Vehicle Details
- Year: 1974
- Make: DeTomaso
- Model: Pantera
- VIN: THPNNK06493
- Mileage Shown: 39,305mi (TMU)
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Orange
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: McKinney, TX 75069
- Country: United States of America
- Lot #: V-0056283
Introduced in March of 1970, the Pantera is an Italian-built mid-engined sports car that would go on to see a 22-year production run during which approximately 7,200 examples were built. Finished in orange over custom black leather and Alcantara upholstery, it is powered by a 351ci Ford Cleveland V8 paired with a ZF 5-speed manual transmission. Benefitting from an engine overhaul in 2023 and a transmission overhaul in 2021, this Pantera has also received several fuel and cooling system upgrades, including a Holley Terminator EFI system, an Aeromotive fuel system with a stainless-steel fuel tank, and a CSR electric water pump with a custom idler. Acquired by the current seller in California in February 2021, this example is now being offered for auction out of Texas.
Styled by Italian design firm Carrozzeria Ghia, the Pantera features pop-up headlights, front and rear cargo compartments, and quad-exit exhaust outlets. This example has been refinished in a burnt orange shade. Modifications include LED exterior lighting, bumperettes, and rear decklid louvers. It rides on polished 17” Campagnolo-style wheels with DeTomaso logo center caps and new Michelin Pilot Sport tires. The seller notes a small paint bubble, less than the size of a dime, at the center rear of the roof. Additionally, minor paint chips are present below the driver and passenger doors, and a small paint imperfection is visible on the top corner of the driver’s door. The front lower valance has small screw holes in the metal and a bent center flange from improper jacking in the past. Detailed images are provided in the gallery.
The cabin has been reupholstered in black Alcantara with orange stitching, complemented by diamond-stitched leather seat centers and door panels. Equipment includes an Alcantara-wrapped NRG steering wheel, a gated shifter with a DeTomaso-branded shift knob, and an Alpine ILX-507 multimedia receiver with wireless Apple CarPlay and a backup camera. The instrumentation consists of Veglia Borletti gauges sourced from another vehicle, with the addition of a Veglia Borletti oil temperature gauge. All gauges are functional, though the speedometer, fan, and heater light indicators are inoperative due to the removal of those systems. The original evaporator A/C box has been modified with control servos and is now operated via a Dakota Digital controller. Electric window switches have been relocated to the center console next to USB charging ports, and a Holley engine remote tuner is housed in the aft center console beneath the original storage bin. A shutoff switch has been added to the analog clock to prevent battery drain, while a modern Pantera Electronics ATO fuse panel replaces the original. Additionally, the flasher and headlight electronics have been upgraded with Pantera Electronics controllers. The seller notes the driver and passenger door locks are hard to use due to new upholstery, and the engine compartment lock requires re-keying.
Power comes from a 351ci Ford Cleveland V8 paired with a ZF 5-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. The seller notes that the engine was overhauled in 2023, featuring an increased compression ratio of 10.3:1, factory-bore hypereutectic pistons, ported and polished 4V open chamber heads, a custom-cut Comp Cams roller cam with hydraulic lifters, heavy-walled pushrods, Yella Terra Pro Street roller rockers, triple valve springs, and stainless valves. A Milodon drive gear replaces the timing chain, while a Holley Terminator EFI system is mounted on a Holley Street Dominator intake manifold with a Hyperspark electronic distributor and Streetdamper balancer. Additional upgrades include a CSR electric water pump with a custom idler, an 8-quart racing oil pan, a 140-amp alternator, and an upgraded factory A/C compressor for R-134A refrigerant, complemented by a parallel condenser, dryer, and dual fans for enhanced cooling. The seller notes the factory engine oil dip stick is slightly short due to the new larger-capacity oil pan. The fuel system has been upgraded with an Aeromotive setup and a stainless-steel fuel tank. The ZF transmission was overhauled in 2021, incorporating a 3.77 ring and pinion and a 0.645 5th gear for improved drivability. New custom half shafts were fabricated with fresh U-joints and grease fittings, and a new clutch was installed. Braking performance is supported by an electric vacuum pump powering the brake booster.
This sale will include a clean title.
