1971 De Tomaso Pantera - Jay Leno's Garage
1971 De Tomaso Pantera: Pantera expert Michael Drew visits the garage to go through what may be the most unappreciated and misunderstood supercar of the 1970s.
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Jay Leno's Garage
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Whoever says money can't buy happiness has not seen that garage.
Money buys some means of happiness.... Not happiness itself... I think
Unfortunately Jays taste in cars is kind of plain, if I had that kind of money my garage would have just about a little bit of almost everything.
James N well I wouldn’t have exactly what he has either but his collection would make me happy...I’d have a few resto/mods
@@Aminharp1 Money can't buy happiness, but with money you can buy things that give you happiness.
It's crazy to think that he bought damn near all of these with his stand up comedy money, talk about investing money right, his money probably doubles every 5 years in equity alone
When I was a kid in the 70’s my dad’s friend had a Pantera and I’ve loved cars ever since. One of the great marriages of European design and American muscle.
Mio padre, nel lontano 1974 comprò una Pantera GTS e mi portò subito a fare un giro in montagna. Avevo 10 anni (ora ne ho 60) ma mi ricordo benissimo quanta emozione sentire l'accelerazione che mi attaccava al sedile ed il ruggito del motore 😮😅... Mia madre era arrabbiata per la spesa che riteneva sbagliata, ma io dissi: papà, hai fatto benissimo. Oggi se avessi i soldi andrei alla ricerca di quella De Tommaso...🎉. Saluti dall' Italia 👋👋
My mother same reaction to just a lowly (new off the lot), '69 T-Bird, 2dr black on black, Landau
Sunbeam Tiger, British steel and American muscle.
One of the prettiest sports car designs of all time! Very nice proportions and very aggressive.
Especially that car. This is perhaps the nicest one I've seen.
I have to agree with your opinion... it certainly is still one of the prettiest cars to be sold as an "American," regardless of its ancestry. We had a fairly "tired" example in an expensive toy story I worked in for a few years. It did over heat but before it got too warm it was a blast to drive. After thoroughly looking over a similarly configured '89 Testarossa that was also on our show room floor, I noticed the large panel on the firewall behind the Pantera's seats. The Ferrari needed a dealers garage or someone with a similar shop to efficiently work on it. The whole "power-unit" (engine/trans-axle/rear suspension) had to come out for much of the routine maintenance that a Pantera (skilled) owner could repair at home. The Pantera, with the panel between the seats, allowed the mechanic to open the firewall and access the front of the engine with minimal drama. Even changing an a/c belt on the Ferrari required major surgery, and several times the Pantera's bill!
I used to see one in Australia in the 70s and instantly fell in love.
I've had my 1972 Pantera since I was 17 years old. I'm 58 now and still own it. It's currently being completely restored to stock and will be back on the road soon. I've changed out the seats, the originals were back killers, and I've replaced the cooling system, but other than that, she's stock. THPNMG03317
John Galt , congrats amigo that is something to be proud of!
Do you know anywhere where I can get one? Hahaha
Must be nice to be rich at 17 years old. Good for your parents.
@@chaoticpoo96 EBAY
John Galt: Have you considered repowering it with your motor that runs on atmospheric electricity?
The rear view of those cars are timeless. The exhaust, the gearbox, those tires.... Nothing better.
Love the car. Love that guy. Just a genuine, knowledgeable enthusiast. And the passion just oozes out of him. Joy to watch.
My thoughts exactly.
Exactly. Lots of interesting, relevant information and perfectly presented. An exceptionally enjoyable car video.
I love how Jay always dresses like he just closed up his small hardware store that sells fishing tackle in the back corner, just down the road from that old diner and gas station, and hes gettin ready to kick back and crack a cold one with his bud Steve.
Yea,
Jay found a way to remain relevant and still make $ millions $.
Jay was out at Malibu Cars and Coffee yesterday morning in his usual garb and as affable as always. Me and my buddy took our matching red Panteras out for a spin and wound up there. Great cars, friendly people, beautiful 75*F weather. A spectacular day.
