American V-8 power is among the most affordable and reliable ways to make a car faster. Caroll Shelby knew it and so did many others. Among them was Argentinian Formula One driver, Alejandro De Tomaso, who later, founded the Italian car company, De Tomaso. The company is responsible for one of the first, mid-engine Italian sports cars to feature an American V-8.
The De Tomaso Pantera was the peak of this endeavor and its performance-per-dollar ratio made it a very appealing proposition, even for legends like Elvis who ended up buying one. This pristine, red Pantera, listed at Classic Cars, was never owned by the rock ’n roll legend but has a similarly interesting story behind it and the individual who ordered it.
The Special Pantera Was Flown To The US By Air
The De Tomaso Pantera was in a class of its own. When new, the Pantera cost $10,000, which in 2023 comes up to almost $74,000. It was two-and-a-half times more expensive than a C3 Corvette, but only half the price of a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, as Donut Media pointed out. It was also the first American-Italian, mid-engine sports car, which combined with relatively sensible pricing, compared to the European exotics, meant even celebrities wanted to buy it.
Elvis bought a used example in 1971, and a year later, Senator P.J. Morgan of the Nebraska State Legislature ordered a uniquely-spec’d 1972 red example (the one featured here), that was flown from Europe to the US, reportedly, in the belly of Chartered Pan Am Boeing 747. The advert says that the red Pantera is accompanied by comprehensive documentation, which includes a signed letter from Alejandro De Tomaso himself and the flight documents.
Insane Performance For The Time
Since the car was imported to the US from overseas, this hints at the 1972 Pantera being an EU spec. This means more power from the 5.8-liter Cleveland 351 V-8 engine. This should mean a power output of 345 horsepower versus the U.S. model’s 310 horsepower. Power goes to the rear tires through a five-speed, ZF, manual transaxle.
In 1972, this would be enough for a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint in 5.5 seconds on to a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h). The quarter-mile would go by 13.1 seconds. This made the De Tomaso Pantera, not just one of the quickest-accelerating cars in the 1970s, but also one of the fastest with regard to its top speed.
Probably The Most Pristine Example Of Early Pantera You Will Find
The car has been maintained at a reputable shop, called Pantera Miami, which also happens to be the seller, according to what we see in the listing. The seller even listed the shop’s phone number just in case you want to confirm. The car has been fully serviced, and the odometer shows 12,000 miles. The red paint is described by the seller as “extremely presentable”.
The car seems to have had a good life since it was always kept indoors and after the original owner parted ways with the car, it was part of the John Belt Exotic Car Collection, as one of two Panteras. The listing also mentions that the car has received a high-performance camshaft and higher compression ratio than stock. Other upgrades include racing brake calipers from the Group 4 racing version, a clock, GT5-S-like riveted fender flares, and a chin spoiler, all of which were specially requested by the Senator of Nebraska.
A Unique Spec And Tasteful Selection Of Options
According to De Tomaso Pantera aficionados on Pantera Infopop, the GT5-bodied cars were available between 1980 and 1990 while GT5-S-bodied cars were available from 1985 to 1992. In both cases, the Pantera could be opted for with or without the tall, Delta rear wing. Obviously, earlier variants from the 1970s can be made to look like their later counterparts, and this particular 1972 example features select aesthetic elements from GT5 and GT5-S models, while still resembling an early, 1972 GTS.
Better Than The Elvis Pantera
The King of Rock bought his yellow, 1971 Pantera in 1974 for less than one-fourth of its original price. His ownership was short-lived, only lasting until 1976. Apparently, the rock legend was so upset when his Pantera didn’t start one day – a common thing for Panteras, apparently – that he shot the car twice with a 22-caliber revolver. That didn’t stop the yellow, mid-engine sports car from being sold in 1981, for $300,000 worth of diamonds, or just under $990,000 in 2023 money. What’s more, one of the bullets ricocheted off the steering wheel into the windshield and the mark is still there.
This pristine, red example of the 1972 Pantera doesn’t feature such intentional “wear and tear” and has a documented ownership history. Elvis Presley’s De Tomaso Pantera also wasn’t a GTS model, but a stock 351 model. More importantly, the 1972 Pantera you see here, is listed for $129,500 (OBO). With all that said, we think it’s well worth the money. If you want to see Elvis’ yellow 1971 Pantera, it is located in the Petersen Automotive Museum, in Los Angeles, California.