"The De Tomaso Pantera was designed by Tom Tjaarda, the American-born car designer at the Italian design firm Carrozzeria Ghia. It replaced the Mangusta, which had employed a steel backbone chassis. Instead, the Pantera's chassis was of a steel monocoque design, the first instance of De Tomaso using this construction technique. The Pantera logo included a T-shaped symbol that was the brand used by De Tomaso's Argentinian cattle ranching ancestors, as well as a version of the Argentinean flag turned on its side, inspired by the company's founder, Alejandro De Tomaso, having been born and raised in Argentina.
De Tomaso offered a Pantera competition car built to special order according to the Group 3 class racing rules between 1972 and 1984 based on the Pantera GTS. It is understood that 30 such cars were built for private customer teams. Group 3 rules were very strict and allowed little modifications to the original road going production cars. This was followed by a modified Group 4 version in 1972.
Having attended historic events such as, Spa Italia, Laguna Seca and Le Mans Classic the vendor wanted to build a multipurpose example that was better equipped and detailed than any other he had seen at these events. The vendor purchased the car in 2012 as a ‘barn find’ in the USA. After being imported, the car was subjected to a bare metal restoration and was rebuilt along the lines of the Group 4 specification with FIA roll cage, extended wheel arches, period 13” Campagnolo magnesium wheels and period AP racing brake calipers complete with modern safety features, fire extinguishing system, lightweight carbon fibre seats and full harness. The engine was built in the USA by renowned engine rebuilder Jeff Raeburn, the result is a blisteringly fast, road and rally usable example. It has also been designed to be able to compete in race events such as Bernie V8’s and many other similar events. The car is equipped with rally timing telemetry and equipment for competitive historic rally events. The Pantera also has inertia reel seatbelts to make the car easier to drive on the road however these can easily be substituted for race lap belts.
The livery is a homage to an example that raced at Le Mans. A 1/18th scale model of the Le Mans car is included in the sale and the Pantera comes with a book detailing its build history with many photographs and receipts throughout the process. Various specialists were commissioned during the build and are noted and there is also a video of the engine on the dyno machine.
Fitted with new Pirelli tyres all-round, this De Tomaso comes complete with easily detachable silencers for road use, additional bolt on silencers for 105 track days and open pipes for days of thunder! The car comes complete with a spare set of period shock absorbers, spare period driveshafts, and head light covers, which can be fitted in place of the race equivalent currently fitted.
This Pantera has been used on the road and has also been treated to a Goodwood track day. Driven by the UK De Tomaso Drivers Club UK secretary Richard Pogson who reported, “I had the opportunity to drive this car in 2021 and again in 2022, I found it a pussy cat on the road and an absolute wild cat on the track, even a track novice like me was inspired. Such a good looking car attracts so much attention, I felt like a celebrity driving it”. The car has been exhibited at the British Motor Show, and the vendor reports that it drives very well indeed and sounds fantastic when on song! This is a superb opportunity to acquire one of the best Panteras we have ever seen, it would be just as at home on the road as it would be competing and would be a great candidate for the popular Tour Auto rally.
Interested parties should note that the current registration number ‘351 PAN’ is not included in the sale of the car. Upon a successful sale, an age-related registration number will be applied for. ‘351 PAN’ can be purchased by separate negotiation, if this is of interest, please contact a member of the Historics team."