Curious Yellow: 1974 DeTomaso Pantera
When I was in high-school, one of the rich kid underclassmen showed up at school one morning being driven by his father in a new DeTomaso Pantera. I didn’t know what it was but I liked it. It had that uber-stylish, svelte “had to be Italian” bearing about it but it didn’t sound Italian. It sounded just like the ’71 Mustang Mach 1 that this other rich kid classmate of mine owned. I was smitten and have been ever since. That being the case, let’s take a look at a ’74 DeTomaso Pantera, located in Katonah, New York and available here on Bring A Trailer for a current bid of $50,000, six days to go with the bidding.
The DeTomaso Pantera (Italian for Panther) was produced by DeTomaso between 1971 and 1992. From ’71 through ’75, DeTomaso had an alignment with Ford Motor Company where Ford provided the engine, the Panteras were built to U.S. spec and sold in the U.S. by Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. Total U.S. sales over the five year period were about 5,000 units. A mid-engined, V8, Italian two-seater was pretty heady stuff in ’71. Chevrolet had been talking about a mid-engine Corvette for a few years at that point but it took until this year, 2020, to actually make it a reality.
Right from the get-go, there are four YouTube videos available via the listing and they should be reviewed:
Additionally, there are about 160 images included and this Marti report.
The most notable thing about the ’74 Pantera is its front safety bumper (we’ve had quite a few discussions lately about Federal bumper standards as they related to both a Datsun 240Z and a Ford/Mercury Capri). It’s definitely out there and obvious but it really is not as out-sized ugly on this automobile as it is on some cars from this era. Most importantly, it does not detract from the clean, straight lines of this Pantera and its strong yellow finish. While the finish is a repaint, it is approximately ten years old and this Pantera is one 0f only 225 finished in this shade of yellow for ’74. The original Carrozzeria Ghia coachwork badges have been reattached to the fenders to help with the authenticity. The underside of this Pantera is super clean, no aspect of it is out of order. There really are no detectible exterior blemishes, dents, accident damage, faded paint, rot, etc.
The interior is similar in scope to the exterior, it oozes Italian design and craftsmanship. The only item out of sort is a crack in the dashboard pad and I imagine sourcing another would be a challenge. The upholstery in this Pantera appears as new and all of the switchgear and instruments, including the power radio antenna, perform as designed. The seller states that the original York A/C compressor has been ditched for a more reliable Sanden and the A/C works as expected. Notice the chrome shift gate, a great touch!
What makes a Pantera, a Pantera is what’s under the boot, a magnificent Ford 351 CI “Cleveland” V8. Going on the assumption that this motor is a U.S. spec emission control engine would place it in the 266 net HP range. There is a long list of engine mods listed, however, that detail what went into this power plant at rebuilding time. I imagine this V8 is quite a bit stronger now than it was when new – it sounds fantastic. It is connected, as usual, to a five-speed ZF transaxle. One issue of concern, and that’s the mileage. The seller mentions that the odometer was “reset” when this Pantera was refurbished and the odometer now shows 4K miles – seems a bit suspicious.
Yes, I really like this car and I don’t like yellow but it doesn’t matter in this case. It’s too rich for my blood but it is one of the nicest examples that I have come across in a long time – Panteras just aren’t seen much anymore but having low production numbers and produced so long ago, that is to be expected. I know the small bumper equipped versions usually trade for more than the large bumper models like this example so it will be interesting to watch the bidding. It’s funny but the one thing that I remember most vividly about my classmate’s Pantera is that when he got out of the car, I was standing right behind it, drinking in the fabulous engine sound and then I spied a roll of toilet paper through the rear glass perched right next to the engine. I thought, who travels with a roll of toilet paper? Seeing this Pantera is helping me to appreciate this car a lot more for what it was, and is now, as opposed to a sophomoric recollection from 48 years ago. I’d love to own it, how about you?
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Comments
I hope the voice grips go with it
Dad wouldn`t even keep sales brochures for this car! You could get a Lincoln & Cougar for the same money! The `ole man was extremely conservative about his L-M car line. He wanted repeat customers, not obituaries. I cringe when I think of all the cars that went through the Dealership, back in the day.
