There are certain hallmarks of a car that tell you everything you need to know about it. When it comes to assessing projects and preservation, the clues are sometimes obvious, sometimes not, but cars like this 1972 De Tomaso Pantera appear to be loaded with bread crumbs that back up the seller’s description. From the ancient New York State license plates and registration paperwork to the highly original condition of the body and engine compartment, there’s little doubt that this desirable “Pre L” Pantera is as honest as described. Find it here on eBay offered with no reserve and current bids sitting at $27,000.
The seller reports that this Pantera belonged to his late father, and if I had to guess, it was parked in the garage you see in the photos. Because the Pantera was likely used not far from where it’s currently stored – Syracuse, New York – it has some mild rust issues. I say mild because the disclosed areas of concern in the listing photos seem quite meaningless to someone who lived in the northeast and New England until recently, but for a purist, repairing rocker rust may be a bridge too far. Still, this Pantera seems so achingly honest and unspoiled that I’d consider it worthy of the bodywork investment.
It’s also a desirable “Pre L” model which had a few very important distinguishing characteristics from the later cars. First, the bumpers are the preferred smaller chrome assemblies, which would later give way to the ugly black rubber covers that obscured the entire snout once U.S. safety regulators had their way. There’s also the dashboard, which featured the separate binnacles for the speedometer and rev counter. The rest of the cabin is standard Pantera fare, with the iconic vertical gauge array in the center stack. The black leather seats appear decent overall, especially for an unrestored car. There’s some further evidence of rust in the door hinge area.
The Pantera is equipped with its original 351 engine, that the seller mentions ran lower compression beginning in 1972 to account for shifting emissions standards. His father apparently tried to remedy that by adding a Cobra Jet camshaft and factory exhaust header to “…reclaim some lost power.” This engine was last run 40 years ago, and while still turning freely by hand, it will need the full assortment of first-startup activities to prep it for running once more. While the rust may spook some buyers, vintage collector cars rarely appear as honest as this one. Would the visible corrosion stop you from bidding on this Pantera?
Well, it’s tough shifting gears from one Pantera to another( the sites intent?) both from different worlds. This car, along with a poster of Farrah Fawcett adorned every young mans locker in HS. They were this highly unattainable exotic not unlike that supermodel, and had a blue oval? It’s a bit saddening to see one in a neglected condition, kind of like that aged supermodel now, poor thing. A beater Pantera,,,for shame.
Excellent write-up Jeff. These were cool cars in their day, and still are today. One would think that having been used only four years, then kept in a garage ever since, that it might be in fine shape. But, it looks like those four years (in Syracuse) were not good to the car. And the subsequent decades haven’t resulted in abuse, but maybe haven’t been good either. As Jeff says, it looks honest and isn’t terrible, but it will take the right person at a fair price to take it on. Good ebay ad, includes window sticker.
Very low price now, less than two days to go.
Depending what the final bidding is this could be a great deal. The drive train being a ford 351 is not an exotic hence very affordable. The biggest concern is how bad the rust is.
Nice write up. These things restored are going for crazy money. Seems to be enough there to get thru a restoration. Let’s see what it goes for…
If you could get it around 30 and restore around 100…
notorious rusters that can be quite expensive to repair. There was one on that “other auction site” very recently and the commentary on rust repair was very intimidating.
Definitely, a qualified DIY project with the proper resources could turn this lost gem into a masterpiece; otherwise, someone with deep pockets???
You can bet that the owner is tickled blue that he took these pictures last summer.
For sale on Ebay. The guy has one feedback and it is negative…. Sold a 19 Winnebago.
And has a thick accent, and goes by the name of Walter….he’ll have it delivered by next Tuesday.
Looks like a good place to start a resto if the price remais low.
One of those cars that I really regret not buying when they were being sold at Lincoln/ Mercury dealerships, I absolutely love these things, but I’m afraid that I am too old and too tired to take one on in this shape. Good luck to the eventual buyer.
Sad looking engine. I’d guess this was either outside for a while or stored over a dirt floor.
Fun cars to drive, as long as that drive is not over 2 hours long. These will beat you up about as bad as a C1 Corvette. And maybe worse depending on your spinal compression exposure. Each time I dove one. (Twice) I enjoyed it, and once I got out. It was also a good feeling. And that was when I was young! I would love to have it. THEY ARE SO COOL! But, when I love a car, I want to drive for many miles and be happy the whole time.I’m afraid this would not fit my criteria.
Eary Panteras are infamous for rust in the rear body between the inner fender well and the engine compartment. That double wall area gets heat from the headers and moisture condenses in there and it rusts from the inside out. It shows no signs of impending doom until it breaks thru and then it’s too late. Repairing that is a MASSIVE job and while it sounds like someone could repair it and make a killing it’s more likely that by the time you’ve repaired it you’d be upside down. The rockers are showing holes as are the doors and there is rust the joint where the rear fenders mate with the center body and the underside in general aren’t bad but you can bet then the insides of the engine compartment are likely going to require a lot of work. It’s a low price for a reason.
I have driven these on the track and coached a few drivers in them. I dread them with a passion – the shifting is always clunky, the view is so restrictive, and they corner terribly.
Not something I would ever want to track regularly to be honest – just very uncomfortable.
Sold $45,500, 44 bids.
Someone(s) thought it was a legit car/deal I guess.