In a number of Barn Finds stories, I have recommended the De Tomaso Pantera as a sensible purchase for those who want to have something that combines nasty fast looks, exotic lines, and simple reliability. Well, let’s admit that “sensible” is a bit of a leap when we’re talking about a car that runs the range of cost starting well above the high threshold that many of us use as the separation line between normal-people money and rich people money. The same difference might be noticed in the dichotomy between these claims: “I can afford that GTO” (for $40Gs) and “I have supercar money” (into the hundreds of thousands). Anyway, if you’re keen on a supercar and can come up with some major scratch, the 1971 Pantera shown here on ebay is one to consider. TJ is our tipster—thank you!—and the car is sitting in Dallas if you want it. There’s no bidding involved. The ad simply says that you should make an offer. So what kind of number would be in your comfort zone?
This is not just any Pantera. It’s an early one, a model nicknamed the “Push Button” Pantera. These were manufactured—or, better word, “crafted”—at Vignale Coachworks in Turin. The rest of the run of Panteras was made at the DeTomaso factory in Modena. You can distinguish the Push Button by looking at the door handles, which will be a round, chrome, push button. Of the Pantera’s run of approximately 7200 cars, under 400 were PB’s, so something like five percent. That might be a bit of a geek-out stat, but it’s something that will make this car special at marque shows.
But this one is not going anywhere without some effort. Look at the front end. The hood (and trunk for that matter) are literally rusted off this car, something I’ve never seen before. The seller blames poor cover during storage, but who keeps a car like this outside for decades? Did the owner not have any idea of the value of it? Or to say it the opposite way, did that former steward of the car not realize that damage to this unit was going to cost a lot more than damage to, say, a 1966 Mustang? Anyway, you’ll be on the hook to fix the rust and to give the rest of the sheet metal, bottom side as well as top, lots of love, and to do pretty much everything else, including remaking the interior and mechanicals, for which no claims of fitness at all are made. Good thing the engine is a common Ford 351-CID.
The seller gives some advice at one point, indicating that he thinks the car could be nicely on the road for the price of another recent, similar, project. That was $165. So do the math backwards. Could you restore the Pantera for $100K? Then your offer should be $65,000. Is that worth taking a chance on?
I’ve said before, looking at a derelict Pantera is like looking at your favorite TV actress today,,,how can that turn into this? I mean, you just didn’t see these at the Pig N’ Whistle, like the actress,,unattainable, by most youthful standards. I never thought I’d ever see a “parts car” Pantera.
The seller states that it could be bought and restored for the amount that one recently sold for. If that was so why isn’t he taking it on. The reality is that you are hoping to break even at the best and in this market that’s a huge risk, investing almost $200k on the “hope” of breaking even isn’t much of plan. Hopium is a dangerous drug.