You forgot the general store/post office
That America is near gone
This guy, Michael Drew, is probably the best, most well spoken and knowledgeable expert Jay has had on "The Garage".
Yup. Shows he's a great magazine editor/writer in addition to being a car enthusiast and mechanic.
I liked when he turned and smiled at the camera like a 10 year old. Classic Cars do that..
Most yappy ie obnoxious.
John Smith It’s ok to be yappy if you are smart.
It’s a nice to hear a real expert on you tube, unlike most of what’s on.
This Mike dude is epic! When a man gets obsessed; he becomes a force of nature...Jay and Mike; two forces blending well...
Minus mike constantly interrupting Jay...
@@benhartland4708 That's how men do...
@@godbluffvdgg an insecure man is an agreeable man...who is a cowardly man, you identify with that :)
He’s the best kind of nerdy about this car hahaha
@@benhartland4708 He seemed robotic, and overly concise, probably nervous, as would be most of us.
As soon as a classic appears on Jay’s Garage the price instantly goes up.
I've watched so many of Jay Leno's Garage videos, but this is amongst the very very best if not the best video. The reason why is because of the Pantera expert... He has so many very cool, super interesting, quirky, esoteric stories that are actually fascinating details... He needs his own channel if he doesn't have one because he's really interesting. His voice is a little weird, but his anecdotes are fantastic!!
I agree. He was the best by far guest / expert that Jay has ever had. Well spoken, articulate, intelligent, passionate and enthusiastic. All rolled into one with a big smile on his face! Congrats Jay on the sweet ride too. Would love to have one of these.
The GT40 guy was pretty good too.
@@johnjenkins6328 will have to watch that one!
He sure knows his stuff. I'm sure his wife and kids also are DeTomasso Pantera experts.
I’m sure any captive audience is a Pantera expert.
This Pantera is a vulgar display of power... Cheers from southern Italy 🇮🇹
Domination!
Far Beyond Driven man...
That boy no longer needs to walk on home!, but my clutch is an electric one that makes me worry, the alchemist of this is pure metal for the brain... on triple j's three hours of power with helen razer and francis leach
Revolution is my name.....
Walk
I remember seeing one of these when I was 13 years old, putting shingles on a roof of a rich person's place with my Dad. It was yellow, just sitting in the driveway, looking sad that I wasn't driving it. I remember seeing that it had a Ford engine, and thinking that was strange. I have never forgotten that car. This video was a real treat. You can tell that guy is passionate as Hell about them.
So these cars were therefore marketed like KARMANN-GHIAS Those were sold through some VOLKSWAGEN dealers, and used Volkswagen engines
My family owned a used car dealership from the 1950's to early 2000's.We had all the cool rides for 30% of retail.I barely remember my dad driving a Pantera in the mid-late 1970's.
I just commented about seeing one when I was a kid, and haven’t forgotten about it.
Jay makes a important point....buy from a club owner not from just anyone.
I wanted that car when I was a kid...just because of the sound of the exhaust. Even today, the sound from that exhaust...brings a smile to my face.
I saw my first Pantera at a stoplight in Beverly Hills, CA. It was 1971 and I was 20 years old and in the military. My friend and I were totally blown away by the looks and sound of this amazing looking super car. When the light changed, the Pantera literally looked like it lifted off the ground and zoomed away. Never forgot that image and the Pantera made its indelible mark on me...
That dude is wearing his Nike Monarch dad shoes. I trust him.
He looks like the kind of guy who’s really proud of his chili recipe.
@@Gravy_Master Perfect comment. Well done.
EdithHead you are the best replier of all of KZhead of all time well done lad
LOL Well played.
Knows the parts books, too. #solid
My uncle had a Pantera and took me for a ride. On an early Sunday morning when there wasn't a soul on the highway. Empty highway. He went from 35mph to 180mph in less than the length of a football field. My body was pressed back and down into the chair under Gs that made the skin on my face depress. I was only 15 years old.
