Conceived during the height of the classic muscle car era, the DeTomaso Pantera wrapped a powerful American V8 in a beautiful Italian body. Ford Motor Company failed to buy Ferrari in 1963, and envisioned the Pantera as a Ferrari competitor at half the price. This particular 1972 DeTomaso Pantera in Dallas, Texas seeks a new owner here on eBay where $44,000 will seal the deal.
The trailer and vague description scream “flipper special,” as in virtually no useful details. Why bother to answer minor questions like “Does the car have an engine?” At least the bare metal indicates no evidence of heinous repairs, rust, or copious use of Bondo.
Though perhaps not as suave as a Ferrari, the Pantera could grant the driver significant gravity to attract stylish dating partners. Few citizens scrutinize exotic Italian mid-engined sports cars enough to discriminate among them.
Call me crazy, but I like more than a 58-word listing when buying a $44,000 project car. However, perhaps that’s front-pocket money for a Pantera-restorer. The original 351 cubic inch Ford V8 could be replaced with a similar engine making insane horsepower. For more information on Pantera history, check out this excellent page at danjedlicka.com. If you inherited this car, what would you ask for it?
So far, the ad hasn’t attracted any bids, which suggests to me that the cost of sourcing the missing small bits, an engine — I take the blank spaces in the Item Description as a “no engine” — and repairing what’s there exceeds the value to even a Pantera fanatic.
Personally, the missing engine wouldn’t worry me as much as the rest. Digging up a suitable 351 isn’t all that difficult. But sourcing trim and pieces for the rest of the driveline might turn out to be a real pain.
After that, all you would have to worry about are all the things that Bill Stroppe’s crew tried — usually, with success — to rectify before the car was first sold. It can all be done, I’m sure, but that initial $44K hit is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg….
Summed up very well. Maybe if the entry buy in was more reasonable with the condition it’s currently in it may allow a little “creative latitude” during the restoration. See Gen 3 Hemi power etc. etc.
The seller states it a “worthy enterprise given the rising prices recently”. We all know sellers would never stretch the truth, especially when there are large sums on money on the table.
There is a reason the restoration was “aborted”, good luck to the next owner.
Steve R
Thanks, that’s me!
Aborted = too far gone to feasibly repair. Powertrain, glass, and misc other pieces sold for parts. Looks like it had a rough 98k miles somewhere in the salt belt. Really nothing here without the missing pieces. Unless you get it for nothing and either finish parting it down, or find a really smacked up one that is complete. Repair the structure on this one and start swapping over the bits to make a driver. But I guess you’re paying for this cars life experience at about 2.25 a mile. So, a done one that is road ready with the cooling system mods and the few other known issues these have fixed is what 15k more? Good luck to the seller.
Advertise the truth,its a rat rod.install a Hudson motor,Buick doors,Olds transaxle,some Pontiac seats and Cragars it’ll look hideous enough you can’t look away but you want to.And an Edsel grill in the center of the hood so you will know it’s still a Ford
Looking at what is in the garage in the background (3rd & 5th pictures) I have a feeling I know where all the missing parts to this one went. Mmmm… 44 big ones for a parted out parts car. What a bargain.
Totally frickin missed that. Maybe that one in the garage is included. I guess he expects to fund the other with this ones capital. Dick
Check his other eBay listings, he’s an exotic car dealer. The black on is listed for $85,000.
Steve R
I always check out sellers other items on Ebay. A lot of times it gives me somewhat of a ‘Feeling’ of where seller is coming from. Look at what is in the background first then I look at the actual item. In this case I have the feeling someone had 2 cars– car (A) to fix and car (B) for parts. Got what he needed off of (B) and traded what was left to this seller / dealer for more parts or maybe paint / body / mechanical work on car (A). Just my thoughts. Seller should have found a better place to take pictures.
Yea Ray T- he doesn’t come out and say there’s no engine- and I bet that ZF Transaxle is made out of unobtanium. Brent correct also, parted out parts car. Its like the ratty pantera that was on BF a few weeks ago- Junk with the owner asking an incredible price. That Transaxle was very troublesome in the early years of the pantera- a Local Lincoln Merc dealer here had 3 of them in the shop when they were new–yep all waiting for Transaxles. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
Wish I could find one of these “pre-flipper”
These are one of the most beautiful cars every made but even if you can afford this as a project and have the funds to finish it. DRIVE ONE FIRST. I have driven a few of them and if you fit and can handle the blind spots. Happy Dance, Happy Dance.
If you do not fit this can be a hellish car to drive for more than 15 minutes. Find good photos of them for the peddles are off set to the center of the car for the front wheel wells and for some reason the steering wheel is off set about a half inch to the out side of the center of the drivers seat. This means you are constantly driving in a twisted position. OUCH. I drove one for an hour once on a cross country trip and my back hurt for the rest of the day. Maybe that is just me but find out first if you have a similar problem.
All that said New on the showroom floor they were the Italian beauty and made everything else look dull. They still have the same effect today all these years later.
This car has been making the rounds with no takers for about a year. Crusty, Rusty and already scavenged for parts. Seller just refuses to accept reality like so many others. It’s a $25k car to be modded.
This ad actually makes me feel pretty okay. I purchased a mostly original (aside from a bad respray) Pantera earlier this year that needs a restoration (upon stripping it had ZERO ROT!) but was running and “driving” for $49000. This car for 5k less is wayyyyyyy more than 5k away from the one I purchased in my opinion.