The Pantera Story: Italian Body, American Heart, Argentine Soul
An Argentine racer, an Italian coachbuilder and a Ford V8 walk into Modena. How the De Tomaso Pantera came to be — and why its body panels are so hard to find today.
Few cars wear three passports as proudly as the De Tomaso Pantera. The company behind it was founded in Modena, Italy, in 1959 by Alejandro de Tomaso, a racing driver born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, who moved to Italy and decided to build his own cars rather than drive other people's.
The Pantera — Italian for panther — arrived at the start of the 1970s. Its wedge-shaped body was penned by American designer Tom Tjaarda at Ghia, and in the middle of the car sat an American heart: a Ford 351 Cleveland V8 driving through a ZF five-speed transaxle. Ford sold the car in the United States through Lincoln-Mercury dealers, which is why so many Panteras live in North America today.
Three flags, one car
That mix is exactly why we built this site around three sets of colours. The red, white and green of Italy, where the body was designed and built. The red, white and blue of the United States, home of the V8 and of most surviving cars. And the sky blue and white of Argentina, the homeland of the man whose name is on the badge.
Why the panels are scarce
The Pantera's steel unit body was built quickly and, by modern standards, with very little rust protection. Water collects in the lower front fenders, behind the wheel arches, around the headlight buckets and in the sills. Half a century later, many cars that look good from ten feet away are hiding significant corrosion.
Because production numbers were small, the aftermarket never offered complete replacement body panels the way it does for a Mustang or a Corvette. Restorers have relied on used panels, patch sections and custom fabrication. We set out to add a production-made option — starting with the parts that rot first: the front fenders, fender tops and pop-up headlight buckets.
Keep the panther alive
Every Pantera we help put back on the road is one more car that doesn't get parted out. If you're planning a restoration, start with our restoration guides, watch the video library and add your car to the production list.