My Dentist retired and owns a Pantera. I picture him driving down PCH with a Great Big Smile on his face! Nicely Done Doc..🙏👍😁👍
I love how the rear wheels bulge out of the body... wow!
jlozeppeli look at that rear ❤️
So Kool I literally laughed out loud.
lol that guy is walking Pantera manual
This guest was AMAZING! This is the kinda guy I want as my next door neighbor.....sharp, unfiltered and down to earth.....ask him for ANY tool....he has it.
I saw my first Pantera in about 1972. I was hooked. I know they had problems but the first years were fabulous. It's still one of love to own...
I just spent the day, yesterday, with Mike Drew and his wife, cruising around the backroads of eastern Ontario in our Ford-powered sports cars: DeTomaso Pantera, and Longchamp and my Cobra. Super-nice guy. Glad to have met him.
Never cared for Jay until I realized his unwavering passion for all things cars motorcycles etc. And evidence of this passion is his sharing of his collection with enthusiasts like us watching his shows on video or youtube. Kudos to Jay.
...and he's not afraid to drive 'em.
jjs777fzr Jay seems like a real car guy
Jay always was in to cars since he was young nothing new about that
I only heard about Jay because of his car collection and the tank car that was also featured in Gran Turismo 4. It was later because of this KZhead channel that I wondered what he actually did. I believe he did a talkshow? still not sure. I know him from this channel and his featurings in other car stuff.
@@paulblack6288 He has been for years. He occasionally made reference to his collection on his show.
You can tell how much Jay respects a guest by how much he lets them talk.
dude cuts Leno off so much, i legit pity Leno here.
@@waqqashanafi exactly, the guy is a bit rude, but good on Jay
@@waqqashanafi yeah he's not a bad guy but you can tell his whole life is pantera's not etiquette
Really? I felt like I notice some awkwardness that Jay was getting a little annoyed by the guy lol
That spec is just wonderful imo, the paint, the wheels, the chrome, it just all fits so well, and is visually pleasing.
That guy Mike is in love with the Pantera and knows his stuff. If that puts you off you don't know what the Hell you are talking about. He literally defines the term "enthusiast"....
Someone has a man crush.
Michael flynn With all the blow hards and “”experts” on you tube it’s nice to see the real thing....
Love his enthusiasm! And knowledge.
@@michaelflynn9622 Sounds like you're envious of it.
@@vincedibona4687 Sure, that must be it.
One of the best car rear ends ever. Appreciate this guy's knowledge. They could have gone on for an hour.
Lovely post, lovely car (one of my all time favourite body designs), great host and great guest. Doesn't get any better. Thanks again Jay.
Nicely done. I fell in love with the Pantera, when I 1st saw it. That was over 50 years ago. I still love it.
The expert is very eloquent.
*Great guest, shares his knowledge and story but doesn't get in the way. Twenty years ago hauling to Vegas in a late model Bimmer and a supercar shot by us at over a hundred and twenty. My roommate argued it was a Lambo, but I said Pantera for about twenty seconds before five matching cars flew by. "Pantera" I called out reading the rear badging, "Pantera. Pantera. Pantera. Pantera."*
The national Pantera club convention used to be held in Las Vegas the last weekend of April each year. What you saw was a convoy from one of the SoCal clubs heading there. The largest number of cars was at the 1991 convention Pantera 20th anniversary) when there were over 250 there!
In my opinion, this is such a beautiful car!
LamborghiniReven1000 your wrong
Agree, awesome
Yes it certianly as the wau factor Easy on the eye provided you are no taller then five foot seven
In 1985 I worked at an auto paint shop. This guy used to come in with a Pantera that had a wing on the back and the wing was always bent down so far that it touched the body. I would fix this wing for him and he would come back in a couple weeks and it would be exactly the same way! I once told him "Man, this must be putting hundreds of pounds of force on this wing to get this distorted!" He would just smile and leave with his freshly rebuilt and repainted wing. One day he came in and I fixed the wing for the lest time, and he finally admitted he was running the illegal race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas (and others) with this car, and it would have to hold 140-160 Mph through most of the race! I always wondered what it would be like to hold that car at those speeds for hours at a time. My Cousin Richard Cole would be proud = )
This car was my favorite Matchbox car ! Then I I found out it was a real car
Truly one of the most beautiful automotive designs of all time.
