This 1972 "Pre-L" DeTomaso Pantera is a drivers example of the iconic mid-engine Italian-American sports car. Designed by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia, the monocoque steel body houses a mid-mounted 351 cubic-inch Ford Cleveland V8 mated to a ZF 5-speed transaxle. Even with the stock 350hp, this car is incredibly fast. We decided that it needed to go a bit faster...
Mechanical Precision & Performance
Our work focused on bringing the drivetrain and chassis up to peak performance. The 351 Cleveland V8 was overhauled with new pistons and rods giving a slight volume increase and all the power possible in the NA block, without sacrificing rock solid reliability. The ZF transaxle was refreshed and tuned. Holley EFI was installed and the final product is now making around 500hp with an incredibly wide power band. This is right in the sweet spot for these cars.
Suspension and Brakes Overhaul
The stock suspension on all 4 corners was replaced with new arms, new springs, and dual adjustable shocks. New sway bars and all new links were installed. A cross brace was installed between the rear wheels to increase rear rigidity and make handling more predictable. Finally to deal with all this extra power and speed, 4 and 6 piston Wilwood brakes were installed to make it stop like a racecar.
Interior Refinishing
This car had been driven a lot when we got it, and we intend to drive it much more in the future. The original seats had not just worn the foam, but the whole frame was falling apart. Original seats are hard to come by so we fabricated a new frame, redid the springs and reupholstered the seat to have that factory look but feel brand new. With the modern suspension and the comfortable seat, you would be amazed how easy it is to rack up miles in this car.
