Great story , Great car , I saw a 1971 yellow pantera at a tire store getting tires put on , I approached the owner , really nice guy , offered to take me for a ride.When we got on the highway he pulled over and said hey you have to drive it to get the full experience. I will never forget you Bruce 🙏🏻 he got killed in Florida pulling over to help a stranded motorist and a drunk driver ran into his car pinning him between the cars .He had long sense sold the Pantera but I’ll never forget him .,thanks for the ride Bruce !!!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I got to drive one once, for a half hour. 1977, I was a teen, and amazingly one of the kids in high school had a Pantera. An original, with the 351 Cleveland. He let me drive it…. awesome. Would love to drive one again
@@Gk2003m This is not to be taken as insult or anything bad on your part. Just an observation on lifestyles and habits by an Englishman from the interesting comment you wrote. I simply cannot imagine a more character destroying exercise than a rich high school teen turning up at school in a dream machine that takes a lifetime’s work to be able to afford for most hardworking folks. I often wonder whether rich kids getting everything they want so early on in life screws up their entire value system and why many any end up as lost drug addicted souls because they lost motivation, ambition and purpose having already emptied their bucket list whilst in their teens. Not even insanely rich public(private in US) school kids in England drive dream machines or bling up whatever. It would be seen by teachers and all as a distracting, tasteless and vulgar display of wealth in those circles at that age. Seems common for rich Americans to throw money at their kids in the US, but definitely not the done thing in England amongst rich, especially old money and aristo folks.
I don’t disagree with you. Just two months later, that kid wrapped his Pantera around a tree in front of the school while showing off. His Dad had it rebuilt.
@@Gk2003m The kid was lucky to come out of that embarrassment with his life. Pops throwing more money to right his sons mishaps and turning a blind eye to his irresponsible and dangerous behaviour perhaps tells you more about dysfunctional family dynamics than any book could. Thanks for sharing that anecdote.
This guy is the quintessential enthusiast. He loves his car for all that it is and all that it offers, and his passion for the car is addictive. Looking forward to more videos like this one!
Can't describe how much fun it was to film these videos with Zach and Jeremy. Well, actually I don't need to describe it, you can see it for yourself! I hope that whoever sees these videos will enjoy viewing them even half as much as I did from the drivers seat. The Detomaso Pantera is such and incredible car and for that someone out there who is searching for one of their own, I hope that this video and it will spur them on to find the car of their dreams and enjoy it to the fullest.
@@ces4399 Out of GREAT respect for my friend and engine builder, Gary McGlasson of McGlasson Racing Engines, I can not divulge this information. The cam was custom ground and is most definitely the "secret sauce" to this engine.
Wow, these are my favorite cars in the world, ever, and the '71 is the prettiest. Yours is perfect. Congratulations and good job at being an excellent human! 👍
I had the pleasure of meeting Jim and his beautiful Pantera a couple of months ago at a small gathering of Pantera owners taking a tour of Southern California sites important to the history of the Pantera. His car is exceptional and I believe even louder than mine, and mine is very loud. It was nice to put a real face to the videos and the car.
We are about the same age. For me it was the the show Magnum PI that Ferrari 308 had me hooked, I had to have one. Then in 2004 When the F430 came, I was dead set on getting that car. I bought a 2006 Ferrari F430 and I love it. When a car gives you all these sensory inputs, your just blown away. I say to myself, I can't believe that I get to drive this car anytime I want to. I open the door to my garage just to stare at it. Your Pantera is beautful also. Thanks for sharing your story.
Man this is a real sweet looking car. 50 years old and it still looks as if it has not aged much at all. One of those timeless designs. Thanks for this video. Carol Shelby's GT cars couldn't keep up with the Pantera and he thanked an owner for getting his mechanics to work harder at making Shelby's cars better and faster. Imagine that.