The seller would like you to know: “Thanks for your interest in my auction. This car has always been a dream of mine to own. The car sounds amazing and drives just the same. It's everything I had hoped this car would be. Taking it to the gas station always ends up being a car show. I hope the winner will enjoy it as much as I have.”
Comments (21)
@bolson I added the pics you requested.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Bid in the amount of $57,575
@theboss72 The Speedometer functions. The FAN and Heater lights no longer function because those systems have been deleted. The GEN warning light works when the alternator is off.
Bid in the amount of $33,333
The speedometer light or the speedometer itself is not operable? Please advise.
Bid in the amount of $27,000
Bid in the amount of $26,000
@bolson Thanks! The blemishes are hard to see on these photos. I'll take some closeups later this evening and post them.
Such a beautiful example, I feel nit-picky asking. What pictures show the blemishes mentioned in the write-up?
@HeyDoc The shocks are non-adjustable KONI shocks. Also, confirmed the rims are polished aluminum.
@HeyDoc No, they are metal.
Thanks!
Forgot to ask, are the bumpers composite/FRP?
Bid in the amount of $25,000
@HeyDoc Great questions! I'll get you the coilover answers by the end of the day. I didn't replace those because they seem to function great. What I do know is that the bushings are poly. I have no idea the spring rate. The headers are ceramic coated, I believe I bought them from PIMotorsports. Mufflers are the GTS mufflers from Hall Pantera. Sorry, I do not have headrests for the seats. The idle is set to about 900RPM with no issues. Not sure how to answer the wheel question. They look like Camanello's but don't think are stock. I think they are polished because they are very light. I'll confirm this by the end of the day as well.
GM
I may win this one!
Looks like poly bushings (TY). What make of coilovers? Are the dampers ajustable? Any idea of spring rates?
Whose coated headers? Mufflers?
Do the seats have headrests for a 6 footer?
Big cam for this displacement- with the Holly FI how is the lower RPM behavior? And lastly, are the Wheels a true Campanello or simply a knock off, and are they chrome or polished? Thanks very much.
@AHudson777 Thanks for the comments! I don't want to lead anyone astray on the GTS claim. The internet is full of bad information, I've never been able to get a straight answer on this. The car came with a GTS placard which probably was an attempt to clone one. I purchased the car because it was a Pantera, I didn't even know there was variants until after I bought it! I think the next owner can correct the placard. As far as the air-conditioning goes, that's one of my favorite upgrades to this car. I didn't have a working system when I bought it and it was painfully hot to drive!
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Correction: I see the AC condenser now in its rightful spot but behind two fans instead of the wimpy one. I was thinking of the original GTS on the 'other' auction site.
As others will point out, this is not a GTS according to VIN (no "GT" in place of "NK") yet the price premium for a true US GTS is fairly small since it was largely a cosmetic package here vs. the performance increase allowed in Europe. Mainly you get flares and bragging rights plus the awesome passenger clock (!) for the USA version.
This is of course a heavily modified Pantera with some significant performance upgrades and cosmetic revisions. Panteras went through a period of inviting most any level of customization you could dream or afford which spawned a host of aftermarket suppliers and post production gurus on the cars. I've owned 8 and have always been a fan (even when the world was not) keeping them proudly beside F cars and the like as they are robust, fun, and flat out gorgeous.
Aside from giving Ghia all the credit for the design, it seems worthy to point out that American designer Tom Tjaarda (Dutch descent) penned this masterpiece. A more humble designer you'd never meet, rest his soul. No one ever integrated the post '73 bumper mandate to an existing car any better than this, though this particular car has reverted to its earlier slim bumpers, now apparently powder coated black.
The engine bay is neatly done with lots of personalization, though I cannot locate the AC condenser. Is it tucked up front? Anyway, just leaves an unusual gap at the back, though doubtless beneficial to underhood heat extraction.
Lots of money spent on this one, up to the bidders to decide if to their tastes. To me, the money spent on the transmission was worth it in a few ways: the gear ratio improvement, the replacing of the oft-snagged 2nd gear synchro, and lastly that you don't have to wait a year+ + for the few experts left who can do the work. As is often said, the ZF in these cars is far more expensive than the engine, though this one has had a significant health bump in its build.
In all these are great cars, wonderful attention getters, especially in a wilder build like this. Hoping the right bidder(s) have found their dream too.
Thanks!
This is as nice as you’ll find anywhere…what a dream car!