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1971 DeTomaso Pantera: Barn Fresh

1971 Pantera

Here’s an exciting find, a 1971 Pantera with only 18,000 miles! This is one of those poster cars, found hanging on the walls of many future gear-heads. This was the first year of the Pantera, replacing the Mangusta. The Ford 351 V8 had lots of torque, which meant you weren’t always having to shift, plus parts are quite easy to find. It was rated at 330 horsepower, but like other cars of the day, that was conservative and about 30 to 40 horsepower low. The pedals were offset, so seating was a bit funny and six feet was about as tall as a driver could be, but that’s not bad for a car like this. Pantera values have been climbing, with nice cars selling for $40,000 to $50,000 dollars. This one could be worth a decent amount with some work, so the $25,000 he’s asking doesn’t seem too bad. Find it here on craigslist. So, if you have the means and you’re under six feet tall, you could soon be stylin’ in your very own mid-engined supercar! Did you have a Pantera poster hanging on your wall as a kid?

Comments

  1. Avatar PaulG

    Great find David. Is there a link? Thanks!

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    • Avatar Josh Staff

      Sorry about that Paul! Somehow the link got left out, but I just added it!
      Josh

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      • Avatar PaulG

        Thanks Josh. Man would I love to have this. 25K obo sounds “reasonable” depending on exactly what “needs total restoration” entails. Almost glad it’s not closer…

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  2. Avatar MH

    25K is a good price for that car. They seem to be in very high demand these days. I would buy it.

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  3. Avatar JW

    Another car I’ve lusted after but funds just keep getting in the way. The seller could have been a little more informative, while giving a better pic of the engine area.

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  4. Avatar Rick

    I would jiust drive it as is – doesnt look like it needs restored to me. I bet that after complete detail it would look quite presentable. Of course I’d go through the brakes, renew all the fluids etc. How bad can a 351 be w/ only 18K ?

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  5. Avatar RayT

    This is one of those “oh, if only…” finds that, if it goes to someone who knows about Panteras (as I’m sure it will) will make the new owner very happy, if somewhat poorer. To me, this is, in a way, a “budget Miura” with the looks and specification without twelve cylinders’ worth of grief!

    The only thing that keeps me away (if you don’t include lack of space and money) if the memory of several conversations I had with the late Bill Stroppe, whose shop did pre-dealer rectification on U.S.-bound Panteras. Some of his stories were pretty horrifying, and he cited more than a few factory-original problem areas his techs just couldn’t fix…..

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  6. Avatar Mark E

    Seems like a good deal, depending on the restoration that’s needed.

    This is virtually a twin to the only Pantera I’ve ever ridden in. 1971, yellow with black interior. It belonged to the art teacher at our high school who gave me a ride one time. Ah, teenaged automotive lust… ^_^

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  7. Avatar Mark E

    I just emailed him asking what the areas were that needed restoration. See if I hear back on THIS one or, like the Subaru 360s, there’ll be no response and it will turn up in less than a month at 2x the price… -_-;

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    • Avatar Bobsmyuncle

      Seems to be the fate of any decent classic the past few years.

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    • Avatar Brian

      This one will not end up back for sale. I bought it. It will get redone and driven. It needs paint. The other side of the car has blistered paint from a nearby fire in the garage it was stored in. Interior is beautiful. Does not run yet, I will start working on that after it gets a thorough cleaning. I have always wanted one.

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      • Avatar Josh Staff

        Congratulations Brian! Please keep us updated on your progress and send photos!!!!

        Josh

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  8. Avatar Craig Frier

    Interesting. Shame it’s all the way over there in America land. Would make a nice project. Had some recent business with a few of these. I happen to know where Number 1 is. She’s for sale. Owned for a long time by DeTomaso themselves and appeared in the original marketing literature.. Price is considerably higher than the one in this article. But you may contact me if interested.

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    • Avatar Josh Staff

      Hi Craig, please send us more info! We would love to feature it!!! Send me an email at mail@barnfinds.com
      Josh

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      • Avatar Craig Frier

        Hi Josh. It’s Midnight in the UK but I’ve popped a message over to the agent of the owner ( which is a convoluted way of saying I mailed my friend ;)) for more info. I’ve seen the car a number of times but am probably misremembering the provenance. I do know it was a DeTomaso car, I’ve seen their name on the log book, and there is a promotional brochure on the front seat with this actual vehicle pictured when new.
        I’ll come back tomorrow when less under the influence of a medicinal drink and give you some proper info via your mail address.

