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Are you dreaming of a classic mid-engine Italian supercar? It’s a noble dream: it’ll be hard to beat the cross of performance and coolness you can only get in such a ride. But the average Ferrari Testarossa is reselling for $140,000 while the most desirable ones are worth around $350k. The average used Lamborghini Countach is worth $560,000 and the top end is $2.2 million. But you have another option: The De Tomaso Pantera. And if you are dreaming of working on your old car yourself, it is the obvious choice.

Alejandro de Tomaso was a race car driver who decided to start a car company in Modena, Italy. His most popular cars were mid-engine supercars. Instead of engineering an all-new powertrain, he used Ford V8 crate engines. For some enthusiasts, this makes his cars less cool. But it makes them much easier to work on, and modify for more power.

From 1967-1971, Tomaso’s flagship supercar was the Mangusta. It sold well enough that Ford Motor Company, bought 84% of the automaker in 1971. The same year as this partnership, Tomaso rolled out the Pantera with a 5.8-liter Ford “Cleveland” V8.

Bright orang De Tomaso Pantera classic Italian supercar.
1972 De Tomaso Pantera | Bring a Trailer

Though Ford and de Tomaso would eventually part ways, Tomaso continued to sell some version of the Pantera–with a Ford V8 engine–until 1992. The automaker built 7,000 Panteras, 5,000 of which came to the U.S. About 4,000 are still on the road today and listed in the owners’ club registry. What do these numbers mean for us? Panteras are comparatively easy to find, inexpensive to buy, and simple to modify.

Jay Leno, a proud Pantera owner, has some advice for enthusiasts. He owns a 1971 and admits its build quality and engineering are far from perfect. But adds that over the years, De Tomaso dramatically improved its flagship supercar. The good news is that the automaker offered many of these improvements as accessories for the older cars–such as frame stiffeners. So it is a bad idea to buy a “stock” one without planning to wrench on it a bit.

Front of an orang De Tomaso Pantera classic Italian supercar.
1972 De Tomaso Pantera | Bring a Trailer

When it comes to improving a De Tomaso Pantera, the sky’s the limit. Not only are there owners’ groups offering a ton of support, and OEM parts can bring an older car up to more modern standards, but increasing the power is as simple as hotrodding an old Ford V8.

So can you really get into a Pantera for $50k? A running and driving red 1974 sold on eBay in April 2024 for $52k. Rare Panteras, such as desirable single-owner ones– have sold on Bring a Trailer for $200k or more. The middle of the market seems to be planted at $70k-$80k. But six running cars have sold in the past several years for less than $60k. Projects in need of some love have recently sold for as little as $33k. The 1972 car (pictured) has just 48,000 miles and sold in 2020 for $45,250.

Next, learn why the Alfa Romeo 4C may be the perfect sports car investment, or see Leno’s tips for Pantera buyers in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.