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The DeTomaso
Pantera was introdced in 1970 succeeding the DeTomaso Vallelunga (1964-1966)
and the DeTomaso Mangusta (1967-1970).
This Italian marque was founded by Mr. Alejandro de Tomaso who was
originally born in Argentina and moved to Europe in the year 1955.
In the year 1956 he married the love of his life, Elizabeth Haskell, in
Italy. Elizabeth Haskell was very wealthy and she supported Alejandro de
Tomaso in his passion; building sportscars.
After building a lot of sports- and racing prototypes the first DeTomaso
production sportscar saw the light of day in the year 1964; the DeTomaso
Vallelunga.
De Tomaso had his cars designed by the Italian designhouse Ghia. The
Mangusta was designed by Giorgetto Giugaro and the Pantera was designed
by the Dutchman Tom Tjaarda.
The Vallelunga and the Mangusta were built with glassfibre reinforced
plastic bodies, fitted to a special "central-tube-chassis"
onto which the suspension components, and the engine were mounted.
With the introduction of the Pantera the steel unitary bodywork
construction was introduced with the use of plastic bonnets.
De Tomaso used Ford engines from start. The Vallelunga was equipped with
a four cylinder Ford Cortina engine, the later models were fitted with
very powerfull Cleveland V8 engines coming from Ford U.S.A. (The engine
was also used in the Ford Mustang Mach I musclecar).
In the year 1973 the Pantera was updated technically, the engine now
produced an additional 40 bhp. - 350 bhp.
The DeTomaso Pantera is currently still being manufactured on a vry
small scale in the U.S.A. where the car has many adepts.
Technical
data
V8 Ford
Cleveland engine
cylindercapacity: 5.796 cc.
capacity: 310 bhp. at 5400 rpm.
gearbox: 5- speed, manual (H-sportspattern)
topspeed: 159 mph. - 254 km/h.
weight: 1330 kg. |
