1972 De Tomaso Pantera

The classic mix of Italian style and American muscle restored to a very high standard

Built in 1972, one of the final pre-Federal bumper Pantera, known as the "Pre-L"

Imported into New Zealand from California and restored between 1995 and 2013

Acid dipped shell resprayed in original Grabber Blue and refurbished Campagnolo wheels

The Ford 5.8ltr V8 Cleveland engine, gearbox and the ZF transaxle were rebuilt

The car featured on the front page of New Zealand Classic Car Magazine in 2016

Presented to auction with a UK V5C and 82,000 miles on the odometer.

De Tomaso's replacement for their successful Mangusta in 1971 was the avant-garde and stylish Pantera. Retaining the best of the ingredients from the Mangusta, including the mid-mounted 300 horsepower Ford 351 cubic inch V8 Cleveland engine, five-speed ZF transaxle and dramatic styling, the Pantera also added monocoque construction into the mix.

The cars sold well, with production running from 1971 through to the early 90s with various derivatives emerging from the factory, although it is the early cars that have a certain purity of line ensuring they remain the most attractive and collectable.

Stricter regulations brought forward by the United States relating to crash-impact bumpers saw hideously large rubber bumpers being bolted on to all European cars imported into the States. These carbuncles ruined the lines of virtually all European cars of the early 1970s. Happily this left-hand drive Pantera was built before the regulations were enforced and has the purer lines, sadly lacking in its successor the Pantera L.

Found in California in a sorry state in the mid-1990s by classic car collector Chris Wilson of New Zealand, the car was to be restored to an impressive standard for most of the ensuing decade. After an extensive search for the best metal-shop, Matama Panelworks were contracted to carefully disassemble the car and acid dip the shell. After some minor correction to the metal work, the car was re-sprayed in its original colour of Grabber Blue. The engine was stripped, the cylinders were honed, a 650 Cfm dual-feed Holley carburettor was fitted along with custom Hall big-bore exhaust headers, and finally, the engine was balanced to ensure smooth running at peak revs, and mated to the rebuilt manual five-speed gearbox.

The ZF transaxle was stripped and found to be in great order, requiring only gaskets and seals before reassembly. The suspension was attended to receiving new bushes and QA1 adjustable shock absorbers. The original dashboard and instruments were cleaned and polished and re-fitted. The vinyl seat coverings were replaced with leather, as were the door cards. Refurbished, period-correct Campagnolo alloys were finally fitted, and the car presents today in absolutely superb order. To this consignors eye, a Pantera purist may wish to re-attach the chrome bumper strips but the lines remain very clean without them. The car featured on the front cover, and in a multi-page write-up, in Issue 278 of New Zealand Classic Car Magazine in 2016, and the link below details the cars story and the photographs show the incredible depth of this superb restoration.

Presented to auction with an odometer reading of 82,000 miles, largely immaterial in such a well-restored car, the car has a UK V5C under registration number JKH 613L, and a fresh MOT will be issued. With the Panteras contemporaries, the Countach and Ferrari 365 BB achieving huge sums, this car offers exotic Italian styling with true American grunt at a fraction of the price.

To read the car's restoration story as featured in New Zeland Classic Car Magazine in 2016 please click on this link: http://www.themotorhood.com/themotorhood/2016/3/23/blue-panther