1971 De Tomaso Pantera, a sports automobile in advance of its time
“As you skim more than the pavement in the Pantera you cannot support emotion smug,” wrote Motor vehicle & Driver journal in August 1971 when Ford teamed up with Italian auto manufacture De Tomaso Automobili to generate the unique Pantera in the U.S.
“You listen to the engine rumbling along from its station back by your shoulder blades – a mechanical arrangement even novitiate automotive visionaries will identify as a little piece of tomorrow right now. And the appears to be. Oh wow – like a little something that just rolled out of the Turin Display.”
The Decide of the Working day is a 1971 De Tomaso Pantera with just about 34,000 miles on its odometer and sporting a Verde Environmentally friendly color above a black inside. It is presented on ClassicCars.com by a seller in Salt Lake Town, Utah.
The mid-engine sporting activities vehicle is driven by a 351cid Ford Cleveland V8 bored and stroked to 403cid and rated at 430 horsepower. The engine is also outfitted with Edelbrock aluminum heads and ingestion, ceramic-coated Corridor headers, a new Holley 750 CFM carburetor and MSD ignition, in accordance to the seller.
“Included with this expenditure De Tomaso is its restoration receipts of routine maintenance and functionality updates, as effectively as the authentic owner’s manual,” the supplier notes.
The Pantera arrives with power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, electric home windows and air conditioning. It also features 17-inch Campy-design and style wheels with Michelin Sport1 tires, a Momo steering wheel and entrance and rear anti-roll bars.
Intended as a competitor to Ferrari and Lamborghini in the early 1970s’, the Pantera value about 50 % as considerably, with comparable Italian styling and an American V8 packing a equivalent punch in terms of horsepower. Ford and De Tomaso predicted wild amounts of good results in the American market place, but rushed generation resulted in spotty quality, which includes overheating difficulties documented by Pantera house owners.
Needless to say, Ford and De Tomaso did not see the achievement they ended up hoping for. Immediately after offering fewer than 6,000 Panteras by 1974, Ford identified as it quits on promoting them in the U.S.
Regardless of the challenges, Panteras are legendary in the eyes of numerous collectors of both sports activities vehicles and muscle autos, with its sporty style and wicked-speedy motor assisting it retain its benefit.
According to Hagerty’s price tutorial, a 1971 De Tomaso Pantera in superb situation goes for an regular of $88,000, achieving $122,000 in great concours issue.
The dealer is asking for $112,000 for this Pantera, which would seem reasonable if the car or truck is as the supplier describes and the pics clearly show.
To perspective this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Select of the Day.