The De Tomaso Pantera remains an iconic symbol of automotive collaboration, blending Italian design flair with American V8 muscle. Alejandro de Tomaso’s initial forays with Ford began in 1963, marking the genesis of a relationship that would ultimately birth the legendary Pantera. His first road car, the Vallelunga, a mid-engined grand tourer, was powered by a Ford Cortina four-cylinder engine, setting the stage for future partnerships. De Tomaso’s ambition then led him to collaborate with Carroll Shelby, aiming to create a new chassis for the ‘King Cobra’ project with an Italian body. However, this ambitious endeavor, known as the P70 Program, faced setbacks as Shelby shifted his focus to the iconic GT40 program.
Alt text: Close-up of the Ford Cortina engine in the De Tomaso Vallelunga, highlighting the early Ford-De Tomaso collaboration.
Despite these initial projects not reaching their full potential, De Tomaso’s endeavors captured the attention of Lee Iacocca, a visionary leader at the helm of Ford North America. Iacocca saw an opportunity to challenge General Motors’ Corvette dominance and instructed Ford’s product division to initiate negotiations with De Tomaso. The objective was to create a mass-producible GT car, a true rival to the Corvette, that could be sold through Ford’s extensive Lincoln-Mercury dealership network. Iacocca shrewdly recognized the marketing appeal of Alejandro de Tomaso’s sophisticated “Italian” persona, intending to leverage it to promote this exciting new vehicle.
Alt text: Iconic image of Lee Iacocca leaning on a Ford Mustang, representing his visionary leadership and ambition to create groundbreaking cars.
The concept for the Pantera revolved around a robust steel unibody ‘monocoque’ construction, a departure from the more complex backbone chassis used in De Tomaso’s previous models. Power was to be derived from a potent Ford V8 engine, paired with a reliable production ZF transaxle. This combination promised both performance and relative ease of maintenance for the American market. The name chosen for this project was “Pantera,” Italian for Panther, evoking a sense of speed and agility. The striking design of the Pantera was penned by the talented American designer Tom Tjaarda, working for the renowned Ghia studio. Engineering expertise was provided by Gianpaolo Dallara, an esteemed engineer lured from Lamborghini, further emphasizing the Italian supercar pedigree of the project.
Alt text: Original design sketch of the De Tomaso Pantera by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia, showcasing the car’s sleek lines and mid-engine proportions.
Internally codenamed “Tipo 874” in Italy during its prototype phase, Ford internally designated the project as M.S.E for Mid-Ship-Engine, underscoring the car’s defining feature. The De Tomaso Pantera was explicitly designed with the American market in mind, and Ford retained exclusive rights for sales within the United States. De Tomaso of America Inc., based in Livonia, Michigan, handled importation, while service and sales operations were managed by the Lincoln-Mercury Division in Dearborn. De Tomaso, however, maintained the freedom to market and sell the Pantera in other global markets, making it a truly international sports car with an American heart and Italian soul.
Alt text: A De Tomaso Pantera displayed at a Lincoln-Mercury dealership showroom, highlighting Ford’s sales network and the car’s intended market presence.