@@mikeholmed7029, I owned and drove both a 1966 427 Cobra with the 427 side oiler engine and a 1972 Pantera with the 351 Cleveland engine back in the mid to late seventies. The Cobra had a higher top speed and was quicker. The Cobra could set the passenger back pinned to their seat even at 100 mph. There was just so much power that one never needed to or would ever even consider flooring it. The Pantera was certainly much more comfortable to drive on any trip lasting over 15 minutes. For some reason the state police and local cops always seemed to want to follow me whenever I took the Pantera out for a ride. Now why would they do that?
As a manager, I'm proud that MoveJet Logistics had the privilege and trust of Jim Demick to transport this exotic Pantera for him. It's such a joy to listen to this car enthusiast through the whole episode and only then you understand how much this vehicle means to him! Thank you @Retromod and thank you Jim for such a beautiful episode and captivating story! Dream your Dream!
That was a love story. Quite the homage. Worked at a gas station as a 15yr. old and a 71 was in for an oil change. The mechanic asked me to pull it in. Couldn't believe it cause it was the coolest car I'd ever seen. Top 5 car.
Phenomenal video! It’s great to listen to such a passionate and knowledgeable owner while enjoying all that wonderful footage. Looking forward to more Driver Stories in the future.
Loved owning my '74 (#6152) and wish I still had it. I had to laugh as Jim mentioned no excuses for any electrical issues around the 9:23 mark, while it shows his Pantera in a forward gear with the backup lights on. LOL! I do remember having a few electrical gremlins as well.
These Pantera videos just randomly popped up but I remember how memorized I was as a kid when I first saw one. An awesome, timeless styled car that I can only wish to obtain.
@@kellygrant4964 thanks for the reply!!! It's not a turbo but you may enjoy my video of our carrera!!😁😁😁🚘🍺🍺 czcams.com/video/Q7H6T2FWPZA/video.html motorcycle guy ???🏍
Thanks for sharing! As a twelve year old kid, I first saw one at a Lincoln Mercury dealer in Southfield MI. What a stunner then and now. My dad was ordering a Grand Marquis😊
I saw a red Pantera in the Mercury dealer in 72 for $9,999. 10 years later I bought a 82 Capri RS 5.0 from the same dealer at $10k... owned 42 years now... 371k miles of daily driven!
Absolutely gorgeous car, and I love those wheels so much, little tasteful upgrades on old cars can do such an huge difference. I love these cars, exotics in general aren't my thing, they're predictable at this point, but Panteras are diffrent, they are true hot rods, they don't belong in boutique car dealers, they belong on the tarmac. I dream one day of owning one 🖤🏴☠️ And what a guy! It's great to hear a guy that truly appreciates his car, talking about it, and it's obvious his passion for this car is huge.
"No reason for these cars to have any... electrical issues" he says while driving away with the backup lights on! JK, lovely car, sounds like a great guy.
Great story. I remember seeing my first Pantera in 1983 at Pfeiffer Lincoln Mercury in Grand Rapids, MI while waiting to have my Mercury Capri serviced. I was waiting for my car when this beautiful Pantera pulled into the service area. I still remember how low it was and that great sound.
I had a red 72 Pantera back in 1981. I was 20 years old then. I wish I still had it. The first one I ever saw was a pink Pantera parked outside of a T.V. shop in Lynwood Ca. I knew I would own one some day. As it happens, Playboy gave their Playmate of the Year a pink Pantera as a gift, so the car I saw could have been that one.
There was a yellow-orange one that used to park on the street in my neighborhood when I was a kid in the early '80s. First Pantera I can ever remember noticing. Still one of my all-time favorite cars.
OMG the noise! Mellifluous. As a 50y.o, this brings back memories of hairy chested GM and Ford V8's in Australia, doing laps of the main street in town on a Friday or Saturday night. I must say, I had a moment and got a little teary and nostalgic as we inexorably "rock down to Electric Avenue". I daily a current model Miata for the driving purity, but I live in a cul-de-sac full of petrolheads with old metal on historic registration. The sound on Sunday mornings as they fire up and slowly back out of their sheds for their weekly strop always has me poking my head out the front door for a sniff and listen.
