Coys Auction - The Spirit of Motor Cars
Ascot Racecourse,
Ascot,
Berkshire SL5 7JX

Saturday 4th October 2008
Motor Cars at 15:00

De Tomaso''s first V8 engined car, the Mangusta, suffered from a flexing chassis, with consequent loss of consumer confidence and, therefore, sales. Thus for the Pantera – meaning Panther – an all new monocoque chassis was chosen, 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. It was clothed with stylish wedge shaped, 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 380lb/ft of torque on tap, this charismatic Italian supercar was capable of over 150mph and 0-60mph acceleration in just 5.5 seconds.

After production began in 1971, various