What ever became of Ford’s Pantera? I know very little of it, but here are
some guesses and vague memories. I believe it was an Italian design and
built vehicle (by DeTomasso?) with Ford’s 351 Windsor or Cleveland series
engine. Were they built in the states or Italy or some combo thereof? I
thought I saw pictures of it with 3 2bbl carbs or 2 4bbl carbs or did it
have fuel injection? I know it was a mid-engined 2 seater sold in the early
1970′s. How much did they cost back then? Are they of any collector value
now? Anyone out there ever drive or own one? Thanks.
Craig Linton at horiz…@crl.com
Craig Linton (horiz…@crl.com) wrote:
: What ever became of Ford’s Pantera? I know very little of it, but here are
: some guesses and vague memories. I believe it was an Italian design and
: built vehicle (by DeTomasso?) with Ford’s 351 Windsor or Cleveland series
: engine. Were they built in the states or Italy or some combo thereof? I
: thought I saw pictures of it with 3 2bbl carbs or 2 4bbl carbs or did it
: have fuel injection? I know it was a mid-engined 2 seater sold in the early
: 1970′s. How much did they cost back then? Are they of any collector value
: now? Anyone out there ever drive or own one? Thanks.
I remember seeing one for $11K in 1973 at a Lincoln/Merc dealer
when my brother was buying a Capri.
I believe, today they go for around $30K in good shape.
: Craig Linton at horiz…@crl.com
–
Greg Begay
Email: be…@fc.hp.com
As a teen I had hitchhiked from Maryland to my grandparents in Daytona
Beach. Had just been dropped off of I-95 about 15 miles from their home
and had my thumb out looking for that last ride! Believe it or not along
comes a Pantera. Being about 18 I was pretty impressed and told the
driver how cool the car was. He managed to take the car up to > 100MPH
in very short order, drove like a maniac, and let me off right in front
of my Grandfather, who was pretty impressed. I remember it being very
quick, very loud from the engine (I thought it was something like a Ford
351 Cleveland??). This was more fun than a corvette by far…
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| / | Hewlett Packard Co. Phone: 719-590-2133 | \ |
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horiz…@crl.com (Craig Linton) writes:
>What ever became of Ford’s Pantera? I know very little of it, but here are
>some guesses and vague memories. I believe it was an Italian design and
>built vehicle (by DeTomasso?) with Ford’s 351 Windsor or Cleveland series
>engine. Were they built in the states or Italy or some combo thereof? I
>thought I saw pictures of it with 3 2bbl carbs or 2 4bbl carbs or did it
>have fuel injection? I know it was a mid-engined 2 seater sold in the early
>1970′s. How much did they cost back then? Are they of any collector value
>now? Anyone out there ever drive or own one? Thanks.
>Craig Linton at horiz…@crl.com
The Ford DeTomaso Pantera. Engine by Ford. (Cleveland or Windsor 351, not
sure which). I seem to recall a price of $10,000.00 in 1970 or ’71. Body
designed and built in Italy, Engine here, assembled there. Soldiered on as a
DeTomaso exclusively until this year (!). Final price of the much changed
grafted upon body style was over $100K. Reports I have read said it was very
exciting, unpredictable near or at the limit-to the point of being dangerous.
Build quality was so-so at best, and I’ve read a few reports where owners talk
about having to complete the build process themselves over time. I still see
them around here (San Jose area) not that infrequently. I see them for sale
often in the high 20′s low 30′s. The engine certainly was carbeurated. BTW,
Alejandro DeTomaso is the same guy who saved Maserati in ?late 70′s-early
’80′s? and his company owned it until just recently when it was sold to FIAT.
Joel
Joel Baker (j…@specialix.com) wrote:
: horiz…@crl.com (Craig Linton) writes:
: >What ever became of Ford’s Pantera? I know very little of it, but here are
: >some guesses and vague memories. I believe it was an Italian design and
The Pantera was powered by a Ford 351 Cleveland.
In article <CuE5Kv….@specialix.com>, j…@specialix.com (Joel Baker)
writes:
I have owned 2 Panteras. I bought a 1971 with 2M miles on it in 1972 for
$7200. I sold for $8000 one year later. Noisy, uncomfortable and so-so
build quality but a BLAST to drive. There is something to be said for
sitting in front of the engine and looking right into the ground. Noisy
but exciting. The national club is POCA. Look in Hemmings for more info
and you can get a feel for the prices. Good Luck….Grifoman