Getting my red '72 back from paint, hopefully on Saturday. (Also red) I can't wait to drive it again. Wasn't always that way through my 21 years of ownership, but about 7 years ago I decided I was going to make it a car I could enjoy driving rather than resent it. It went through 4 years of restoration/modification, and now I drive it every week as opposed to about once a year. Still gorgeous compared to modern supercars.
Ryan, starting my Pantera was always such a pain in the rear that I just detested trying. Plus, when in 2013 I bought my 600hp Jaguar XKR, i just couldn't justify the effort. I wasn't ready to sell it though, and just let it sit for a couple of years. Finally, I took it in originally, just to convert to fuel injection and while in the shop I figured we might as well do everything I ever wanted to do. Corvette C4 seats, clad in leather with red diamond quilted stitching, leather dash, firewall, and console. Built and stroked 351C to about 500hp. Exhaust upgrades, ZF tweaks, etc. The fuel injection made it so easy to start the car, but once the car got to 180*F, it would shut down like vapor lock, and no one was able to diagnose problem and Holley wasn't answering their phones. It's back to an Edelbrock carb now and has not been an issue. Also upgraded fans twice, so it runs cooler than at anytime in the past 21 years of ownership. Now I can enjoy driving it without worrying as much. As my 68 year old body is not getting any stronger, I may consider the SACC aftermarket power steering option as wrestling around tight curves can get to be a bit much. Hope your project goes smoothly and gives you the pleasurable ride you've always wanted.
This may be the most gorgeous car I’ve ever seen. I LOVE the Ford blue on the engine. It sounds so good too. That gated shifter is the sexiest thing ever. What a car! And made the year I was born!
What an awesome video, and the star sounds flawlessly!! Their are new cars that cost 6 times as much as that car and they couldn’t hold a candle to it!!! That nosies , the smell, the look, the feel . You guys see where I’m going with this . Thanks for showing this Beautiful Machine!!
I've had the pleasure of helping to restore one of these magnificent cars! I love the fact out beginning memories are exactly the same! Saw my first one in 1972 at a Lincoln dealership as well!
Living in Germany in the early 80's I got to see so many great vehicles. This was one of them. Going to the Geneva car show and seeing this along with the countachs.
I have been in lust for the Pantera ever since the car dealership I had a part time job at in high school got one on a trade in 1973. I drove it a few times and it was amazing. Only thing was it had the heaviest clutch I’ve ever used.
Jim, I love your passion and I also love these cars. Such a fantastic exhaust note. Continue to enjoy my friend. I experience a similar feeling with my Porsche 928 S4. Cheers Tony
Hi Jim thank you for this story. thank you that you brought and keep this car in this condition and this sound. for me it is a very good l.ooking, some like a lamboghini miura. i like this lines of those cars. a pantara there can, t be an another engine like a american V8. keep on going to enjoy your car any time you drive it...well done !!! my best wishes!!!
My brother had a few over the years, and first took me for a spin in his FY ‘72. I was 18 years old (we lived 3000 miles apart) and really only cared about surfing. After being in that car, I immediately fell in love with lateral G’s, and these cars. Always have, and always will. 💪🤙🏁
The sound of the Pantera is second only to the Ford GT of 2006~2007. They are a remarkable car, despite their inherent flaws. I first saw one at the end of my street parked right in the driveway. It was a 1972, and I was flabbergasted by its appearance! I was only fourteen when I saw it, and it etched an indelible image moon my heart and soul. For the record, there has NEVER been a better-looking ride, either. Unfortunately as a full-time musician, the prospects o owning one are rather remote, given the increase in value. Originally, these cars were made for the driver who couldn't swing the cost of a Ferrari, though for me, there is no comparison. Ford Power always reigns supreme.
That's what that car should sound like and drive like. The sound of that 351on the road is glorious! That engine guy knows his shit the idle sounds perfect. Most beautiful car design ever.
The Pantera is is timeless design! When I saw this car for the 1st time in the movie "Cannonball" starring David Carradine in the early 1970's as a kid I thought what a wicked looking car! Too bad the German guy gets to drive it! Lol!
