De Tomaso's anyone?
 

Anybody own or drive one?...impressions. especially of course the Pantera

This should be interesting. I recall a similar thread a few years ago. My recollection that the Pantera reviews were pretty negative....

My dream car.

Nice to look at, but horrible build quality. Elvis shot his.

Mine too.

This is what I have heard, I also notice when you see a pantera in a vintage race they most often DNF.

When I was shopping for my 944 one guy had one for sale @ $15K

For the right money and effort a Pantera can be made into a very street worthy car. There were some design flaws that are easily fixed and with some careful upgrades, they can be great daily drivers. Most if not all Italians from this era are wrought with problems and bad build quality. The best advice to buy the best car you can afford and be prepared to spend an equal amount to sort it out.

I think Danny Ocean has a Pantera.

Dont they have rust issues in the rails because of no drain holes

The newest ones built are now 20 years old.
The newest ones built for the US are 36 years old.
The oldest ones are over 40.

I see them sell from the high 20's on upward. Obviously, the cheap ones usually have problems. Build quality was typical of the 70's & 80's.

As far as I know, all of them had cooling issues and rust issues.
I think they are sekzi, and would definitely own one. But you should do a LOT of research before jumping into a purchase.

One of my dream cars as well. Love the look, rode in one back in the 70's....WOW! If was car collector rich I would have one. :)

they were rushed into production so final development was by the owners.
Good after market support, some later fixes too known as nqr (not quite right)
Check rust around bottom chassis between rear suspension mounts.
That can make the car unsafe, expensive to fix.
Owner's later drilled weep holes to let the mosture escape.

The amp meter is not fused, over charging can make the gauge very hot.
fix for that too.
Cranky electric windows needs aftermarket brass gears.
Big windshield makes cabin hot but upgraded AC systems can handle it.
Best source for info is one of the Pantera clubs.
Italion suit american muscle..not a good track car platform.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1312341569.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1312345186.jpg
I got to drive one 20 years ago. They don't fit TALL guys.

Amen to that, my friend has one and I being 6'2" tall had my knees up to my chin riding shotgun. His is in concourse condition and runs like a raped ape. Just to uncomfortable for me. Here is a shot of the car before he cleaned it up.

Dave

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/a...ff/pantera.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1312348230.jpg

I like De Tommaso's eye. There's more to him than the Pantera.

I was holding off to buy a Pantera as my next fun car, but a Toyota Supra Turbo has knocked it off my no.1 spot.

Ted has got it right: American muscle in an Italian suit. Saw one up close an personal a long time ago. The Ford engine just screamed American muscle.

Rewired somebody else's rewire on one in the mid 70's after an engine bay fire. The car came in way down on power.

Once sorted and tuned up it was quick and fast. Pushed quite a bit in corners, the car really wanted to go straight. Ditto on the headroom and I am only 6'1. Good shifting but loud gear whine...could have been just this car though. Never drove it in the rain, but I think it could be and adventure with either end of the car.

The Mangusta's are stunning, but that is a whole nother story.

For the right car and price and if you fit, go for it.

A friend of mine had a black Mangusta back in the late '70s that I drove a few times. It had a Ford 302 that was fast enough, but not supercar fast. It was a lot of fun and full of quirks, and of course looked fantastic.

What is that car????


Edit: Is it a DeTomaso Vallelunga?

Cortina 4 cyl motor?

Well, your edit beat me to the post.
I was going to suggest that is may be a Vellelunga - the grand-daddy to the Pantera.

De Tomaso Vallelunga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia