A new 4-bolt Cleveland engine was used with lower compression from to 8. Many changes were made internally, including the use of a factory exhaust header. The "Lusso" luxury Pantera L was also introduced in It featured large black bumpers for the US market as well as a hp kW Cleveland engine. Autopedia Explore. Browse wiki. Image Gallery. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account? The De Tomaso Mangusta already used the Ford Cleveland engine when the two companies forged an agreement that introduced the Italian supercar to the American market in The Italian-American mid-engine exotic featured a gorgeous body designed by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia, a monocoque chassis engineered by Gian Paolo Dallara, and an entirely new plus horsepower V-8 bolted to a five-speed ZF transaxle.
Panteras rolled into Lincoln-Mercury dealerships with independent unequal length A-arm suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel disc brakes, staggered Campagnolo magnesium alloy wheels, and air-conditioning.
Like many exotics of its day, the Pantera often suffered from lackluster engineering and quality control, but Ford helped more as time went by and most of the problems were long ago sorted out. The car never really found its place among consumers who expected the fit, finish, and comfort of an American car.
Never mind that the Pantera, when new, provided enthusiasts with solid performance and exceptional design as an affordable alternative to the mid-engine Ferrari Dino and Lamborghini Miura.
First: Excitement is directly proportional to price—the more you spend, the zoomier the car. Which makes sense. Second: Goodness is inversely proportional to the price—the more you spend, the less likely you are to get a carefully engineered machine, one that is dependable in the way the multitudes demand. Instead, you get hand craftsmanship, which is not the same thing. Anyone willing to accept that, the magazine noted, would be rewarded.
Autocar rendered a similar verdict. Top speed proved to be a resounding mph at an engine speed of just rpm. Early Panteras with split bumpers and push-button door handles from the Mangusta parts bin gave way in to the Lusso, or L-cars, fitted with federal bumpers that added pounds.
Ford lowered the compression ratio and made up the difference with factory performance parts, but a change in measuring standards made the change from gross to net horsepower appear far worse than the real-world performance provided. The Pantera could hit 60 mph in 5. First-generation Pantera production culminated in with the GTS model that was effectively an appearance for American-market Pantera GTS that came with Campagnolo wheels one-inch wider than stock, a blacked-out hood and rear deck, rivet-mounted flares, a sport steering wheel, and GTS graphics.
The European-market GTS also got a performance suspension and a Cleveland V-8 with high-compression pistons and solid lifter camshaft good for horsepower. Ford ended its partnership with De Tomaso in as emissions and safety standards spelled trouble for the mid-engine exotic. Just how many were built under the partnership is an open question; Ford says while De Tomaso claims Don Byars of Full Throttle Panteras has restored more than Panteras during the past odd years and believes there are around in the U.
Just how many are awaiting discovery is uncertain, but remember, project cars with low prices can represent false economy. Many Pantera owners were furious. They'd expected their car to be as rock-sold-reliable as a Mercury or Lincoln, which were about as conventional as they could get.
Some bought the Pantera just because it looked racy and was fast--and far less costly than a Ferrari, Maserati or Lamborghini. Owners of those cars expected problems, but Pantera owners weren't nearly as forgiving. Ford Motor quickly got the message and for awhile had the special West Coast shops of Ford racer Bill Stroppe do modifications to cure Pantera problems.
By , the car was much better, but had gotten a reputation for being troublesome. Then the gas crisis further hurt sales of the fuel-thirsty Pantera--along with sales of Italian exotic sports cars.
Curiously, the Pantera had been designed without regard for upcoming U. The emissions rules caused horsepower of the Pantera's V-8 to fall to by And Ford knew from the beginning that the Pantera wouldn't meet stricter federal bumper standards after An ungainly looking black rubber nose guard and larger rear bumpers were put on Panteras to meet requirements.
The bumper standards would have involved a major redesign of the car, including a new powertrain. Ford Motor felt that would be too costly--especially since the Pantera was a limited-volume auto to begin with. American imports of the Pantera thus were discontinued after However, the car continued to be sold with Ford of Australia engines at much reduced levels in Europe, where it was largely unchanged for years. Lincoln-Mercury said it sold 6, Panteras, but most sources said the figure was 5, cars.
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