For Sale: 1988 Pantera GT5-S

Good luck with your sale that is one of the most beautiful looking Panteras I have ever seen.  I really like the the color and wheel combo, unique and classy.

Hi Otis, thanks for your nice compliments about my GT5-S. Its not emotionally easy to sell my car, there was so much time, toil, and money put into it. But I have my eyes on another super car and I can't keep them both. So its time to let someone else enjoy this beauty. 

Beautiful car! Love to see the real 5S cars with updated engine & engine bay, etc. Will be interesting to see how a real 5S with modifications fetches price. May not make it that well in CA with the ridiculous smog rules here.  I have a red 73 built with real 5S fenders and similar 417 Fontana with race cam. I wonder if we had the same builder (Russ Fulp Race Engines)? 

Does200, yes my GT5-S is slightly modified because it doesn't have the original 351C engine, nor does it have the original wheels. The 351C engine is a very common inexpensive motor. As you know the Fontana engine or Clevor motor is much lighter and a merging of the best parts of the Cleveland and Windsor motor. I think in most peoples eyes the Fontana engine is a nice upgrade over the original motor while still having the period look from the '80's.

When I bought this car it already had the Fontana engine so I don't know who built the motor. Although this motor did have a racing cam with solid lifters. Malin Motors swapped that out with a mild cam with hydraulic lifters to make the car more streetable.

The original 15" wheels and tires are useful if you want the car to be a museum piece on display but not very practical otherwise. The 18" wheels are much more practical in this day and age. Of course the purest can still get the original wheels for this car from Marvic Wheels in Italy. 

As for the ridiculous smog rules in California, I haven't had any issues. My car has California registration and I drive my car no problem.

This is the car that was just written up in POCA Profiles, correct?  If so, it looks like a super build.  Good luck on the sale.

Bravo on the CA smog; many others with post 1975 cars have bigtime issues with engine mods in CA (not just Panteras but other cars). Hope you do well with the car, looks real nice. Makes me want to put hood vents on mine.

Rocky, yes indeed, my car was on the front cover and written up in the recent POCA Profiles. In that magazine it showed some photos of the ground up restoration process of my car #9465 performed by Malin Motors. This was quite a big project and a labor of love to turn the car into what it is today. James at Malin Motors is quietly one of the most knowledgeable and experienced talents restoring GT5-S' in the USA. 

The factory hood vents do look very nice, and they are functional too. If I have the car in idle and I get out of the car and put my hand over the vents, I can feel hot air venting out.

Nice to see one of the AmeriSport girls looking so good.

Just curious and not my business---why was the cable shifter installed on a five speed? 

Wow, what an observant eye Kirk. During the restoration, we discussed replacing the old style metal rod with a cable shifter, which all the modern cars of today have, for much smoother shifting.

We differ on your analyses but again it's certainly none of my business. Car looks great--lights in the bumpers?   Good luck with the sale.

Actually those aren't lights in the bumpers. Those tiny little things in the bumpers are laser jammer/parking sensors.

Clever. Very nice.

Beautiful car for sure. I find it hard to believe you would desire another car over this one. 

So I have to ask what are you looking at?

Hi Tajon, I have my heart set on a 2019 Porsche GT3 RS. I have a friend who works for Porsche as a professional race car driving instructor. I want to take racing lessons and track the car. Of course the GT5-S is more rare and unique, more beautiful, an exotic collectors car and a much better investment than the Porsche. But the Porsche has 30 yr newer technology, its a turn key naturally aspirated 520 hp race car suitable for daily driving. If I had the funds and the room I would want to have both. 

Why not go all out and get a GT2 RS? Has a little higher “scare the crap out of you” factor than the GT3, therefore, you’re less likely to miss the Pantera! 

Haha! Yes, the GT2 RS has the 700 hp "Scare the crap out of you" factor. But it has also has nearly a half a million dollar (after markup) scare the crap out of you price tag.

Adoberetreat interesting idea. I am in a similar scenario where I want to start htting the track as well. My approach is somewhat different than yours tho. My plan is to get an inexpensive car to begin with in the event that something goes terribly wrong I can easily replace the car and not worry too much about it. I know you didnt ask for my opinion but since we are on the internet and all this info is out there 😂😂........why not get an older 911 and set it up as a track car. I bet u could do that for $30k (https://bringatrailer.com/list...porsche-911-turbo-34) and keep that masterpiece of a GT5s and have the best if both worlds.  From my limited time on a track I think you will have just as much fun if not more with the less expensive car and have the piece of mind that u may not wreck a 200k car. 

With all that being said, I wish i had the money to buy your Pantera. Lol

Hi Tajon, I have thought of your idea as well, and its a possibility. We'll see what happens. Thanks for your suggestion.

This thread is taking a twist away from the for sale ad, but I guess it keeps it at the top and visible, plus maybe we can just convince Alex not to sell!

From someone who has bee down the road of race cars here's my take;

I started with a semi-street car (Ultima CanAm) and soon found when you push hard stuff breaks, so you get a trailer to not be stranded at the track. Then you tell yourself now I have the trailer I can modify the car to be more track/race ready.. it's a slippery slope and before you know it you have a race only car, that is no fun on street! A few iterations and ~$45K later my race car is an open wheel Formula car and it is literally the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Prototype and formula cars with outstanding performance can be had for a fraction of the Porsche GT3 RS entry price, the only disadvantage of an open wheel car is restricted open track day events, but P1 cars are faster now anyway.

I keep toying with the idea of selling the GT5 or GT40 and getting a modern sports car, but I just know in my heart I'd be bitterly disappointed after the initial rush of having a new car wore off.