Pantera Debut

April 4, 1970, New York Auto Show (same show that displayed the mid-engined Corvette XP-882 (a plastic non-running model w/rotary engine). Some production lists show about 5 Panteras built in 1970; all crash-test, evaluation and prototype models. Legend has it that it took 9 months to go from Tjaarda's Aug '69 sketch to the running prototype, and an additional 9 months to the first shipment of cars into US dealer's hands. Ford was utterly panicked by the AMX debut at the Chicago Auto Show in Sept 69, and the rumors of the mid-engined ;Vette. History showed that both were utter myths as far as production was concerned.

Thanks for the info Jack, I was there with my father who was an exec. w/ FOMOCO. I told him I would own a Pantera one day, He just smiled, rolled his eyes and said "sure you will son" I was 14 at the time. I just couldn't remember which year it was that it made its debut.

Gary
#06984