1973 DeTomaso Pantera II Coupe

Argentinan born Alejandro DeTomaso was a successful racing driver who later became a very successful constructor, first with his own chassis powered by engines from the Maserati brothers' OSCA concern, and later with Ford-based production engines. The Vallelunga was introduced at the 1963 Turin Show. It was powered by a 1.5-liter Cortina engine that was mounted mid-ship and powered the rear wheels. In 1969, the Ghia (Giorgetto Giugiaro) designed Mangusta was introduced. Power from this car was from a Boss Mustang and displaced 302 cubic-inches. It was basically a prototype racing car that was street legal and produced in limited numbers, amassing just 400 units.

The Ford Motor Company saw the potential of De Tomaso and decided to help with the latest project, the Pantera that was designed by Tom Tjaarda. It was built by Ghia and powered by a 351 cubic-inch 'Cleveland' V8 engine and mated to a ZF five-speed manual gearbox. The Pantera had exceptional performance, eye-catching styling, and reasonable luggage space and amenities that made it very attractive to American buyers. It was introduced at the New York Auto Show in 1970 and sold by select Lincoln-Mercury dealers from 1971 to 1974. Zero-to-sixty was accomplished in just 5.5 seconds with the top speed achieved at 150 miles per hour.

This example is a matching numbers example that is an L-designated model, from the final production year of 1974. The 'L' represented the 'Luxury' treatment that included black safety bumpers front and rear, improved cooling and air conditioning system, and a revised dashboard layout, among other enhancements. It is painted in a rare black on black combination and currently shows just 45,795 miles.

In 2009, this De Tomaso Pantera was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Arizona auction presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $70,000 - $90,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for a high bid of $35,750 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2009