I've always loved the Pantera. If I had a blank check right now that's what I would be shopping for nothing else no Lamborghinis no Ferraris no McLaren's I want a Pantera !
great looking car! im diggin' the mach 1 hair scoop! i knew exactly where you were on the mountain. I've ridden my bicycle up that road many, many times!!
Such an excellent video, it is such an awesome car, I've owned two of them in my life. I bought a new red pantera in 1972, which I sold in the late 70's. I bought a yellow 72 in the early 80's, I have so many good memories of those two cars. I lived in Cobb county Georgia a suburban county of Atlanta. I was getting gas one day, and I another customer asked me " is that one of those cut down Volkswagen,s?? ( Referring to the fiber fab kit car on a VW chassis) 🤣🤣🤣 The same guy looked inside the car, and said, ( That car looks like it would drive pretty good, if it had a bigger steering wheel!!!!!! ) 😂😂😂😂😂 But the car would do a true 167 MPH ( 6,100 rpm, in 5th gear ) and she was steady as a rock!! Such a beautiful, awesome car, I so wish I would have kept one of them, I have so many cool stories about owning those cars 19:32
Wspaniale się oglądało film. Jim zrobił lepszy film niż Top Gear. To się nazywa prawdziwa pasja i miłość do motoryzacji. Jeden z najlepszych filmów motoryzacyjnych jakie widziałem. Również kocham Panterę, cudowne auto które pozwala się cieszyć tym co najlepsze i nie rujnować portfela. Najwspanialsze połączenie włoskiego piękna i amerykańskiej potęgi a wszystko za rozsądną cenę. To jest prawdziwa siła Pantery. Nikt inny nie potrafił połączyć tych trzech rzeczy w jedno. Jazda Ferarri jest jak małżeństwo z prima baleriną natomiast jazda Panterą jest jak randka z prostytutką. Pozdrowienia z Polski Jim !
Translated: It was great to watch the movie. Jim made a better movie than Top Gear. This is called true passion and love for the automotive industry. One of the best automotive movies I've ever seen. I also love the Panther, a wonderful car that allows you to enjoy the best and not ruin your wallet. The greatest combination of Italian beauty and American power, all at a reasonable price. This is the real strength of the Panther. No one else could combine these three things into one. Riding a Ferarri is like a marriage to a prima ballerina, while riding a Panther is like a date with a prostitute. Greetings from Poland Jim!
Mr.Demick I love the early Panteras . Your car and the back story are equally moving. I really like the wheels fitted to your car. Dont let it go ! They dont make stuff like that anymore . Unless your building your own .
odd . I saw mine first pantera at about the same time outside a union 76 gas station in So. Lake Tahoe when i was about 12....slate grey...absolutely gorgeous.....
Jim is correct. These cars need to be driven just as my Porsche 928S4 is driven. Not a daily driver but gets driven and runns sweet. I love it when people like Jim who own these types of cars, actually use them as they were meant to be used. Love your work Jim. Keep on driving and keep on dreaming. :-)
Really cool story, and these cars have that effect. Perhaps someday I will share the story of my fathers GTS which bought 49 years ago from the Lincoln/mercury dealer. He added a second F150 auxiliary fuel tank after Brock Yates invited him to run in the cannonball. He still owns it today. That’s a true long term affair. Growing up around that Pantera turned me into a crazed car guy. Someday I will have the pleasure of being the next custodian of his Pantera. @PanteraJim Are you able to share what wheels/sizes/offset you did as well as the suspension? Your stance looks spot on.
