There are many characteristics that aficionados can use to define rarity in a classic car. The 1972 DeTomaso Pantera was not a common sight on our roads when it was new, but this one wears what the owner claims is a rare factory color. Indeed, I’ve seen a few examples in my time, but this one rates as something different in my experience. That is hardly conclusive evidence, and I admit that I have experienced trouble determining build totals by paint shade. I’m sure that it’s out there somewhere because isn’t everything on the internet? The owner has decided to part with a classic that carries all of the hallmarks of careful ownership, so he has listed the Pantera for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Beaverton, Oregon, and while the sale price sits at $80,000, the owner might consider partial trades for the right car. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder MattR for referring this DeTomaso to us.

This Pantera wears its original Mid Blue paint, which is a distinctive shade. Overall, its condition looks pretty impressive. It sports a nice shine, with no evidence of faults or defects. The car only has 30,900 miles on the clock, and since it has been garage-kept for its entire life, its condition is hardly surprising. The panels look straight and true, while the gaps are some of the tightest that I’ve seen on a Pantera of this age. It isn’t uncommon to see owners fitting aftermarket wheels, but this car rolls on its factory set that is in good condition. The owner doesn’t mention any rust problems, and there are none visible in the supplied photos.  The trim and light lenses look crisp and bright, and the glass appears to be flawless. For me personally, this Pantera leaves me feeling slightly torn. I’ve previously talked about how I like the pure styling of these early cars that are devoid of the enormous spoilers and fender flares that were a defining feature of the GTS. From that perspective, this car should tick all of the right boxes for me. However, I’m not sold on the Black that graces the lower extremities, and when coupled with the larger bumpers that DeTomaso was forced to fit to comply with legislative requirements, they take the edge off what is a sharp design. It’s worth noting that the Pantera wasn’t the only victim of these changes, but you realize how profound the impact was when you compare our feature car with this ’72 Pantera that we featured only a few days ago.

Turning our attention to this classic’s interior, and once again, the news is good. The seats are upholstered in black leather that shows little in the way of wear or stretching. The same is true of the remaining upholstered surfaces, while the dash, console, carpet, and plastic seem to be well preserved. By today’s standards, the interior isn’t particularly well-appointed. But in 1972, air conditioning, power windows, an AM/FM radio, and a leather-wrapped wheel were enough to make occupants feel pretty special. The owner doesn’t supply any engine photos, but the Pantera rolled off the production line equipped with a mid-mounted 351ci Cleveland V8 that fed its 330hp to the rear wheels via a 5-speed ZF manual transaxle. With so much power on tap in a relatively light and low sports car, the 13.5-second ¼-mile ET is another thing about this car that doesn’t surprise. I could list all of the recent work that the current owner has performed to ensure that this classic is mechanically sound, but the list is long enough to justify its own book. The critical aspects to consider are that the Pantera comes with a known ownership history. It has been meticulously maintained since Day One. Finally, there is also an enormous pile of documentation that confirms both the work and the odometer reading. It seems that all the buyer will need to do is slip behind the wheel and enjoy a classic that combines traditional Italian sporting flair with good old American muscle.

I have always liked the early examples of the DeTomaso Pantera because they possess almost timeless styling. When you look at the vehicles in profile, as in this shot, it is hard to determine when they were designed and built. If you consider the cars rolling out of the factories of Ferrari and Lamborghini during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Pantera would not have looked dated and out of fashion in that company. I know that I often talk about originality, but if I were to buy this car, I would be tempted to remove all of that black on the lower body, limiting it to the rockers only. I would also pay a paint shop to color-key those bumpers to the body, or I’d source a set from an earlier version to swap onto this car. These two changes would have a profound impact on its appearance. Otherwise, I wouldn’t change a thing. How about you?