This fellow's geek knowledge is on a whole nother level for this car.
Paul Castro a NEW LEVALLLLL!!!!
I worked on these when new and they were being sold at Mercury dealers. My memory is road testing one on the backstreets of White Plains NY. Doin' about 85 mph when the heater valve blew out and poured coolant all over my feet and turning the cockpit into a steam room with zero visibility. And that's all I'm gonna say about that!
YEAH well the 1971 and72 cars had plenty of little tricks like that. By the late 7ps most were known and either factory fixes or after market fixes were available Nut if you got an original car which I did patience time and money as well as someone very foliar with the cars factory errors and omissions were necessary to prevent a drive with your gi friend from turning into a AAAZtow moment.
Former Linc/Merc tech in Los Gatos, Ca. I loved these cars. Having the carb at the back of your head at full throttle could make you see Elvis. Changing out the cooling system lines, heater core, etc. was a tough chore. I also was afforded the same foot bath and steamed window panic.
Was it fun before the valve blew?
@@omega1575 Ohhh, yeah!
The prettiest wedge car by far. Pure elegance.
Excellent video Jay. I've always wanted a Pantera. Italian styling combined with one of my all-time favorite engines, the 351 Cleveland....what's not to like? Mike definitely knows his stuff.
Styled by Ghia? Another stroke of genius from them! Like the famous original Karmann-,Ghia, by Luigi Segre, and the more Corvair-like second Karmann-Ghia Jay reviewed, the RAZOR-EDGE. That one is styled by Sergio Sartorelli. Like our friend in the video, I too have always loved the Pantera, but just as he "fell in love as a child" with the Pantera, I "fell in love with" the RAZOR-EDGE Karmann-Ghia, on my ninth birthday!
I had a 351 c in a 1972 Mustang, Had a lot of problems with it, including timing chains, seem to be very fast, but was no match when a big block Buick came along.
The Matchbox (r) version of this car was one of my favorites when I was a kid. Over 30 years later, my 6 year old son races the same toy around the house.
Your family has style then!
I've got that matchbox to always loved the original style Pantera and Mangusta no wings and dumb girly skirts for me. I think some of the 351 were made in Australia and the modified in the USA. A qurky accessible but interesting car.
As a kid I worked at a car wash in SoCal when a pantera came down the line. In those days the owner didn't sit inside. We drove them onto the line and off. I was working the towels and I couldn't believe my luck. I got to deliver this beautiful yellow pantera to the owner at the front of the wash. 50 years later I cherish the memory. Thank you whoever you were.
00:55 possibly the best looking supercar *ever*
Stephane, you're absolutely right! Stephon, the Pantera straight from the factory did 0-60 in 5.5 seconds which I believe is less than 6 seconds, and with any massaging of the 351C engine much quicker times were possible.
Agreed! The definition of "sexy car" IMHO! Although the paint needs some serious detailing (lots of light scratches etc) Maybe a good wet sanding by arguably THE top pro Jason Kilmer would make it amazing?! 😎👍 He is super skilled and a truly nice guy! instagram.com/jasonkillmer/ kzhead.info/sun/pJeHc6ufpIyMmZE/bejne.html
@Stefon Palinic What do you know? A Pantera was advertised and would do 0-60 in under 6 seconds when it was introduced and will do the quarter mile at 13.7 seconds. I own a 1971 Pantera with a Boss 351 Cleveland in it and also own a 1970 Mangusta with the single pop headlights and the 302 C.I. engine. Both cars are equipped with the ZF transaxles.
Agreed.
Certainly up there. For me there Lotus Esprit and the Ferrari 308 pip it.
Met a guy in 1976, Nuclear Engineer, that had one of these...as a 'Company car'! Strictly badass car
That was my uncle, ATG.
always loved the pantera, good looking car and 351 Cleveland's always sound good
My first experience with a 351 Cleveland was my buddies 1976 Cougar...it was a huge car, black paint and chrome, and SS Crager wheels. Always felt like it had waaaay more power than it should for a car that big, and that made it that much more fun to drive and beat the crap out of smaller cars and watch their faces when we roared by, exhaust popping when we let off. Sadly, he hit a truck with it our senior year and it was gone, and he lost his life two years ago. All just a memory now.
