In its original form, the De Tomaso Pantera was an elegant Italian exotic featuring good old American muscle occupying its engine bay. However, the GT5 version brought body modifications that transformed the car into an aggressive-looking machine. This 1974 Pantera is an unfinished GT5 conversion project that has not been a cheap undertaking. It stalled many years ago, but its rock-solid nature means that completing the work shouldn’t be complicated. The seller has listed the De Tomaso here on eBay in Hillsboro, Oregon. Bidding sits at $25,100, which is below the reserve.

De Tomaso introduced the Pantera in 1971 as its replacement for the Mangusta. Like its predecessor, the styling was quite elegant but purposeful in its original form, although it did evolve during its twenty-one-year production run. One of the more aggressively styled versions was the GT5, which brought enormous fender flares and spoilers to the table. Our feature car isn’t a genuine GT5, but is a conversion where no expense has been spared to this point. The body additions are all genuine parts, and while the work has been performed to a high standard, there are plenty of tasks remaining for the winning bidder to tackle. The shopping list will also be long, including replacement front and back glass, and sourcing a replacement for the missing side skirt. The seller states that the body was dipped before the work began, and any minor rust was addressed to ensure that the car was rock-solid. A specialist then fitted the genuine GT5 panels, although many years have passed since work stalled. That has allowed some deterioration to the panels, with the flares showing cracks, and one rear panel dent requiring attention. Another item that the buyer needs to locate is an appropriate set of wheels to fill the arches, but it appears that most of the remaining body hardware and trim are present.

Alejandro de Tomaso wanted the mid-engined Pantera to have genuine muscle, but his company didn’t possess the resources to produce its own powerplants. Therefore, he turned to Ford, equipping his latest offering with a 351ci V8. This 1974 Pantera’s “Cleveland” motor sent around 266hp to the rear wheels via a five-speed ZF transaxle. Four-wheel disc brakes and independent suspension on all corners gave it the stopping power and handling befitting an exotic of this vintage. The good news for potential buyers is that the transaxle and most of the mechanical components are present, and many may be fit for use on this build. However, the engine is long gone, leaving the buyer to source a replacement. That shouldn’t be a problem, although those unconcerned about originality could opt for a more modern engine with fuel injection to create a more user-friendly package.

De Tomaso brought the expected level of luxury to the Pantera’s interior, with this car leaving the factory trimmed in Black leather. The seller purchased many of the items required for the GT5 upgrade, including burl walnut pieces and other components. That is good news, but the bad news is that the seats are missing. This could be one of the more challenging aspects of this build, because Pantera seats aren’t thick on the ground, and those that appear online are often quite expensive. On the plus side, most of the remaining original items are present and should be fit for purpose.

Ford ceased North American imports of the De Tomaso Pantera in 1975, but production continued in Italy until 1992. Although its reign was quite long, only around 7,200 of these classics left the factory. The seller confirms that this GT5 conversion has already consumed over $50,000, although it appears that most of the more complicated tasks have been completed. Sourcing the missing parts to reach the finish line should be possible, but is that a task you would consider tackling?