by A. Wayne Ferens
Images Courtesy of the Ford Motor Company and the Ferens Collection
Published 2.26.2025
Alejandro de Tomaso at Ford World Headquarters with a 1972 Pantera (Ferens Collection)
Alejandro de Tomaso (1928-2003) was an Argentine businessman and racing driver. He settled in Modena, Italy and founded De Tomaso Automobili Spa in 1959 to build racing cars, prototypes and high-performance sports cars that included the mid-engine Vallelunga in 1963, Mangusta in 1966 and the Pantera in 1971. During the 1960s and 1970s, he acquired the Ghia and Vignale coachbuilding studios, Benelli and Moto Guzzi Motorcycles, Innocenti and sports car maker Maserati.
Rumors abounded in Detroit that General Motors was working on a mid-engine Corvette. In 1971, Lee Iacocca directed Ford Motor Company to purchase an 84-percent stake in De Tomaso. Thus began the process of bringing to market the first affordable mid-engine sports car that would compete with Corvette, if the rumors were true (and they were), and sports cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and other high end European exotics -- but at a competitive price.
Modeled after the Mangusta (Italian for Mongoose) and designed by Carrozzeria Ghia's American-born designer Tom Tjaarda, the Pantera (Panther) would replace the Mangusta. While the Mangusta used a steel backbone chassis, the Pantera's chassis was of a steel monocoque, the first De Tomaso to use this design. Ford and De Tomaso worked out the agreement details, allowing De Tomaso to market the Pantera in Europe and Ford to distribute the car in the United States through its Lincoln-Mercury dealerships.
The Ford-powered De Tomaso Mangusta pictured at Ford's Research and Engineering Center in Dearborn, Michigan undergoing evaluation in 1968. The Mangusta was produced from 1967-1971 and used the Ford 289 (early European cars) and 302 cu. in. V8 engine (later Euro and North American cars) with a ZF 5-speed manual trans/axle. Only 401 were produced. (Ferens Collection)
Ford specified that the rear mid-engine, rear wheel drive, two-door coupe Pantera to be sold in the states would be powered by the new 5.8L (351 cu in.) Ford Cleveland V8 engine, coupled with the proven ZF 5-speed manual transmission. Power-assisted Girling four-wheel disc brakes and unassisted rack and pinion steering were standard equipment on the Pantera. To meet US emission standards, the four-bolt main 351 performance engine had lower compression at 8.6:1 from 11.0:1 compression ratio but used the more aggressive "Cobra Jet" camshaft. A dual point distributor and performance exhaust headers were also used. With 330 hp and 380 lb/ft of torque, the 3,200 pound Pantera could accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 6-seconds and reach a top speed of 150 mph.
The first Panteras were produced in Italy using hand-built Carrozzeria Vignale bodies that had quality issues. Later cars used precision stampings for body panels requested and supplied by Ford, which resulted in improved overall quality. Power windows, body-contoured leather sport seats, AM-FM stereo, center console, air-conditioning and a cigarette lighter were standard. 1,007 Panteras were sold the first year. (Ferens Collection)
In August 1972, Ford introduced the Pantera L "Lusso" (luxury) as a 1972.5 model that featured a large full width black impact-absorbing single front bumper, incorporating a built-in airfoil to reduce front end lift at high speeds. This replaced the small chrome bumperettes mounted below the pop-up headlights. A full width “federal” rear bumper was also added. Power output was reduced to 264 hp and many of the quality issues were remedied with factory upgrades.
Ford’s 351 V8 and ZF trans-axle located under the large rear hatch provided exceptional power and dependability compared to other exotics.
The 1973 Pantera was much improved and with a list price of just over $10,000. It was Road Test Magazine’s Import Car of the Year, beating out many of the higher priced exotics.
Road Test magazine, May 1973 (Ferens Collection)
The car’s suspension was an all independent unequal length A-arm with coil springs, telescopic dampers and stabilizer bars. Goodyear Arriva tires mounted on cast magnesium Campagnolo 15x7 in. front and 15x8 in. rear wheels provided superb handling. The wheelbase was 98.4 inches.
A Ford Pantera ad (Ford Motor Company Archives)
Ford stopped importing the Pantera in 1975 for a number of reasons, including government regulations, the oil embargo, and a U.S. recession. Ford also discontinued the Cleveland 351 V8 engine in the U.S. after 1974. De Tomaso Automobili continued building the Pantera in various forms until 1992. A total of 7,260 were produced with over 5,500 sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealerships.
The author's Pantera (Ferens Collection)
I didn't purchase my used Pantera L until 1989. It was an original 1973 low mile, Maltone orange (one of seven colors available) with a black leather interior. Being a dealer at the time, I had an offer I just couldn't refuse, but I had fun, fun, fun until the customer took the Pantera away!!
Bibliography:
Ford Motor Company. Lincoln-Mercury sales literature.
Motor Trend Magazine, May 1973.
Road Test Magazine, May 1973.
Adler, Linda. “De Tomaso Pantera.” Bridgewater, 2006.
Pantera International News, Winter 1979.