It’s the side window lines. Perfect.
I also love the sound of a 351 Cleveland. I have a video of my Mach One. It's got a very distinctive sound.
My grandfather restored a Pantera. It was his last project car before his health declined and he couldn't do it anymore. I'll always remember the ride he took me on in that car. He loved his work restoring cars and he went all out on the Pantera since it was his last one.
That car right there is superb. Absolutely beautiful
It's beautiful... Great shade of blue, tasteful chrome accents & trim, nothing over done!
In 1979 I was working in a machine shop in Burlingame California I was only 16 at the time. My boss owned a yellow Pantera, when it was slow one of my jobs was to wash the car and of course drive it dry! All the guys in the shop and the part store next door where green with envy seeing this little punk getting to drive this badass car. I always loved the style and the sound and will never forget the experience. Aloha
What was your bosses name?
I keep rewatching this episode, that car is gorgeous, even with the headlights up
Jay, There is also a de Tomaso Mangusta. Can you please compare the two? Maybe you need one of each.
I've always wanted a Pantera.
Cody, I never would have guessed I would run across a comment from you here. Leno and Wranglerstar are, by far, my two favorite channels. I bet you like Leno's antique fire engine videos!
Yes I agree with you the Pantera is a car I would love to have too.
I prefer the Mangusta but the Pantera is cool too!
sell some more axes ^^
your all over youtube lol o/
One of my all time favorites. Such a beautiful car.
Yo conocí en 1976 un pantera de tomado de color negro en la cd de guanajuato México era un carro impresionante y el sonido de el motor era una chulada y en una cd pequeña era unico
Watching someone be so passionate about something is so fascinating
I feed off of Jay’s LOVE of cars and stories of the cars. We love you Jay!
That car is just gorgeous, especially it's rear end. The few times I've seen one on the road it stopped me in my tracks.
I'm with you, all new performance cars have the tall rear. The new Mustangs are shorter back there and I really like that look.
Michael Drew is so well spoken and informed. this is genius.
Love to see the flag of my country in Jay Leno's garage. Alejandro De Tomaso was from Argentina, so he put the Argentine flag in his logo.
Beauty of a car! My Dad had one, well two actually. I remember taking the train with him to San Diego from LA when he bought it, and we drove it back. It was 1972. He also had a 1970 Mangusta for a while too, but got rid of it after only 2 years.
One of the coolest car names in automotive history.. "DeToMASO PanTERA.." Yeah baby.. :D
I'll never forget little league practice and a kid's father pulled up in a Pantera. We all crowded around it. He was a Ford exec living in Ann Arbor. Awesome to see and hear that car back in the early 70s!
That’s close to my stomping ground! My 90 year old dad is a Ford retiree but he used to drive Mustangs.
I first saw the Pantara in one of dad's old Road&Track or Motortrend magazines. Being a mustang nut, and the fact it was powered by a 351 Cleveland was so awesome to a 10 year old. I instantly fell in love with these cars and so many others from dad's old magazines.
This is a man who has put a lot of thought into the exhaust note of a Detomaso Pantera.
It’s a beautiful car, love it. The sound of the engine is just wonderful.
It’s Aussie engine we have the best accent
@@MrDemonchild71 After 1974 when US production ended.
This guy might have out-talked jay this time around.
Like he;s trying to sell the car to Jay
He's knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the vehicles. I think you're all being terribly negative.
Only because Jays only had it a few months & doesn't know everything there is to know about it yet. But love the guys Mike passion for it.
He has a good radio voice.
Kermit the Frog?
20:51: ''The basso profundo of an American V8.'' This guy is great!
