Alejandro de Tomaso, a name synonymous with Italian automotive flair, began forging his relationship with Ford as early as 1963. This initial connection sparked with the development of his first road car, the Vallelunga. This grand touring car was notable for its mid-engine configuration and its reliance on a robust four-cylinder Ford Cortina engine, setting the stage for future collaborations.
Following the Vallelunga, De Tomaso entered into a partnership with the legendary Carroll Shelby and Ford. The aim was ambitious: to engineer a replacement chassis for Shelby’s ‘King Cobras’ while encapsulating it within an Italian-designed body. Codenamed the P70 Program, this venture, however, faced unforeseen headwinds. Shelby’s departure to spearhead the iconic GT40 program ultimately led to the P70 project’s derailment.
Alt text: Ford Cortina engine showcased in the mid-engine bay of a De Tomaso Vallelunga, highlighting the early Ford-De Tomaso collaboration.
Despite the P70 setback, De Tomaso’s persistent endeavors had captured the attention of a key figure at Ford: Lee Iacocca, then head of Ford North America. Impressed by De Tomaso’s vision and capabilities, Iacocca instructed Ford’s product development division to initiate serious negotiations. Iacocca envisioned De Tomaso crafting a grand touring (GT) car that could be mass-produced and effectively distributed through Ford’s extensive Lincoln-Mercury dealership network. Ford’s aspiration was clear: to create a vehicle that would not only rival but decisively eclipse the Chevrolet Corvette and any other offering from General Motors. Crucially, Iacocca recognized the marketing potential inherent in Alejandro de Tomaso’s sophisticated “Italian” persona and planned to leverage it to maximum effect in promoting this new automotive venture.
The core concept for this ambitious project revolved around constructing a car with a steel unibody ‘monocoque’ structure. This marked a departure from the more complex and expensive backbone chassis favored in De Tomaso’s previous models. Power was to be derived from a dependable Ford V8 engine, paired with a readily available production ZF transaxle. This new car was christened the Pantera, Italian for Panther, a name that evoked both power and agility. The Pantera’s striking design was penned by American designer Tom Tjaarda, working at the renowned Ghia design studio. The engineering responsibilities were entrusted to Gianpaolo Dallara, a highly respected engineer whom De Tomaso had successfully recruited from Lamborghini, adding further pedigree to the project.
Alt text: Design sketch of the De Tomaso Pantera by Tom Tjaarda, illustrating the sleek lines and mid-engine proportions of the Italian-American sports car.
The De Tomaso Pantera became the flagship product most intimately associated with the De Tomaso brand. Internally, during its prototype phase in Italy, the car was designated under the code name “Tipo 874.” Within Ford, the project adopted the moniker M.S.E., an acronym for Mid-Ship-Engine, clearly indicating the car’s defining mechanical layout. The Pantera was primarily conceived and engineered for the American market, and Ford retained exclusive distribution rights within this region. De Tomaso of America Inc., based in Livonia, Michigan, managed importation logistics, while sales and after-sales service were handled by the Lincoln-Mercury Division headquartered in Dearborn. However, De Tomaso maintained the freedom to market and sell the Pantera in all other global markets, establishing it as a truly international sports car.
Alt text: A De Tomaso Pantera showcased at a Lincoln-Mercury dealership in 1971, demonstrating Ford’s distribution network for the Italian-American supercar in the US market.