Great story , Great car , I saw a 1971 yellow pantera at a tire store getting tires put on , I approached the owner , really nice guy , offered to take me for a ride.When we got on the highway he pulled over and said hey you have to drive it to get the full experience. I will never forget you Bruce 🙏🏻 he got killed in Florida pulling over to help a stranded motorist and a drunk driver ran into his car pinning him between the cars .He had long sense sold the Pantera but I’ll never forget him .,thanks for the ride Bruce !!!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I got to drive one once, for a half hour. 1977, I was a teen, and amazingly one of the kids in high school had a Pantera. An original, with the 351 Cleveland. He let me drive it…. awesome. Would love to drive one again
@@Gk2003m This is not to be taken as insult or anything bad on your part. Just an observation on lifestyles and habits by an Englishman from the interesting comment you wrote. I simply cannot imagine a more character destroying exercise than a rich high school teen turning up at school in a dream machine that takes a lifetime’s work to be able to afford for most hardworking folks. I often wonder whether rich kids getting everything they want so early on in life screws up their entire value system and why many any end up as lost drug addicted souls because they lost motivation, ambition and purpose having already emptied their bucket list whilst in their teens. Not even insanely rich public(private in US) school kids in England drive dream machines or bling up whatever. It would be seen by teachers and all as a distracting, tasteless and vulgar display of wealth in those circles at that age. Seems common for rich Americans to throw money at their kids in the US, but definitely not the done thing in England amongst rich, especially old money and aristo folks.
I don’t disagree with you. Just two months later, that kid wrapped his Pantera around a tree in front of the school while showing off. His Dad had it rebuilt.
@@Gk2003m The kid was lucky to come out of that embarrassment with his life. Pops throwing more money to right his sons mishaps and turning a blind eye to his irresponsible and dangerous behaviour perhaps tells you more about dysfunctional family dynamics than any book could. Thanks for sharing that anecdote.
@Pulsonar Have you seen some of the stuff British kids rock up to their proms in these days?
This guy is the quintessential enthusiast. He loves his car for all that it is and all that it offers, and his passion for the car is addictive. Looking forward to more videos like this one!
This video makes me want one EVEN MORE than I already did!😆😆😆
Those wheels and tires look just right, this is the best looking Pantera I've seen.
Ditto. This one is THE one.
Can't describe how much fun it was to film these videos with Zach and Jeremy. Well, actually I don't need to describe it, you can see it for yourself! I hope that whoever sees these videos will enjoy viewing them even half as much as I did from the drivers seat. The Detomaso Pantera is such and incredible car and for that someone out there who is searching for one of their own, I hope that this video and it will spur them on to find the car of their dreams and enjoy it to the fullest.
Thanks again for taking the time to get the videos done.
Jim. At 12:20. What is the cam spec on this engine? Is it proprietary?
@@ces4399 Out of GREAT respect for my friend and engine builder, Gary McGlasson of McGlasson Racing Engines, I can not divulge this information. The cam was custom ground and is most definitely the "secret sauce" to this engine.
@Pat Luxor 600 horsepower and 565 lb ft torque
Wow, these are my favorite cars in the world, ever, and the '71 is the prettiest. Yours is perfect. Congratulations and good job at being an excellent human! 👍
I had the pleasure of meeting Jim and his beautiful Pantera a couple of months ago at a small gathering of Pantera owners taking a tour of Southern California sites important to the history of the Pantera. His car is exceptional and I believe even louder than mine, and mine is very loud. It was nice to put a real face to the videos and the car.
Ted, the pleasure was all mine.
We are about the same age. For me it was the the show Magnum PI that Ferrari 308 had me hooked, I had to have one. Then in 2004 When the F430 came, I was dead set on getting that car. I bought a 2006 Ferrari F430 and I love it. When a car gives you all these sensory inputs, your just blown away. I say to myself, I can't believe that I get to drive this car anytime I want to. I open the door to my garage just to stare at it. Your Pantera is beautful also. Thanks for sharing your story.
Man this is a real sweet looking car. 50 years old and it still looks as if it has not aged much at all. One of those timeless designs. Thanks for this video. Carol Shelby's GT cars couldn't keep up with the Pantera and he thanked an owner for getting his mechanics to work harder at making Shelby's cars better and faster. Imagine that.
Funny thing is Shelby had a Pantera. They used the Pantera for R&D for the Dodge Viper.
@@mikeholmed7029, I owned and drove both a 1966 427 Cobra with the 427 side oiler engine and a 1972 Pantera with the 351 Cleveland engine back in the mid to late seventies. The Cobra had a higher top speed and was quicker.