I know I'm writing 9 years late but like many Italians like me we always considered regrettably the De Tommaso Pantera a poor version of the Ferrari but it was actually a good car and quite easy to maintain. Definitely you can't change the gearbox of any Ferrari! Thanks for sharing this very interesting video 👍
Looks much better without all the added fibreglass bodykit thats so common,and those wheels are beautiful
I suppose I'm one of the few who disagree. I'm not much of a fan of mid-engine designs, and always felt the original looked vaugely unattractive, particularly the chinless front. I like the GT5 much better. The prettiest Italian cars have the engine in front IMHO.
This car is one of my all time favorites, I had a 1956 Fairlane with the 351 Cleveland and it was fast.
I am over the moon in love with this shade of blue. Damn that a pretty car.
The 351 Cleveland was a fantastic engine that was in my buddies Torino GT which made me want a Pantera in the worst way ..... Unfortunately not in the cards for me but glad to see people keeping them on the road 50 year's later .
A school friend bought one that was wrecked in the front. His plan was to fix it and sell it. He spend years working on it, combining his school and several jobs to save for parts. Instead of selling, he decided to keep it. It is a well loved, maintained, good looking car that won several car show awards. And the sound...man...what a sound...
Tucked in shirt ✓ Hip mount mobile phone ✓ Nike Monarchs ✓ This guy dads
nike monarch shoes suck now the last pair I bought were werent good at al Loved them
He might go coach a little league game after this
25:40 if he has a hip mounted cell phone .... the hecks in his right pocket? can't love that car that much can you?
12:54
He calls his son ( sport).
That beast looks and sounds fantastic!!!
Mike should have his own show, he speaks well, knows everything about Panteras and is excited about them. Jay, thanks for another great episode!
One of my favorite sounding engines / exhaust...Sounds beastly
mike might be the biggest car nerd you have ever had in the garage. love to see that kind of dedication to one product
I love this show because it talks about the history of the car's conception and development, all of the various changes and model updates, the aftermarket upgrades and improvement products and the everyday livability and drivability of the finished vehicles. I've been following Jay Leno's Garage since day one and it is one of the best "car guy" shows today - it's like what every car nut loves to do - stand around and looking over every inch of the car and asking all of the right answers and getting great answers. Can't get enough of this show - thank you for everything you do to bring this show to life! WHEN ARE YOU GONNA FEATURE A 1980-81 TRIUMPH TR8? Cheers! from South Carolina!
One of the coolest cars ever made! Thanks for sharing Jay!
Thanks Jay. Mike seams so genuine. Nice Smart guy. I also love how you're so polite to those who aren't. We all love watching and learning from you.
Living in Santa Barbara, CA I still see these probably once a year on the roads. They’re great looking cars. Always loved em.
There are a couple of them in Lompoc
pnp522 oh really? I keep seeing them right on the 101 entering into Goleta. Maybe heading home to Lompoc. I considered searching for one a few years back. Still would love to have one. To be honest, I don’t know as much as I should about them though. Just really loved seeing them when I was young. I’d get excited and my father would tell me about them. SB has some good finds. I’ve been in a McLaren F1 getting detailed, seen almost every car and saw the Tesla Roadster in testing before they went on sale years ago. SB has the money but it’s just all Mercedes, bmw etc. every other car ... not a ton of performance cars for how many expensive cars there are here. Just the older, retired, slow life style I guess.
I attended Foothill School in the early/mid 70's and the house literally across the street from our school had a yellow Pantera. I will never forget the impression this car had on me!
@@peter-radiantpipes2800 Go to Cars & Coffee on Sundays and you'll see the performance cars, including a Pantera occasionally. (I'm in SB as well)
Pantera, in my mind the MOST BEAUTIFUL car EVER made, hands down.
At the risk of being a bit RUDE I am only telling the truth about British people, who have never noticed how stylish these cars are (compared to Americans, who value things like STYLE) , I think sometimes some British people can be FUCKWITS
I would say the AMX3 is the most beautiful...but it never went into production.
I've loved the Pantera since the first time I saw one as a kid. That's a beautiful car. So glad to see that they are gaining a bigger following.
