Executive Spec
The De Tomaso Pantera remains one of the more distinctive icons in automotive history, combining Italian styling with an American V8 powertrain. One MY1972 example is currently listed on Bring a Trailer, and this particular car is made even more special by its provenance, as it is currently owned by Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley.
This “Pre-L” 1972 De Tomaso Pantera was delivered new to Ford Aerospace’s Aeronutronic division as a pool vehicle before being registered to a private owner in Ventura, California, in July 1974. It then spent nearly two decades at the Yankee Candle Car Museum in Massachusetts and was later sold on BaT in 2018, before Farley acquired it six years later. Since leaving the museum, the car has undergone extensive rework, with the seller noting that $45,000 was spent under the Ford CEO‘s care.
Bringing It Up to Speed
Exterior-wise, the wedge-shaped car received a paint correction, and clear front corner lenses were added after it sustained damage during a test drive in 2018. It was also fitted with QA1 double-adjustable coilovers, while its power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes were overhauled, and the unassisted steering rack was replaced.
Inside, the bucket seats received replacement bolsters and were reupholstered in black vinyl with houndstooth cloth inserts. Under the current ownership, the car also gained a Ferrero steering wheel, an aftermarket stereo and speakers, a new headliner, and retrimmed side panels.
The mid-mounted Cleveland V8 was rebuilt by Cobra Automotive of Connecticut in 2023, with the cylinders bored 0.030 inches over and static compression raised to a claimed 11.2:1 through the use of aftermarket internals such as Sportsman flat-top pistons. Output figures were not disclosed, though power is sent to the rear wheels through a ZF five-speed manual transaxle.
In addition, the car is fitted with 15-inch Campagnolo cast magnesium wheels finished in bronze Cerakote, along with an upgraded cooling system installed during previous ownership.
Not Exactly Cheap
Given the work done, it is no surprise that the current bid stands at $126,000. The Pantera is located in Glendale, Wisconsin, with the listing set to expire on Thursday.
The odometer shows about 34,000 miles, with roughly 2,000 of those added under current ownership. The seller notes that Farley loves to drive regularly, though his attention now appears to be split between enjoying analog performance cars like this and the GT40 and tackling far bigger challenges at Ford, including the project to build affordable electric trucks that target a $30,000 price point.
