with my Dad at a Lincoln dealership in Cleveland. He wanted to buy a Mark IV, but I wanted the yellow Pantera on the lot!
Is that the correct door mirror? Looks like it was lifted off a ford sedan!
Why not the best looking mirror of all? – the Ford racing mirror – avail even on the Pinto yet! lol
These $160 brand name tires are now made in Mexico?! …
http://images.craigslist.org/00101_jj9WOcqID8Wz_0y50t2_1200x900.jpg
That would explain the browning of RWL versions.
Ck your modern tires’ birthplace.
And your point is?
Tires aren’t what they used to be – even name brands – especially how fast they start cracking – my firestones are all over after 5 years – remember when a tire could be recapped/retreaded?
White is not the best color for a Pantera, maybe why there were only 73. I always preferred the styling of the Mangusta. These go regularly in the $110k – $130k range so this one seems very overpriced.
179k, on Craigslist?? Someone is advertising it, not selling it.
They are fishing! Yes they are worth money, but not hat kind of money!
Fake Ad computer aided images of the engine and no way to contact the seller directly other than a Craigs list email… the guy is fishing for your info Buyers beware.
I set up all of my Craigslist ads to contact me through their email. Once the marketers get hold of your phone number, they don’t give up.
I remember when these first came out, they were $9995.
I had a chance to buy one decades ago for 25k, but learned that they had problems with over heating. Plus I was broke, so there you go.
What other engines besides a 351 cleveland were put in these and where are you getting that incorrect info? All had 351 Cleveland Ford V8’s! Need to check your sources!
I had the chance chance of buying a 73 from a customer with a little over 4k in miles. He kept the original motor after having a 351c built thinking numbers matching motor would be a smart idea to keep. Then found out not an issue with these cars. They just pulled a motor out of inventory for them and didn’t match anything else on these. Updated wheels & tires but had the take offs. It was white and had it painted Pearl white. He had Steve Frisby take out the motor and detail the compartment and paint to match. He told me the wipers were M.I.A. and wanted 25k my boss said offer 20k and it put me in a bad situation. “What don’t you understand about 25K?” he bought it and later sold for…I bet he wished he kept it!
Another one? At least it looks better than that trio last week.
Chuck……..I too remember when these hit the showrooms. I loved them then and now as well. What a great investment for $10,ooo.oo. Simple, workable and a timeless shape.
Well, this is a site for interested persons to look at …
http://www.panteraplace.com/
Regarding door mirrors,
http://www.panteraplace.com/page55.htm
Nice car. Love the color