The Cobra could set the passenger back pinned to their seat even at 100 mph. There was just so much power that one never needed to or would ever even consider flooring it.
The Pantera was certainly much more comfortable to drive on any trip lasting over 15 minutes. For some reason the state police and local cops always seemed to want to follow me whenever I took the Pantera out for a ride. Now why would they do that?
As a manager, I'm proud that MoveJet Logistics had the privilege and trust of Jim Demick to transport this exotic Pantera for him.
It's such a joy to listen to this car enthusiast through the whole episode and only then you understand how much this vehicle means to him!
Thank you @Retromod and thank you Jim for such a beautiful episode and captivating story! Dream your Dream!
That was a love story. Quite the homage. Worked at a gas station as a 15yr. old and a 71 was in for an oil change. The mechanic asked me to pull it in. Couldn't believe it cause it was the coolest car I'd ever seen. Top 5 car.
The Pantera was the best car of its day, a supercar at an affordable price
Phenomenal video! It’s great to listen to such a passionate and knowledgeable owner while enjoying all that wonderful footage. Looking forward to more Driver Stories in the future.
I am looking forward to more Driver Stories as well! Can't wait!
Loved owning my '74 (#6152) and wish I still had it. I had to laugh as Jim mentioned no excuses for any electrical issues around the 9:23 mark, while it shows his Pantera in a forward gear with the backup lights on. LOL! I do remember having a few electrical gremlins as well.
Watched the other video, this was just as enjoyable. Makes me want to go out and drive mine right now!
My favorite car in the world. The perfect supercar. No electronics and BS just perfect.
A person in our neighborhood had one, I remember it's sound, a beast it was. Loud and proud, beautiful, I loved it
Dude the story of how you got your red pantera by trading for the ford sprint was beautiful. Good friends, good times
These Pantera videos just randomly popped up but I remember how memorized I was as a kid when I first saw one. An awesome, timeless styled car that I can only wish to obtain.
2:16
"It looked fast sitting still" is my fave expression in this video. Thanks🙃
Can bet you that nobody will ever feel this way if and when any ev gets to 50. These beasts have a soul!
I would rather die walking for gas for my Porsche than have that slot car in my driveway!!!!😊😊😊😊😊
@@artmchugh5644 I agree! Think my favorite 911 would be around the mid 80's turbo S. Back when you had space on the Autobahn and could open them up!
@@kellygrant4964 thanks for the reply!!! It's not a turbo but you may enjoy my video of our carrera!!😁😁😁🚘🍺🍺 czcams.com/video/Q7H6T2FWPZA/video.html motorcycle guy ???🏍
Absolutely LOVE the stock Ford Blue engine paint choice. Really makes it
Thanks for sharing! As a twelve year old kid, I first saw one at a Lincoln Mercury dealer in Southfield MI. What a stunner then and now. My dad was ordering a Grand Marquis😊
just amazing story all the way around!! Passion at its best
I saw a red Pantera in the Mercury dealer in 72 for $9,999. 10 years later I bought a 82 Capri RS 5.0 from the same dealer at $10k... owned 42 years now... 371k miles of daily driven!
Great insight into the passion you have for this beautiful car Jim, thankyou
Glad you enjoyed it
Absolutely gorgeous car, and I love those wheels so much, little tasteful upgrades on old cars can do such an huge difference. I love these cars, exotics in general aren't my thing, they're predictable at this point, but Panteras are diffrent, they are true hot rods, they don't belong in boutique car dealers, they belong on the tarmac. I dream one day of owning one 🖤🏴☠️
And what a guy! It's great to hear a guy that truly appreciates his car, talking about it, and it's obvious his passion for this car is huge.
Great Looking cars. I have always been a fan of them even though they are from way before my time. And Great wheel choice.
"No reason for these cars to have any... electrical issues" he says while driving away with the backup lights on! JK, lovely car, sounds like a great guy.
Great story. I remember seeing my first Pantera in 1983 at Pfeiffer Lincoln Mercury in Grand Rapids, MI while waiting to have my Mercury Capri serviced. I was waiting for my car when this beautiful Pantera pulled into the service area. I still remember how low it was and that great sound.
