1972 De Tomaso Pantera Coupe RWD

1972 De Tomaso Pantera for sale! Finished in classic white over an all-original black cabin, this 1972 De Tomaso Pantera, VIN THPNMR02743, presents as a highly authentic and well-preserved example of the landmark Italo-American midengine supercar that redefined exotic performance for the U.S. market in the early 1970s. Showing just 45,093 believedoriginal miles, the car retains mostly original paint with only minor touchups, a rarity among Panteras and a strong indicator of careful ownership and gentle use over more than five decades. Power comes from Ford's legendary 351 cubic inch Cleveland V8, a robust, high revving small block that delivered roughly 330 horsepower when new and was chosen specifically to give Italian exotic character with American muscle reliability and serviceability. That engine is paired with the desirable ZF 5speed manual transaxle, a racingbred gearbox shared with period endurance cars, providing the kind of direct, mechanical connection and longlegged gearing enthusiasts expect in a serious 1970s performance machine. Originally developed through De Tomaso's partnership with Ford and sold in the U.S. through select LincolnMercury dealers, the Pantera was designed by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia and introduced monocoque construction to the marque, giving it the structural stiffness and refinement needed to compete with Ferrari and Lamborghini of the era. Period road tests praised the Pantera's ability to offer exotic looks and mid engine balance with the tractability of a big torque American V8, which made it notably easier to live with in traffic than many contemporary Italian exotics while still delivering thrilling acceleration and top speed capability.Our Pantera was originally purchased by a well-known Ford Executive, Bernie Golick, who took delivery of the car at the De Tomaso facility in Italy. Bernie owned it until his death three years ago. If you search "Bernie Golick's Pantera" you will find a wealth of materials about Bernie, and photos and video links of him with the car. He wrote the book for Ford on Pantera reliability updates, and the car comes with much documentation. My consignor, the second owner, acquired the car from his family and commissioned recent services and upgrades to the car including an updated modern aluminum radiator with new electric fans and an electric fan controller, new headlight actuators and headlights, updated AC components, electronic ignition, new water pump, new alternator , all new belts and hoses. For a Pantera enthusiast, the car's unrepeatable strength lies in its provenance and originality.As a 1972 car, this Pantera benefits from earlyseries purity of design combined with the key driveline refinements that arrived after initial production, including the improved fourboltmain Cleveland block and more aggressive Cobra Jet cam profile that helped restore much of the output lost to tightening emissions rules. The white exterior flatters the car's crisp wedge profile and flared haunches, emphasizing the low stance, deep side scoops and dramatic engine cover that announce its mid engine layout, while the untouched black interior underscores the car's originality and offers a purposeful environment with simple, driver oriented instrumentation. Accompanied by service history and the original owner's manual, this example shows the kind of continuous stewardship that collectors prize, suggesting a life of regular but respectful use rather than neglect or heavy modification. With approximately 7,000 Panteras built over a 20plusyear production runand the majority of U.S.market cars delivered only from 1972 to 1975good, largely unmodified cars like THPNMR02743 have become increasingly difficult to find as values have risen and many cars have been heavily customized or used for competition. Today the Pantera is recognized as one of the most compelling performance icons of the 1970s, celebrated for its fusion of Italian design and American power and enjoying strong demand in the collector car market, where top examples can command sixfigure prices and sit comfortably alongside contemporary offerings from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. This well kept, highly original 1972 Pantera offers an attractive opportunity for the enthusiast seeking an important bluechip 1970s exotic that remains both thrilling to drive and highly regarded as a longterm collectible.