Bought in February of 1985, this 1971 DeTomaso Pantera, Serial No. 1298, is the 12th car of the first 75 pushbutton cars to come to America. Originally white, it was refinished in red and at some point, relegated to an enclosed trailer. Removed in June of 2024, the Pantera remains in very original condition, refreshed only where it was necessary. For example, while the car retains its original dash cover and two-spoke steering wheel, the black interior features seats and door panels that have been refurbished with materials of the correct grain. The original 351/330 HP Cleveland V-8 engine retains the original D1ZE Motorcraft carburetor, DOOE water pump, D1AE alternator, the factory exhaust system, the original air cleaner and the original DeTomaso-badged valve covers, among other components. The ZF 5-speed manual transmission also remains, and Pantera enthusiasts will likely rejoice at the original tool bag and Campagnolo single-slot wheels. A remarkably well-preserved Pantera, the original chrome bumperettes and signal surrounds present beautifully against the bright red paint. During the mid to late 1960s, DeTomaso produced the Mangusta, a sports car with a backbone chassis and a mid-mounted 302 CI V-8 engine. Exotically styled, the large reliance on Ford components created a robust vehicle, but it looked much faster than it was. The 302 was simply outclassed by a number of other vehicles costing roughly the same or even less, and many drivers found the handling to be quirky. Building on the Mangusta recipe, but engineering an all-new chassis and placing a more powerful, yet also more relaxed, Ford 351 Cleveland V-8 engine midship, created a new formula for DeTomaso, the Pantera. The 351 took both the boulevard and track in stride, happy to casually lumber along in the city or compete against other high-powered cars on road courses. During this same time period of Mangusta and Pantera, Ford had been working diligently on adding an international flavor to the Mercury division, with European cars like the Capri arriving on showroom floors. Bringing a supercar into the mix would definitely increase the European cache, so they worked out a deal with DeTomaso to distribute the Pantera through Lincoln- Mercury dealers in the United States. The first 75 cars delivered were known for their pushbutton door handles and hand-built Carrozzeria Vignale bodies. Just 1,007 Panteras were sent to the US in 1971, and each cost just over $10,000, positioning them in a sweet spot between the Porsche 911S and the Dino 246. On top of that, Panteras came standard with amenities like power windows, air conditioning, an AM/FM stereo and power brakes, all adding to the attractiveness of buying a Pantera. They proved to be one of the quickest production cars in the world, with 0-60 MPH sprints taking just about 5.5 seconds and top speeds in the 160 MPH neighborhood. For the price, it was a bargain.
