Factory Prepared Racer?

From the May 1972 article in Motor Trend magazine titled, "The Racing Pantera" (factory backed), comes this information. Aluminum Hood, Decklid, and doors. Tow eye. Quick fill, La Mans style fuel filler cap. Bud Moore built 351 Cleveland pumping out 500HP @ 7000 RPM. Enough to propel the Pantera (2400 LBS.) to 205 MPH!! Surprisingly, they stayed with the stock Girling calipers, only replacing the solid rotors with the same size vented rotors. Flared fenders, front and rear. Rears had to clear 15" wide goodyear tires. Front wheel was 8.5 inches wide. Front chin spoiler to reduce front end lift. Aerodynamics were almost identical to the GT-40, but the Pantera had "just a bit more lift and drag". From "Pantera-Ultimate Portfolio", page 56 Title "DeTomaso's Wild Child" by Pete Coltrin in Modena; also in May of 1972 add this: Group 4 car weight 2464 LBS. "OVER" 500 HP @ 7000 RPM. Door windows are plexiglass. Air conditioning/heating and electric windows are omitted. LARGER ventilated Girling disk brakes. Heavy duty Koni shocks. Roll Bar (rearward of rear window glass with supports to rear wheel arches). NO Pantera race cars ever ran with a engine compartment liner tub. Regards, Marlin.

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 11-03-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 11-03-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 11-03-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 11-03-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 11-03-2002).]

Which racers? There were GT-4s, Group 4s, Group 3 club-racers and factory-converted cars from street to Gp-3, from Gr-3 to Gr-4 and even to Gr-5. The most noticable may be the racing brakes- they were enormous cast-iron Girlings- 2-piston on the outside and a single larger piston on the inside, squeezing 1-1/4" thick ventillated rotors. The rears had attached cable-operated e-brake calipers that closely resembles a pair of channel-lock pliers. These eventually became the GT5 and -5S brakes for the street. There were few racers ever built and VERY few were done in '71, as deTomaso was kind of distracted trying to get the production line running. There MAY have been a single prototype Gr-4 done late in '71, and that car is in Europe today. Almost all the factory parts were available for anyone to build up a "GP-4" if they could afford the outrageously expensive parts.

Oh yes, the anti-sway bar mounts were relocated to different points. Marlin.