1972 DE TOMASO PANTERA

Estimate: €65,000 - €85,000

Registration Number: Belgian Registered

Chassis Number: THNMG03266

In many ways the De Tomaso Pantera can be likened to the road going Ford GT40. Not only was it sanctioned by Ford, keen to have a machine to attract customers into its showrooms, but also it had similar mid-engine layout using a large capacity Ford V8 mated to the same five speed ZF transaxle. The Ford association was one that Alejandro de Tomaso was quick to capitalise on after producing his first car, the 1965 British Ford engined Vallelunga. That grew into the Mangusta of 1966 with the 4.7 litre V8 used in the AC Cobra but sales were poor, not helped by a backbone chassis that was too flexible and under-developed suspension.

Thus for the Pantera - meaning Panther- an all-new monocoque chassis was chosen, both for stiffness and to pass the all important US crash tests, together with wishbone/coil spring suspension front and rear designed by Giampaolo Dallara, fresh from his similar work on the Lamborghini Miura. Disc brakes and alloy wheels were fitted all round. This was clothed with a classic and stylish wedge shape, two seater steel coachwork designed by Ghia, while power came from Ford's 5.7 litre, iron block Cleveland V8 with single Autolite carburettor. With 310bhp and 380ib.ft of torque on tap, this made charismatic Italian supercar capable of over 150mph and 0-60mph acceleration in just 5.5 seconds.

This car is a well known and documented car that is highly detailed in the Pantera Registry, it is described by the vendor as being in excellent condition throughout and comes with a brand new Ford Cleveland engine ( 750 kilometers ), identical to the original, delivering around 350 HP. It is powerful and boasts a huge amount of torque. The engine was redone in Brussels by a specialist company called A.R.S.A.

In the 4th issue of 2005 of the Pantera Owners Club of America (POCA), the car was appointed “Pantera of the Quarter” in the leading US Pantera Magazine. In this issue, Scott Rainey, the owner in period, explains how he bought the car from its previous owner ( who had had the car for 14 years) and describes the full history of the car. Most importantly, the improvements he brought to the car are all detailed, in order to optimize its performance and reliability while preserving the original 1972 look. A copy of the original magazine is included in the documentation that comes with the car. There is also a recent Belgian technical control (dated 29 May 2015) – The original US title that was used to import the car in Europe is included in the sale. The restoration of the car was done very carefully and professionally, with no expense spared and the car was resprayed in Viper Yellow. The cars original look has been preserved by the various subsequent owners until today.

Here is your chance to own perhaps one of the most highly documented examples of these brilliant American super cars that are now becoming highly collectable.

In der 4. Ausgabe des “Pantera Owners Club of America” (POCA) im Jahr 2005, wurde das Aito zum “Auto des Quartals” ernannt. Dort beschrieb der Besitzer Scott Rainey, wie er das Auto von seinem vorherigen Eigentümer gekauft hat (in dessen Besitz es 14 Jahre war) und die Geschichte des Wagens.

Dies ist Ihre Chance, den wohl höchsten dokumentierten dieser brillianten amerikanischen Superautos zu besitzen, welche immer begehrter werden.