I was handed the keys to a Pantera when I was 17! It scared the crap out of me!!! I was a grocery bagger and told to drive a customer home (she was inebriated) because I was able to drive a stick... gated not so much. I guess I did ok her girlfriend paid me $100 to teach her how to drive her XKE two weeks later, Such is the life of a bon vivant bag boy in the 70's :)
s bradley smith -great story, what a time, fun. Lucky.
s bradley smith Awesome story !
s bradley smith Did you take a peek?
Wow, good for you
"bon vivant bag boy " got to be a TV show here. Very funny.
Great looking car. I remember standing next to a Pantera at our local Lincoln Mercury dealer in 1971/72 and was I immediately thrilled with it (I was 12 years old and my dad just looked at me and said NO...and he bought a black Mercury Marquis Brougham 2 door hardtop with lots of power options. It was no Pantera but it was one of the nicest family cars we ever owned).
Told my Dad about this car when they came out and he thought I was joking! Love them!
In a hotel parking lot, changing the clutch and beer time under 3 hours... What legend.
Mike is AWESOME! He is so friendly, super smart, and so well spoken. I wonder if he is a professor. I LOVE this episode!
Thanks! Actually I’m a pilot in the Air Force Reserve, and also an airline pilot. Although we like to maintain the stereotypical image of coolness, in truth most pilots are dorks like me! -Mike
My next door neighbor was an independent writer for car chronicles back in 1971. He took me and his son for a ride in a yellow pantera. I have wanted one since! Beautiful cars. I remember the ground shaking when it started at 7 am until he was done with his review of the pantera. I want one.
I was a boy when my dad test drove one these it was a total beast. A true honey badger of a car in that no one, whether a Ferrari or Porsche or a muscle car, wanted to race you.
Loved the Pantera since I was crawling. A classic.
Good to see that Jay is now a member of the Pantera family. Mike is as helpful and knowledgeable as Jay suggests. I needed a great mechanic for my Pantera and Mike put me in touch with other club members who knew the right shop for the job.
I bought one in the 1980s. The car was just used up. Rich people had owned it, and did not maintain the car. Me and my brother rebuilt the 351, stripped the paint, had the interior redone. I would take the parts book down to the Ford dealer to order parts. (Ford put a parts book in each Pantera.) Each two weeks I would get a pay check , and use most of it to buy parts. When I finished the car, I would be driving and the girls would yell, I want a ride. The car would over heat, if you did not bleed the air out of the system. Also the radiator needs to be replaced with a American crossflow design radiator. Replace the electric cooling fans with modern electric fans. Also use the robertshaw highflow 351 Cleveland thermostat. Then the engine will run cool. This was the most rigid car I have owned. If you jacked up one corner the the entire car would lift, no flex, no sag. After my daughter was born, we needed a house. So I sold the car for the house.
Billy Bob Now that’s a love story.
Wow
If the car introduced you to your wife before providing the down payment on your family home it's more like a tree than a car- your ownership of it was more like a brush with greatness. You should track that thing down and bring it an offering👍 I wonder whose life it's creating now...
One of my friends had one that was a pace car. I don't remember what race. It still had racing stripes on it. But we did all the modifications you mentioned and more. Rebuilt engine and all. We also put in a much stronger clutch. Man was that hard to push when not used to it. Had fun racing with a Porsche 911 at the time. No room what so ever in that car. The front of the engine is almost at your elbow.
Might not be a bad thing to have the engine overheat and have to wait for a while if you're giving a girl a "ride".
What an iconic car and I loved this car from its release. Thank you for showing us your one.
I've always admired these cars, even with the limited knowledge I had of them. Great conversation.
My dad had a De Tomaso and it was one of the best sounding cars of the 70's. It was white with a black engine deck lid. I think it even had a 300 kph speedometer.
That's awesome :-)
love these in-depth interviews, thanks Jay!
I remember when I was 18, around '98, chasing down one of these with my Z28 and following it until he parked and I could find out what it was. It didn't have any bumper badges and I thought it was a new Ferrari or some other import I hadn't seen before. We talked cars for over an hour. Love the rides, love the vids. Thank Jay.
Love people with passion and so just get up in their car. Have seen this video here lots of times. And it just radiates through on both of them that this is something they are passionate about