Thanks for watching.
this car is a Holy Grail...
"The harder you drive it, the faster it wants to go." THAT is the essence of the 351 Cleveland. Wonderful car. Thank you for the video.
I had a red 72 Pantera back in 1981. I was 20 years old then. I wish I still had it. The first one I ever saw was a pink Pantera parked outside of a T.V. shop in Lynwood Ca. I knew I would own one some day. As it happens, Playboy gave their Playmate of the Year a pink Pantera as a gift, so the car I saw could have been that one.
Wow Jim, I can’t believe I missed this awesome video! I couldn’t have expressed the Pantera passion any better!!❤️ 408 Stroker! 😳 Loved it!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fabuleuse Pantera, une ligne extraordinaire, j'adore ❤🇨🇵
Jim, you have a beautiful example of an incredible car. I have loved Panteras since the time I saw one for the first time back in the early 70's.
Thank you! I enjoy the car more every day....even after all these years!
Fantastic photography, one of my favourite sports cars 🙂
Tears. My dream car as a kid, now 60 age, I see perfection. Enjoy the ride, thank u for this video. Love and respect from East Coast Canada. Dean
There was a yellow-orange one that used to park on the street in my neighborhood when I was a kid in the early '80s. First Pantera I can ever remember noticing. Still one of my all-time favorite cars.
OMG the noise! Mellifluous. As a 50y.o, this brings back memories of hairy chested GM and Ford V8's in Australia, doing laps of the main street in town on a Friday or Saturday night.
I must say, I had a moment and got a little teary and nostalgic as we inexorably "rock down to Electric Avenue".
I daily a current model Miata for the driving purity, but I live in a cul-de-sac full of petrolheads with old metal on historic registration.
The sound on Sunday mornings as they fire up and slowly back out of their sheds for their weekly strop always has me poking my head out the front door for a sniff and listen.
Getting my red '72 back from paint, hopefully on Saturday. (Also red) I can't wait to drive it again. Wasn't always that way through my 21 years of ownership, but about 7 years ago I decided I was going to make it a car I could enjoy driving rather than resent it. It went through 4 years of restoration/modification, and now I drive it every week as opposed to about once a year. Still gorgeous compared to modern supercars.
I echo your sentiments exactly. Resented my '71 for many years. Now making the invest in restoration and I plan to drive it often.
Ryan, starting my Pantera was always such a pain in the rear that I just detested trying. Plus, when in 2013 I bought my 600hp Jaguar XKR, i just couldn't justify the effort. I wasn't ready to sell it though, and just let it sit for a couple of years. Finally, I took it in originally, just to convert to fuel injection and while in the shop I figured we might as well do everything I ever wanted to do. Corvette C4 seats, clad in leather with red diamond quilted stitching, leather dash, firewall, and console. Built and stroked 351C to about 500hp. Exhaust upgrades, ZF tweaks, etc. The fuel injection made it so easy to start the car, but once the car got to 180*F, it would shut down like vapor lock, and no one was able to diagnose problem and Holley wasn't answering their phones. It's back to an Edelbrock carb now and has not been an issue. Also upgraded fans twice, so it runs cooler than at anytime in the past 21 years of ownership. Now I can enjoy driving it without worrying as much. As my 68 year old body is not getting any stronger, I may consider the SACC aftermarket power steering option as wrestling around tight curves can get to be a bit much. Hope your project goes smoothly and gives you the pleasurable ride you've always wanted.
Very cool. These cars need to be driven, not parked.
Awesome video and Jim is great guy too, happily willing to share his knowledge and experience with us "younger" owners.
Glad you enjoyed it
Awesome! Well done and well said. This is a dream car of mine and I hope to own one one day.
I love that he uses and enjoys the car and that he actually went camping with it.
Thank you Jim for this video! I saw my first one in '71, and have been in love ever since.
Great story - thank you!
This may be the most gorgeous car I’ve ever seen. I LOVE the Ford blue on the engine. It sounds so good too. That gated shifter is the sexiest thing ever. What a car! And made the year I was born!
