Finished in white and boasting the early small chrome bumpers, this 1972 DeTomaso Pantera shows just 26,792 miles on the odometer. Powered by the 351 CI Cleveland V-8 engine and the ZF 5-speed manual transmission, 4-wheel disc brakes scrub down speed with great efficiency. The black interior features a cassette stereo, Pantera-branded floormats, bucket seats with perforated inserts, a center console and the dual-pod dashboard. The factory Campagnolo wheels are wrapped with blackwall tires, the entire scene presenting very nicely. Alejandro DeTomaso was well-known in the motorsports community by the time the Pantera reached showrooms. In 1959, after a brief racing career, DeTomaso founded DeTomaso Automobili S.p.A, which would evolve into DeTomaso Modena to build prototypes and racing cars. By 1963, the company would begin producing its own variety of sporting luxury cars such as the Vallelunga, the Magusta, the Pantera, the Guara, the Deauville and the Longchamp, the latter two being executive- class luxury cars. By far, the Pantera would be DeTomaso’s most popular, well-known vehicle, thanks largely to a production and distribution agreement with Ford Motor Company. DeTomaso acquired the coachbuilding firm of Ghia in 1967, but in 1970, DeTomaso sold its shares to the Ford Motor Company, giving it control over the design house. Part of the deal included Ford’s involvement in helping to produce a sports car that would rival the world’s best, including marketing and distribution through the Lincoln-Mercury dealership network. Ford would supply various components, the 351 CI V-8 engine and 5-speed manual transmissions chief among them, Ghia would style the body and interior through the eyes of designer Tom Tjaarda, and the cars would be built at the DeTomaso factory in Modena. The end result was a mid-engine sports car carrying a price tag of around $10,000, roughly $76,000 today, pricing it higher than the Porsche 911S but below the Dino 246. The car featured luxurious amenities such as an AM/FM stereo, air conditioning and power windows, but performed like a supercar, with 0-60 sprints taking around 5.5 seconds and top speeds in the 150 MPH range.
