Lee Iacocca spent his automotive career searching for what he termed “the unfair advantage.” He aimed to steal a march on the opposition by introducing vehicles they had no answer for. His desire for Ford to market an exotic led him to sign an agreement with Alejandro de Tomaso that allowed the Pantera to find its place in Lincoln-Mercury showrooms from 1972. Although it showed promise, the partnership ended in 1975 following sales of approximately 5,500 vehicles. Our featured Pantera left the factory in 1972 and is a non-running restoration project. It is essentially complete and could be worth a close look if the price doesn’t climb too high. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Araknid78 for spotting this stunning exotic listed here at Hagerty in Sugar Hill, Georgia. The bidding is at $25,500 in a No Reserve auction.
De Tomaso released the Pantera in 1971 to replace the Mangusta. Designed by Tom Tjaarda, it is a purposeful vehicle that is guaranteed to draw crowds like moths to a flame. This car’s history is unclear, but there’s no hiding the fact that it requires a total restoration. Exotics of this caliber don’t deserve shortcuts, so a nut-and-bolt approach would seem appropriate. The Code V108 Red paint is tired, but the panels are straight. The listing images reveal rust in some lower extremities, which would motivate me to climb beneath this classic to check for hidden problems. Rust is a known weakness and can be quite expensive to fix. If the Pantera is structurally sound, it could be a winner. The trim is intact, and the glass is clear. Later examples of the Pantera featured enormous alloy wheels, but this car’s original 15″ cast magnesium Campagnolo wheels enhance the car’s classy appearance.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Any Italian exotic featuring a gated shifter is a winner in my books. This Pantera ticks that box, and the leather-wrapped Momo Prototipo wheel adds to both the visual appeal and driving pleasure. The seller mentions aftermarket additions, including Recaro bucket seats, a Pioneer radio/cassette player, and matching speakers. The interior appearance is okay, with only slight seat wear and faded carpet. The winning bidder faces a few choices, depending on their desire for authenticity. Sourcing an original radio shouldn’t be hard, but a correct set of seats will be expensive. They occasionally appear on the usual online auction sites, but the new owner may need to be patient if they don’t want to spend a fortune.
The collaboration between De Tomaso and Ford was almost inevitable, thanks to the Pantera’s motor. It features Ford’s glorious 351ci Cleveland V8, and this car emerged during the peak period for outright performance. The mid-mounted 351 sent a factory-quoted 310hp and 380 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a five-speed ZF manual transaxle, while huge four-wheel disc brakes were standard equipment. The following model year saw De Tomaso battle tighter emission regulations, with the motor’s vital statistics falling to 266hp and 301 ft/lbs as a result. The Pantera was fast for 1972, with the factory quoting a top speed of 162mph. The seller states that this Pantera doesn’t run, but the engine’s condition is unclear. It features a few aftermarket parts, including an Edelbrock intake. However, since the 351 is a Ford product, finding a factory unit shouldn’t be difficult.
If I were to choose any version of the De Tomaso Pantera to park in my garage, it would have to be one that left the Modena factory in 1972. I acknowledge that these earlier cars weren’t refined and were prone to reliability issues. However, those could be addressed, and many owners have done so. The styling is what wins my heart. These early examples weren’t lumbered with big bumpers or bulging fender flares. They were true to Tom Tjaarda’s original vision, looking elegant but purposeful. Values are climbing, and if the winning bidder achieves a high-end result with their restoration, a six-figure valuation awaits them. So it will be fascinating to watch the auction and see whether people are willing to throw caution to the wind by bidding hard and high for this classic. Do you think that will happen?
With 7 days left this will go way higher!!