Custom De Tomaso Pantera Might Be the Ultimate Iteration of That Defunct Model
Out of all the De Tomaso Pantera builds we’ve seen over the years, this 1,000+ hp custom designed by its owner might just be the coolest.
The De Tomaso Pantera isn’t a Ford-derived vehicle, but rather, a mid-engine sports car from the Italian manufacturer, and it quickly became the most popular of that lot. Over the course of 20 years, De Tomaso produced 7,000 Panteras, in fact, at least part of which was helped by the fact that many were sold by Lincoln-Mercury dealers. The De Tomaso Pantera utilized a number of Ford engines over the years as well – including the 302, 351 Cleveland, and 351 Windsor – but this wild, custom example we spotted at the 75th Grand National Roadster Show is perhaps the ultimate custom version of that cool ride.
This De Tomaso Pantera is owned by Greg Paboojian of Liberty Lake, Wisconsin, who also happened to design and build it himself. It has been modified in every conceivable way, starting on the outside with GT5s body panels, three exterior cameras, revised headlight and taillight openings, new front bumpers and window treatments, rear quarter windows, and a redesigned decklid, which opens remotely, along with the doors. It rolls on a set of owner-modified American Racing wheels as well, which measure in at 18×8 inches up front and 20×14 inches in the rear. The whole thing is covered in a House of Colors hue called Blu Bye-You.
Inside the cabin, this Pantera has been treated to a complete overhaul as well, with a roll cage, plus a custom dash and panels that are now covered in leather and Alcantara. Underneath, one will find more extensive upgrades, including a custom-build chromoly chassis with SS Motorsports control arms and Air Lift Performance bits and pieces, along with a custom-built fuel cell, rear stiffeners, and air tanks.
Power for this wicked De Tomaso Pantera comes from a SOHC Ford aluminum V8 built by Hutchinson Racing Engines that’s been punched out to displace 489 cubic-inches and loaded with upgrades including twin mirror image 77mm turbos with tubing from SS Motorsports, along with a three-piece intake with an internal intercooler and hidden injectors. That combo was good enough to lay down a solid 1,000 horsepower on the dyno, and it’s mated to a six-speed sequential transmission.
This particular De Tomaso Pantera is very likely the coolest custom example of the already-cool sports car that we’ve seen to date, perfectly marrying the original’s attractive styling with modern amenities, looks, and copious amounts of power. And truthfully, does it really get any better than that?
Photos for The Mustang Source by Derin Richardson
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