Anyone want a DeTomaso Pantera?

[futuresoptions]

Man I have always wanted one, a black one with a GT-5 body kit and wing on it.......I would take out the 351c and put in a 383 stroker.... always thought it would be like a 914 on steroids.... any opinions on this.... what will be your next upgrade in the world of super cars.......

[trekkor]

Post a picture!!


KT

[futuresoptions]

Here's a pic


Here's a couple more.....

[campbellcj]

Yeah, baby!

[HardDrive]

Wicked car, but not sorted out very well. Terrible rust problems.

[VINMAN]

My #1 top, all-time fave automobile!!

[cashflyer]

I have a friend with one. I don't know what his exact reason is for saying this, but he says it's a PITA. And he says that the back bay is impossible to keep clean if you drive it much.

I've always liked the looks of them, but don't know anything about their actual handling.

You mention transplanting a 383.... do they make a sbc adapter for the ZF? What about motor mount differences? You gonna do a bunch of fab work on a collector car?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Pantera is a pretty sweet car, but I always thought it should have a V12 or something. Ford V8 just doesn't seem to fit the Italian body.

For me, when I am again able to afford a "fun car", I'll probably be choosing between another 911 and an Alfa GTV. The 911 is the practical choice (as far as sports cars go), but the look and sound of an Alfa is second to none.

[futuresoptions]

I would definately take out the Ford engine if I got one... and I would put a bullet proof Chevy engine in... As being a collector car, I look at it like my 911...
It took me 25yrs to get it, it's mine, it will always be mine and I will never give it up..... The Pantera would just be another step up on the ladder..... It would stay parked next to the 911 until the wife and kids have to figure out what to do with them after I am dead and gone...... I am thinking the Pantera would make a nice casket.....

[legion]

I always thought they looked like the result of a broken condom after a GT40 humped a Countach.

[futuresoptions]

You know Chris... you may be on to something, considering that beauty was Italian design with a Ford 351c in the back......

[KFC911]

I had a 351 Cleveland in a '70 Cougar...nothing wrong with a 351C in my book !

[futuresoptions]

Had a 351M in one of my trucks, it was an awesome engine.... don't know how it compares with the 351c..... I just prefer the SBC, very familiar with building them up, and happy with the aftermarket availible for that engine.....

[Z-man]

I would love to own a Pantera, Bricklin, an Avanti and a Delorean...

I said own - not drive - since driving them could prove to be difficult, given either reliability issues and/or parts availability these days...

-Z-man.

[sammyg2]

One of the most sexy car designs ever, but they have serious problems.
First, they put a ford POS engine with a low HP rating but that can be addressed.
The two biggies are that they tend to over-heat alot and they rust just like our older Porsches. A modification to make them have reverse flow cooling helps.
The rust can weaken the chassis at the longitudinals just like a 914 and make it unsafe.

If you can find one that has enough go fast goodies on the engine to get it close to a respectable 400 hp, and it has the cooling problems addressed, and it doesn't have any rust, you have a winner and a heck of a car.

BTW, my feet (size 13) are too big to able to safely drive a pantera. The driver's side front wheel well intrudes too far into the pedal area makibng the pedals too close together for me. The only way I could drive it was to use the side of my feet on the clutch and brake pedals. No heel and toeing unless I did it by accident (which I did a couple of times). Hitting ther gas when you want the brake and hitting the brake when you want the clutch is no way to impress a date
Maybe I'm just a clutz, maybe I didn't have enough seat time to get used to it, but I didn't feel comfortable with the pedals at all.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

...First, they put a ford POS engine with a low HP rating but that can be addressed....

You may be the first person that I can recall "bad mouthing" a 351 Cleveland, but why does that not surprise me . Sure, these specs seem "tame" by today's standards, but a quick search turned up this:

"The first 1971 Panteras were powered by 351 in³ (5.8 L) Ford Cleveland V8 which produced 330 hp (246 kW)..... The 1971 Pantera could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.5 seconds according to Car and Driver."

Even if you take these numbers with a grain of salt, they're not bad for the early 70s imo...

ps: I know my '70 Cougar (in the hands of a 16 year old) didn't need any more hp

[Jim Bremner]

the 351 m was a 351 c but with a 1" taller block.

For anyone who has doesn't know about "C" motors they should start learning before talking crap.

as for 400 H.P. that's a start..a cam change,carb and intake should do that

the heads outflow most "big block" heads.

If I rember right the "C"'s heads can handle around 600 h.p with out porting.

one could build a very nasty 351 into a 426 inch 700+ n.a motor that will turn well into the 8k range.

Oh, and there's about a third of the places to leak oil from that engine.

oil change/filter change is done with out moving the drip pan


I drove a pantera once. great car for someone under 6' tall

[sammyg2]

IMO everything that has ever came off a ford production line is a POS, but I may be a little biased.
I've owned three and they were all junk.

The engine specs you refer to are for a supposedly high performance V8 built in 1971 with a HP per cubic inch ratio of .94

A 350/350 chebby was available in the chevelle, corvette, camaro and nova around that same time and the 350 hp rating was an understatement. It takes very little money or effort to get well over 400 hp out of one of those engines. The chebby engine is shorter, smaller, lighter, performs better, is more reliable, has a better selection of affordable aftermarket parts, and best of all it isn't made by ford. Heck I'd even take a nice 340 six pack mopar motor over a 351. Carroll Shelby said in a TV interview that the problem with the early shelby mustangs was he couldn't get enough power out of the ford small block. If shelby can't do it then it must be pretty hard to do.

You really don't want to get into a ford vs chebby argument. It's been done too many times and ford always looses in the argument and on the track.

[Jim Bremner]

yes, your right sammy



and the "C" engine was not around when Carroll, really built the Shelbys

the "C" motor was the son of the Boss 302 motor. apples/oranges

[futuresoptions]

I'd rather push my Chevy than drive a Ford (Found On Road Dead)..... I think thats what you are really trying to say....... it's what I was trying to say but in a covert manner.....