My 2-owner, 27k mile 1974 Pantera for Sale

After 8 wonderful years with this car, time has come to pass it along. A complete description follows, but of course up for PMs or a call on it if anything is left out.

Pantera, 1974, VIN THPNPL07059

Incredible 2-owner car from new. Superb throughout, minimal discrete upgrades for reliability, performance, and safety. Unrusted, undamaged, and seriously pampered with 27,197 original miles. Matching number car, engine, drivetrain, body panels all original. A single high-end repaint in the original ‘Dark Green’, one of just 88 in that color for 1974.

OVERALL:

This Pantera looks, starts, runs, shifts, drives and handles fantastically. Always stored indoors, any maintenance duly tended. Any part removed has been cleaned and saved. Everything works, car does not overheat, no body panels cut, no interior panels cut (not even speaker or radio).

To sort this car, immediately after purchasing I sent the car to Jack Roush Special Projects division for mild tuning and service. (Their resident Pantera experts R&R’d engine, trans, did a clutch service, more.) After they were through, the car was sent it to renown Pantera expert Pat Mical (Pat’s automotive) for suspension, brakes, cooling, and AC upgrades.
At that time, the rare and expensive Euro GTS Campagnolos (8’s front, 10’s rear) were installed with new Toyos and the car set at the Euro ride height.

ENGINE, TRANSAXLE:

Car runs very strong, yet not overly modified. Only mods to engine are set of Pat Mical hand-bent headers (2 ¼&#8221, Euro GTS exhaust, Blue Thunder intake (very rare, built specifically for Pantera) Holley Street Avenger carb, and electronic Ford distributor. This combination makes for a nice power increase, outstanding exhaust note, and extremely docile city manners. (OEM parts cleaned and saved.)

Engine compartment is clean and nicely detailed, with no oil drips, no ‘homemade’ wiring or chroming. My cosmetic concessions included a set of ‘Pantera’ aluminum valve covers, painted in Ford blue, then buffed to reveal raised details. That, plus the natural Blue Thunder intake and mildly modified stock breather are the only visual deviations from stock.

Car starts right up, idles smoothly, and pulls hard through every gear.

The ZF transaxle is a joy to use. Same as on the Ford GT-40, BMW M-1, it shifts cleanly and crisply, is of incredible durability and quality, plus weight saving aluminum case is not only gorgeous but saves a few pounds. Even when cold, 2nd gear comes up without issue, unlike many exotics.

COOLING:

Pat Mical removed stock radiator, cleaned, and modified the tanks for maximum efficiency. He added twin Spal fans, set to individual thermostats. Then an aluminum Edelbrock KoolFlow waterpump was added to decrease any tendency to overheat. Lastly, a smaller diameter aluminum pulley helps increase flow at idle. In all, the car has never overheated, not once, even in intense Alabama heat. In all of this, the car still looks entirely stock, with a stock perfectly functioning factory radiator under the stock shroud.

EXTERIOR:

Car is extremely straight and clean. Paint quality is excellent, shines great. Rockers are in original low-sheen trim and dent free. When it was repainted, I chose to leave the original spot-weld marks under the front bumper and on rockers to preserve originality.

Rubber has been replaced around windows, chrome and stainless highly polished. Chrome on door handles has been redone (along with buckets). Glass is excellent all around, as are bumpers front and rear.

The original Dark Green paint was carefully matched to the original paint on the car in 2 stage paint for long term protection and durability. Nearly everywhere I go in the car, people remark on the gorgeous paintwork and color.

INTERIOR:

With such low mileage and constant garaging, the car been incredibly well-preserved unlike many. The dash is straight and crack free, the gauges are clear, the bezels shine like new, center console tidy and uncracked. The original carpet is outstanding, and was removed only to clean and add ‘DynaMat’ sound deadener throughout the interior (made a huge difference). Door panels are the original, uncut, and in excellent condition. Factory headliner is also excellent, along with factory sunvisors which are fine, though a bit puffy.

I had Corvette seats recovered in black leather (not vinyl) by Gary Herig patterned to replicate the Pantera factory seams and stitching. I also had the factory 1974 seats redone in correct new black vinyl. (Those are in a box, having never been installed or sat upon.)

Power windows work great (bronze gears added), as does the very weak stock radio, but with new speakers behind original ‘Lear’ grills. The original and very slow to retract seat belts were replaced with correctly operational ones in factory location. (Originals saved.)

BRAKES, SUSPENSION, STEERING, ELECTRICAL

Car stops with complete authority. Pantera brakes are good from the factory, yet I had Porterfield pads installed, plus a new master cylinder from Pantera Performance. The very tricky emergency brake was fully rebuilt and operates as intended.

Pat Mical reworked and adjusted the suspension for razor sharp tracking and handling. Shocks, springs, bushings, all either replaced or renewed, are set up nicely. The car was lowered ¾” and appears wrapped around the Toyos and Euro GTS wheels. There is no rubbing at all.

The steering box was also rebuilt by Pantera Performance, with new bronze bushings to replace the original nylon. The alignment is dead-on. This Pantera handles.
Electrical performance is not a problem on Panteras other than a couple areas. I did the ignition and headlight relay upgrade to reduce current.