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  9. Avatar JOEINTHOUSANDOAKS

    Rust would be the only concern with this. If inner panels have issues it is almost surely a goner.

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  10. Avatar JW454

    Back in the summer of 1974, I was in the passenger seat of a 1972 at 165 MPH. It was a thrill and a scary ride all rolled into one. The worst part was we were on Interstate 75 between Dayton, and Cincinnati Ohio. Traffic was much lighter then but I wouldn’t do it again regardless.

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  11. Avatar Ross W. Lovell

    Greetings All,

    My father had one of these.

    As I remember cost more than twice as much as an LTD.

    Servicing was interesting as the Ford dealers weren’t really into working on this car. While my Dad liked the car, it was during an Italian-phase. He liked the power, the interior was nice enough, switch gear seemed to be Ford but hard to come by for some unknown reason.

    Being new he had no rust issues and didn’t encounter any before it was sold.

    He continued on his Italian-phase with a Ferrari and all the quality issues that car exhibited surprised him until he was reminded of the Pantera was more of a hybrid as it had a dependable Ford powertrain.

    He did note that the Ferrari dealership was always very glad to at least see him though he never thought the same way after presented with the repair bill.

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  12. Avatar taruffi57

    I owned a ’72 for 23 yrs. Actually, I should say that it owned me. I run away, screaming, when I hear the word Pantera. It swallowed stacks of Benjamin Franklins like water, and ALWAYS had something wrong with it. Usually several things. And that was with maint. done by a highly knowledgeable master mechanic who had worked for a Lincoln-Mercury dealership and dealt with them when they were new, AND owns a ’74 – to this day. Yeah, it was rompin’ stompin’ – with the street “built” 351 and would pull like a freight train from 120 – WITHOUT downshifting out of 5th, which would cause side-splitting laughter every time I did it. It also Sounded like a fast freight – up on the high end. But it sat in my garage way more than I could drive it dependably. I sold it in ’02 about 2 yrs. before they started appreciating. Kinda like the Renault R5 Trurbo II that had many Renault Cup race series parts on it that I gave up on and sold to Belgium. Another can of worms…… I miss the Pantera about 15 minutes of every year. Joe

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    • Avatar taruffi57

      Another pic. Italian car show, Orlando, Fl.

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  13. Avatar Mark H

    All your guys. I’m 6′ 4″ with a 36″ inseam. Unfortunately I am just not meant to own one of these……. or not drive it anyway.

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  14. Avatar Mark E

    The seller informed me, in a polite, well worded email, that he sold the car on Thursday.

    Oh well. From what I’ve heard here and there about Panteras, this could be a blessing or a curse…

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    • Avatar taruffi57

      If the buyer isn’t familiar with them – or at least an experienced master mechanic, then it’s a curse.

      Joe

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  15. Avatar Cameron Bater UK

    It’s not one of my favourites but I have to admit this is a nice example, just one issue with them; yes 99.9% of parts are available however the tyres are no longer made for this car last I heard. HOWEVER there is a silver lining to this sad story, a Multi-Millionheir in Botley, Hampshire, Southern England found this out and commissioned at vast cost a run of tyres that he now sells to fellow De-Tomasso Owners.
    I think his name is Peter Saywell, He rents the Goodwood Circuit once a year and brings his vast collection of Super Cars Including a Pagani PS (Unique Zonda) and Hwyra.

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  16. Avatar Rancho Bella

    Apparently folks have a short memory. Fifteen years ago you could buy a perfect Pantera for 25K……and even then they would be for sale for weeks or months.

    There was a reason for that. Reminds me of the saying “the older I get, the better I was”

    Is it the shape of the car? or the noise of the Ford V8?
    Just because a willowy redhead looks good don’t mean you need to marry her.

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  17. Avatar Sundrop66

    Mark H,

    I’m also 6′ 4″ with a 36″ inseam and have owned #7046 for the past 10 years. You do need to assume the “italian driving position” and put up with flat hair (everyone knows when you’ve been driving the Pantera), but it’s worth it!

    Like 0

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