Having the oldest identified instance of a automobile is one thing few fanatics expertise, however that seems to be the case with this yellow 1971 De Tomaso Pantera. That was the primary yr of manufacturing for the Ford-powered, mid-engine unique, and with a VIN ending in 1006, it might nicely be the oldest Pantera nonetheless alive. And it is on the market in Florida with an asking worth of $250,000.
Claiming a automobile is the earliest or first of a run is at all times difficult, however there’s compelling proof supporting this Pantera proprietor. In line with its itemizing on eBay, the automobile is the sixth one inbuilt whole, together with prototypes. The vendor says the primary three have been show prototypes with no engines. Numbers 4 and 5 have been reportedly used for crash testing. None of those are identified to exist, which takes us to the yellow automobile right here with its VIN ending in 1006. The vendor says there’s documentation with the automobile going all the best way again to its first proprietor in Italy, in addition to the unique supply e-book.
15 Pictures
Pictures courtesy of eBay Motors
After nosing across the web for extra data, we occurred upon an previous discussion board thread at Pantera Worldwide speaking about VIN 1006. The main points listed there match up with what we see on this public sale, suggesting this basic Pantera might nicely be the earliest mannequin of all of them – manufacturing or prototype.
This is the place it will get much more fascinating. The VIN plate features a separate identification quantity for the engine, which is listed as 0004. Apparently, the engine was faraway from an earlier prototype and put in on this Pantera. That is talked about each within the public sale and on the Pantera Worldwide discussion board, and it additionally strains up with the early days of Pantera manufacturing, the place varied bits and items have been nonetheless being fine-tuned to get automobiles into the fingers of excited patrons.
As for this automobile, the odometer exhibits 32,202 in images however that is reportedly in kilometers. The public sale lists 18,000 miles, and it additionally mentions a two-piece grille, completely different steering wheel, De Tomaso badges on the sprint, Ghia badges on the fenders, and a rear hatch launch within the door jam as prototype choices that weren’t used on different manufacturing automobiles. De Tomaso labored with Ford on the Pantera, leading to a Ford-sourced 5.8-liter V8 engine producing roughly 330 horsepower.
If that is certainly the earliest Pantera nonetheless alive, it is onerous to gauge what it is perhaps value. For now, it appears $250,000 is the worth for a brand new proprietor to take it dwelling.