I also added Jon Haas’ Pantera Electronics fusebox to eliminate issues there. No wires cut, no goofiness, just perfect performance. For more safety, I added Jon’s LED brake lights to give an extra margin for close followers.

All lights, fans, switches, gauges, even windshield pump and squirters work excellently.

DETAILS:

Car has much original and authentic paperwork, manual, documentation, dealer trade-in forms, stickers. I also have the original space saver spare, most of the original tool kit, the original Air Cannister, and tire hold down. Anything that came off the car has been saved.
I also have every single receipt gotten with the car and all of those for work done in my ownership. All in a 3 ring binder, complete and up to date.

IN SUMMARY:

If this car needed it, it got it. There has been no hesitancy to invest in preservation or function of this car. I have greatly enjoyed it from the first day. It has never let me down, never failed to start. (Okay, I flooded it once with the old carb, but not in about 7 years!)

It runs and drives extremely well, and will completely defuse any notion of low Pantera build-quality myth. This car was built and finished to ever higher standards under Ford’s direction, with the last of these 1974 cars getting really excellent. I have owned many of these, and this is my best one by far.

This car, to me, is like a more refined GT-40 at a 90% discount. You have power windows, air conditioning, two trunks (!), and the reliability of a Ford V8 tugged by the mighty ZF 5-speed, with very exotic looks. I still can’t believe the prices are not well into 6 figures. Most any comparable, (Mangusta, Italia, Bizzarini) is a multiple of the price, but not a multiple of sheer performance, looks, usability and value.

Where other Panteras I have personally viewed have sold over $115,000, yet are no better, I’m pricing this car for a decisive buyer at $92,500.

Grab it before I come to my senses.

 

Thanks for that. If I didn't already have a wide 911, I'd have jumped on your 930!

Color is so individualized. I actually pursued green. Initially thought I could do Grabber Blue, but it just didn't do it for me. I still love the green. The car is definitely sorted, that's for sure.

Actually is. But that's not a 'normal' Carrera. Its an M491, with Certificate from Porsche. PM if you've an interest. Not inexpensive.

 

Thanks for that. It was kind of how I envisioned the car should look, at least to my eye. Tjaardas solution for the front bumper/airfoil was so ingenious, I prefer the later cars. But the rear view is pretty darn nice, especially with 330 Cleveland bred horses burbling away.

 

Mighty kind of you. I'm sure there are others, the Pantera community has far more fanatics than I'd imagined. Plus, more are chasing the OEM respectful changes.

Sorry, BigTex covered for me here (thanks A!) but yes, C4 Corvette, covered in leather to mimic Pantera stitching and pleating patterns.

Actually, I'm so Car A.D.D. at the moment, not sure! Just picked up my E type last week (after a mere 2 years of restoration, was good to be reunited!). Starting to shift some duties at work, spend more time on life.

Later cars with the aero front are mighty fine. Tjaarda should be knighted for this alone.
Ha! I have had that 'come to your senses' thought many times!

Thanks a bunch. It has been fun and quite rewarding.

Yep, she won't find Mean Green here in Alabama. Keep it here forever if you want. I can finance you with 100% down and go from there!

Dude, too nice. Thank you for that Pete. It really is a great car, I do agree.

Perfect! Anything I can do to help draw the scantily-clad traffic your way, I'm here to serve.

Can we build you an addition? Or change username to 'toofullgarage'.

Thanks guys! Much interest sparked, some great conversations, most in US, two in Germany. We'll see.

 

No, not the same car, but two others have asked the same question. Out of curiosity, why would it be a 'say it not's so'? (I missed something there, not the first time!)

I did a soft launch to small groups I know only. If it doesn't move in a week, off to the 'public' world.

Hey, many have taken advantage of me in pursuit of what I like! They see me coming.

A few detail shots from today for some who requested. (There are 5 decently serious people getting several batches of large photo files tomorrow, including walk around, start up, and driving video.) BTW, I haven't driven this car in a while...

Once on the road, I ran it up, 2nd... 3rd... 4th... 5th... and this car absolutely soars. Touched 90 mph with the Cleveland symphony providing the background music. Y'all don't know me - other than a couple unfortunate souls - but I'm telling you, a well-tuned Pantera is a GT40 with slightly better manners. I rode in (then drove) an Italia two weeks ago and dang near called a cab home. No disrespect since I love those things, but fit, finish, build, suspension, hardly compares to a well sorted Pantera. (To me anyway.) Risking blasphemy if not deposition, a good Pantera rivals the much lauded Boxer. There, I said it. I shall now go roll my head up in an under-powered window for punishment.

And yes, that engine fits under the stock engine shroud/screen; I just removed it for pics. Those 'dimples' are factory spot welds, I left them here and under the front valance, thought they were kinda cool

 

Had a lot of interest in the car, more than expected.

It sold to the first person who looked at it, full ask (though I priced it under the market, so scarcely noteworthy.) Still a major fan of the cars, had it 9 years, zero regrets.

New owner - not an FChatter - is quite happy, which makes me even more so.