I freely admit to having a major Jones for cars like the De Tomaso Pantera. Like the Bizzarrini 5300GT with its Chevrolet 327 small-block or the Iso Grifo with its choice of small or big-block Chevys or even a Ford 351, the Pantera is - for blokes like me - that perfect blend of Italian sass and Uncle-Sam grunt and simplicity.
Imagine a supermodel who has her own fishing boat and can TIG weld. Perfection, really.
Not that I can't appreciate a traditional Italian supercar, what with all those camshafts, multiple carburettors and a soundtrack that raises neck hairs. But if I was ever in the position to own such a thing, I reckon I'd be constantly looking over my shoulder literally and metaphorically - waiting for that collection of valves, chains, tensioners and sprockets to take a dump and make loud exploding noises. Followed by the 'whump' of my wallet bursting into flames.
But an Italian supercar with a factory-fitted American V8? Suddenly, I'm sleeping a lot better at night. And while purists might gasp at the thought of using a non-standard wiper blades on their Ferrari or Lamborghini, nobody's going to beat me up at a cars and coffee for tuning the absolute agates off a Chevy small-block.
And, clearly, enough car-makers over the years have agreed with that sentiment, and one of the better-known ones was Alejandro De Tomaso.
De Tomaso handed the design of the Pantera (the replacement for the Mangusta) to Ghia, and legendary stylist Tom Tjaarda (who designed everything from the Ferrari 365 California to the 1974 Ford Maverick) broke out the crayons to sketch up the muscular, big-haunch coupe, leaving onlookers in absolutely zero confusion over where the engine was located.
Dallara then stepped in to carry out the mechanical layout design and hit all the right buttons with double wishbone suspension at each end, four-wheel disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering and - a first for the De Tomaso branda monocoque bodyshell.
この記事は Unique Cars の Issue 493 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Unique Cars の Issue 493 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
SHANNONS HOT LAPS AT NÜRBURGRING
SHANNONS latest promotion has something any car enthusiast can only dream of.
READER RIDES
HAS THERE EVER BEEN A CONCEPT CAR SO UNLIKELY TO REACH PRODUCTION? THIS AUSSIE-BASED PLYMOUTH PROWLER IS PROOF THEY TRULY EXIST
GM'S JEWEL
ROB HAS DISCOVERED THERE’S MUCH MORE TO CADILLAC’S EARLY HISTORY THAN V16 ENGINES, TAIL FINS AND ELVIS PRESLEY’S PINK FLEET
UNDER THE WEATHER
RUST NEVER SLEEPS, SO AT LONG LAST GLENN TORRENS PROTECTS HIS BOMBODORE'S PATINA
CLASSIC CLUBMAN
MARK CURREY FOUND HIMSELF JUMPING IN THE PROVERBIAL DEEP END WHEN HE AND HIS BROTHER CRAIG TACKLED THE RESTO
MUSEUM OF VEHICLE EVOLUTION
NESTLED IN the Goulbourn Valley in Central Victoria, just south of Shepparton, is the Museum of Vehicle Evolution or MOVE for short. Recognised as one of the leading museums in the country.
TAKE A DASH!
DESIGN-FOR-MANUFACTURE GIVES NO THOUGHT TO THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK ON THE DAMN THINGS
The LITTLE BULL
LAMBORGHINI V12S WERE THE BEDROOM POSTER FAVOURITES, BUT SANT AGATA'S V8 URRACO IS THE LESSER-KNOWN BABY SUPERMODEL
SHELBY MUSTANG MARKET REVIEW
Carroll Shelby created the business model, followed in the early 1980s by Peter Brock, for selling modified versions of popular road cars with the blessing of, but no direct involvement from the manufacturer.
SNAKE CATCHER!
SHELBY AND FORD GO HAND IN HAND, BUT THE 69 GT MODELS WERE THE END OF THE ROAD AS CARROLL WAVED GOODBYE, TO THE BLUE OVAL BRAND
