De Tomaso Pantera With 47k Miles Comes Out of Long-Term Ownership

A 1972 De Tomaso Pantera has surfaced for sale in Novato, California, carrying a modest 47,000 miles on its odometer and a three-decade history with its current owner. The seller recently had the original V8 blueprinted, meaning the engine has been carefully rebuilt to precise factory tolerances, and the car is being offered as a turnkey proposition. Originally listed at $125,000, the price has since been adjusted to$110,000.

The Pantera holds a unique place in automotive history. Ford partnered with De Tomaso to sell the car through its Lincoln-Mercury dealership network from late 1971 through 1975, positioning it as a halo model to draw customers into showrooms. It was the first De Tomaso built with unibody construction, a departure from the tubular chassis of its predecessor, the Mangusta. That change brought with it a well-documented vulnerability to rust, though this particular example appears to have avoided the issue thanks to decades of dry storage in California.

Finished in Code V613 Silver, one of seven paint options available for the 1972 model year, the car wears its original Campagnolo magnesium wheels and retains the slimmer European-spec bumpers that many enthusiasts prefer over the bulkier units mandated for 1973 and later cars to satisfy tightening safety regulations. Inside, the black interior remains largely factory-original, right down to the slight wear on the outer carpet edges. The only notable deviation is an aftermarket radio and cassette player. The dash and console present well, and the seats and upholstery remain clean.

Mechanically, the Pantera retains its numbers-matching Ford 351-cubic-inch Cleveland V8 paired with a five-speed ZF manual transaxle. De Tomaso rated the car at 310 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, with a claimed top speed of 162 mph. With a freshly blueprinted engine, this example should deliver at least those figures. The seller provides no engine bay photographs, which is worth noting for any serious buyer, but the mechanical description suggests the car is ready to drive.

The decision to sell comes after more than thirty years of ownership. The seller cites health concerns as the reason for letting the car go, a circumstance that often forces long-term enthusiasts to part with their collections. They have expressed openness to trades but have not specified what might interest them, though given their evident passion for high-performance machinery, any candidate would likely need to match that character. For anyone in the market for an Italian exotic with Ford V8 reliability and a documented history, this Pantera represents a compelling opportunity.