1974 De Tomaso Pantera

$139,800

1974 De Tomaso Pantera

"1 of 225 Yellow Panteras produced"

351 CI V-8 engine
5-speed manual transmission
Yellow exterior--1 of 225 produced
Factory AC
Black interior
Gated shifter
Bucket seats
Veglia gauges

This 1974 Pantera is one of just 225 produced in yellow and features a black interior with bucket seats. The bright metal gated shifter sits in the center console, and the famous green-font gauges by Veglia inform the driver of vehicle vitals. Situated right behind the passenger cell is a 351 CI V-8 engine and 5-speed manual transmission, all of which have been placed in a compartment painted to match the exterior. Rolling on low-profile tires with alloy wheels, this Pantera's hard to miss.

The Pantera served as DeTomaso's most successful vehicle, thanks largely to the marketing and importation effort by Ford. DeTomaso used Ghia styling studios to design the body and interior of the Pantera and relied on Ford to supply the 351 CI V-8 engine and 5-speed manual transmission. Placing the engine forward of the rear axle gave the Pantera a true midengine layout, which provided spectacular handling. Equipped with air conditioning, power windows and an AM/FM stereo system immediately gave the Pantera an edge over pricier competition, not to mention Ford's nationwide network of dealers ready and able to service the car should mishaps occur on road trips.

Ford began sunsetting the importation of Pantera in 1975 with somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 units sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealerships since 1971. Stickering for just north of $10,000, the DeTomaso Pantera could cause some sticker shock among Ford's more traditional Lincoln and Mercury customers, but when considering its design, engineering and equipment level, and comparing that to the more costly Ferrari 246 Dino, Lamborghini Jarama, Maserati Ghibli and Bora, and other high-end European exotics, the Pantera came off like a bargain.