Sold Cars 1974 DeTomaso Pantera GTS

More Details

Year: 1974
Make: DeTomaso
Model: Pantera GTS
Engine: 351/350 HP
Transmission: 5 Spd.
Price: SOLD

The Italian-American hybrid DeTomaso Pantera was sold in the United States from 1971 to 1974 through Ford’s Lincoln- Mercury dealer network. It suffered in that market through the period of burdensome regulations and high-priced gasoline, but its combination of Italian flare and American horsepower remains a heady mixture to collectors even today. This 1974 GTS variant, one of just 97 produced for the U.S. market, has been driven just over 3,000 original miles and still sports its original two-tone Yellow and Black paint and immaculate interior.

One of the last Panteras imported to the U.S. before the line was dropped, it bears the changes wrought by Ford to bring the brand closer to home. The Ghia coachworks badging remained, but all signs of the DeTomaso name were removed. Chrome was replaced with Blacked-out trim, fiberglass fender flares – a U.S.-only feature – were riveted onto the body, and “Pantera GTS” badging appeared on the Blacked-out rocker panels and the rear panel and a “Powered by Ford” badge was placed on the rear deck lid.

The Pantera’s potent drivetrain remained one of the wonders of early ‘70s performance. This unrestored example still runs under the power of its original matching-numbers 351 Cleveland V-8 and ZF 5-speed gearbox, both of which offer excellent performance. The car has been retrofitted with a modern AM/FM/CD sound system and factory air conditioning that operates flawlessly when charged.

This 1974 Pantera GTS came off the assembly line on January, 1974. It was released by the factory on December 12th, 1974 & sold to its 1st new car dealer, Heritage Lincoln-Mercury of Elgin, Illinois on February 21st, 1975. Heritage Lincoln sat with the car for over a year unsold & finally sold it to Don Mullery Ford of Dixon, Illinois on June 18th, 1976. It then was bought by Bob Moore Ford-Lincoln-Mercury of Fergus Falls, Minnesota in 1978 still on its original MSO & was put on the Showroom floor for sale with about 500 miles on the odometer.

This wonderful find was purchased by its 1st actual owner, Gerald Greenfield of Seattle, Washington on October 20th, 1979 for a total sum of $24,900. while on his Honeymoon in Minnesota. It was still on its MSO. It had 751 original miles on it that day. He barely enjoyed the GTS since it was so new & within a year, Gerald sold it to its 2nd actual owner, an Allen Poe of the A & A Steel Fabricating Co. of Posen, Illinois on 19th, 1980 for a total of $30,000. w/824 original miles on it. It was purchased by Mr. Poe as “one lot of misc. spacers & roll parts” for his business. Quite creative I must say. It remained untitled when Gerald Greenfield sold it to Allen Poe still on its original MOSO. In 1994, Willett Motorsport Plex of Orland Park, Illinois bought it from Allen Poe’s daughter with only 1890 miles on the odometer after Mr. Poe passed away. It still remained on its MSO & had not been titled from new.

Finally it was seen in the DuPont Registry October 1994 magazine by its 3rd owner, a Mr. Carroll Hughes of Chesapeake, Virginia, with just 1890 miles on the odometer. He proceeded to purchase it for a grand total of $40,000. on September 23rd, 1994 & was the 1st person to actually title the car ever, as new. Carroll leased it in his Dental practice’s name. He drove it for the next 14 years just 948 additional miles. He also removed the original Arriva tires & saved them on a shelf in his garage.

In 2007 it was purchased by the Craig Brody Collection from Carroll Hughs w/a total of 2838 miles on the odometer, still entirely unrestored down to the original Goodyear Arriva tires on the U.S.-spec Campagnolo 7″ & 8″ alloy wheels. To this day it remains virtually untouched and beautifully preserved, including the original tools, space-saver spare and inflation canister. Today it has a mere 3085 original miles on the odometer. As one of the best of its kind left in the world, it has enormous value as a reference car for any & all restorations and would be a premium addition to any collection of world-class sports cars.