De Tomaso Pantera vs. Pagani Zonda Roadster, an imaginary comparison, with factual elements for the comparison. A mental shoot-out by VFI.
http://www.paganiautomobili.it/english/foto4.aspx?id=25
http://www.paganiautomobili.it
Above are Pagani's Zonda Roadster picture and factory webpage links. Now some statistics. PZR is Pagani Zonda Roadster and DTM is De Tomaso Pantera. And, OK, this is not a fair comparison, or is it?
Top price I've seen on a De Tomaso Pantera is about $100,000 or if you bought a De Tomaso Pantera for $25-$30,000 and put $70,000 to $75,000 into it, for comparison purposes in the shoot-out. Vs. The Pagaini at $600,000.
DTP: 351 cid is 5.7 L V8 Ford
PZR: 444 cid is 7.3 L V12 Mercedes Benz AMG
DTP: 300 hp
PZR: 547 hp
DTP: 3150 lbs.
PZR: 2822 lbs.
DTP: 5 speed manual
PZR: 6 speed manual
DTP: 155 mph
PZR: 220 mph
DTP: Monoque Frame
PZR: Carbon Fiber Frame
DTP: 6.6 Sec. 0-60 mph
PZR: 3.7 sec. 0-62 mph
By now, you've looked at the pictures and want to read on some more. Ok, so here's my theory. Put another engine in the De Tomaso Pantera, and a new ZF, with chassis upgrades too. For $100,000 or maybe $150,000 (including purchase price of 'starter DTP') you can match Pagani's weight, horse power, top speed with the properly geared manual 6 speed ZF and maybe even get it Targa or Roadster body worked if you like. Plus you don't get importation problems, luxury tax assessment, destination charges, dealer prep, etc. Say a Pagani Zonda is in your garage for $750,000 or a De Tomaso Pantera for $150,000. OK? So who do you think wins at the track? Remember, you have $100,000 to $125,000 to modify your imaginary Pantera in our little hypothetical example. I can just summarize my feelings like this: $600,000 extra to get Pagani's exotic Italian styling, and that's the main difference. So, my conclusion? Pantera's are a real value, undervalued one could even say.
The reason it's just a theory we have to manipulate in our minds for this example is we'll never get to see the Pagani Zonda Roadster on the track with the hypothetical De Tomaso Pantera I see created with the $100-125 K.
The price differentials for modified Pantera vs Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, Saleen all have the "Styling cost" for no real difference in performance. We're talking $400,000 to over $1,000,000 for those rides. Road and Track, April 2005 p. 67 quotes $125,000 for a factory Ford Racing Mustang GT configuered for Grand-Am racing and p. 69 quotes $147,000 for the Shelby G.T. 500E ('Elenaor'), while the top end GT-R estimate price is quoted at $175,000 for Ford's Mustang GT-R, their concept car on the cover of the April 2005 issue.
Nice cars to look at though, but I can drive my Pantera and get replacement parts far cheaper too, and I know, or am learning how to work on it, too. I doubt there's a BB like this for any of those other makes of Italian vehicles, and parts prices? Try waiting for a part shipped from Italy? We have great parts and service vendors who you guys know about and do business with.
Credits: DTP Motor Trend May 1973 p. 126; PZR Sports Car International March 2005, p. 64.
My final thought: I want to and have been building my Pantera to get closer to what these other amazing vehicles can do, but it's a lifetime project, and I'm just getting started. If I just want 80% or 85-90% performance of those other vehicles, the DTP upgrading cost factor drops exponentially. The DTP is capable of very amazing things as imported 34 years ago. It is a cost efficient thrill/adrenaline ride, and we all know that. Hard not to get addicted too, these Pantera's are a passionate emotional car to own and drive.
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