First, and only, car I drove over 150mph was a ’74 DeThomas Pantera. I was a teen-ager and the owner brought it into my Dad’s body shop for some minor repairs. I took it out for a spin… while no one was looking!
What a chance I took, like many taken by teenage boys… but geez. I cringe now just thinking about ALL that could have gone wrong with that stunt.
What a machine!
I didn’t get it up to that speed. At all. Lol. But my story is somewhat similar. I was early 20s and worked in a body shop in Scottsdale AZ. We had one come in from a dealer for some minor work. Being young with more enthusiasm than brains, I snuck the car out too. I went to a part of Scottsdale close-ish to Tempe where it wasn’t residential at that time. I remember doing 75 in second gear and it didn’t even feel like it straining. I did get to 4th and backed off at 90 mph. Figured I’d already pushed my luck far enough anyway. Helluva ride. :)
I graduated high school in 1974. There was a small men’s clothing store downtown that carried all the newest fashions. I remember that the owner of it drove a brand new yellow Pantera just like this. I don’t know where his money came from as the business came and went within a year but I always remembered that car. Now that I could afford to do it I am so tempted to go out and buy something like this to live out some boyhood dream, but then reality hits me that this is no longer a daily driver. I just can’t buy a car to see it sit.
I remember when these first came out, they had problems with the transaxles. I remember seeing 4 of these sitting in the local LM dealers’ shop waiting for parts. Still Like ’em–looks like this ol grey hair will never touch one with the prices.
Cheers
GPC
I don’t recall problems with transaxle, but I do know about the cooling issues.
Car is already up to 55k. For that kind of money I would rather have Mach 1 1969 to 1970.
It’ll reach 100k, or more.
If you could buy it for 55k, it would be a steal. Good examples like this one should reach 100k.
As a owner of a 72, and a Mach 1, they’re two completely different animals and as far as an investment the Pantera @ 55k is the way to go.
Curious Yellow – hmm, that’s the direct translation of “Nyfiken Gul” which was a Swedish movie starring a young Lena Nyman that was rather “daring”…
Elvis owned this similar car. Color and all. He shot it with a pistol when it embarrassed him when it failed to crank in front of some friends. It was sold sometime later with the bullet holes for originality.
Current Bid USD $57,000
Time Left 4 days, 4 hours, 15 minutes, 45 seconds *
Ends On Thursday, March 5 at 1:00pm
Why be “suspicious” of the mileage? Seller admits odometer was reset, which probably means to zero. But so what? I don’t imagine the current bidders give a damn about the number of miles on the car. It’s an awesome machine, one which I had the opportunity to drive when one of my salesmen purchased it.
Wish I could afford it.
Kenn:
While I agree that the mileage doesn’t matter on a car of this nature and the seller is being honest with the mileage accumulated since the odometer was reset, it is in fact a violation of Federal law. Section 49 of the USC, Chapter 327, (Public Law 103-227) “Prohibits the disconnection, resetting, or alteration of a motor vehicle’s odometer with intent to change the number of miles indicated thereon.”
The seller is not required in this instance to provide a written statement of the actual mileage because the car exceeds ten years of age but the act of resetting the odometer is still a violation. I’d call that suspicious.
So the car is TMU, True Mileage Unknown.
LOVE these cars, BUT . . .. try them on before you buy. They are not sized for “normal” people. One of the few old car lessons I learned the easy way . . .
I bought this car after being the top bid but not meeting reserve. I have been looking for a Pantera for about 20 years. I’ve had the car in Kansas for a few weeks now. It is even nicer than I hoped from the listing. It has been an incredible, smile inducing way to escape the reality of the current pandemic with a drive through the countryside.
That’s super, Derek, I’m glad you got what you wanted. I waited 50 years to find an nice 57 ranchero, and am putting the finishing touches on now. As a mentor and Guidance counselor once told me- “get what you want, this isn’t a dress rehearsal
Stay safe and wash your hands
Cheers
GPC