That was absolutely beautiful 🤩
What an awesome video, and the star sounds flawlessly!! Their are new cars that cost 6 times as much as that car and they couldn’t hold a candle to it!!! That nosies , the smell, the look, the feel . You guys see where I’m going with this . Thanks for showing this Beautiful Machine!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sounds absolutely sublime.
One of the best stories,by far
Great audio, video, narration too. These cars are about passion and yours shows through! Hope to have one soon!
I've had the pleasure of helping to restore one of these magnificent cars! I love the fact out beginning memories are exactly the same! Saw my first one in 1972 at a Lincoln dealership as well!
Living in Germany in the early 80's I got to see so many great vehicles. This was one of them. Going to the Geneva car show and seeing this along with the countachs.
Beautiful car! Sounds amazing!!
Absolutely love it. My favorite.
I have been in lust for the Pantera ever since the car dealership I had a part time job at in high school got one on a trade in 1973. I drove it a few times and it was amazing. Only thing was it had the heaviest clutch I’ve ever used.
Excellent, beautiful car. I love it. Great video. Thank you.
Really great story man!! I am happy for you!!
Jim, I love your passion and I also love these cars. Such a fantastic exhaust note. Continue to enjoy my friend. I experience a similar feeling with my Porsche 928 S4. Cheers Tony
Love this video! I am on the search for my first Pantera and hope I can find one half as nice as yours!
I'll take his advice after watching this superb story!
Thanks for watching.
Awesome story!!!
Hi Jim thank you for this story. thank you that you brought and keep this car in this condition and this sound. for me it is a very good l.ooking, some like a lamboghini miura. i like this lines of those cars. a pantara there can, t be an another engine like a american V8. keep on going to enjoy your car any time you drive it...well done !!! my best wishes!!!
My brother had a few over the years, and first took me for a spin in his FY ‘72. I was 18 years old (we lived 3000 miles apart) and really only cared about surfing. After being in that car, I immediately fell in love with lateral G’s, and these cars. Always have, and always will. 💪🤙🏁
My moms boyfriend had one around 1972 and she took my brother and I to middle school in it!! Never will forget it!!
The sound of the Pantera is second only to the Ford GT of 2006~2007. They are a remarkable car, despite their inherent flaws. I first saw one at the end of my street parked right in the driveway. It was a 1972, and I was flabbergasted by its appearance! I was only fourteen when I saw it, and it etched an indelible image moon my heart and soul. For the record, there has NEVER been a better-looking ride, either. Unfortunately as a full-time musician, the prospects o owning one are rather remote, given the increase in value. Originally, these cars were made for the driver who couldn't swing the cost of a Ferrari, though for me, there is no comparison. Ford Power always reigns supreme.
12:45 The perfect road for the perfect car, what a beautiful shot.
That's what that car should sound like and drive like. The sound of that 351on the road is glorious! That engine guy knows his shit the idle sounds perfect. Most beautiful car design ever.
😊awesome car thanks for showing ! ( from australia 🇦🇺 )
When home ported in Bahrain in 1973, the Sheiks son had 1, closed roads from time to time so his son could play with it.
Wow! Adoro quest'uomo e la sua Pantera, lo ascolterei per ore...
cheers from Italy (Puglia) 🇮🇹 ❤️ 🇺🇸 💪🏼
The Pantera is is timeless design! When I saw this car for the 1st time in the movie "Cannonball" starring David Carradine in the early 1970's as a kid I thought what a wicked looking car! Too bad the German guy gets to drive it! Lol!
I've always loved the Pantera. If I had a blank check right now that's what I would be shopping for nothing else no Lamborghinis no Ferraris no McLaren's I want a Pantera !
Ya and save money,get another home
Wow that cam sounds sooooo sweeeet!!
Brilliant story.
great looking car! im diggin' the mach 1 hair scoop! i knew exactly where you were on the mountain. I've ridden my bicycle up that road many, many times!!
Such an excellent video, it is such an awesome car, I've owned two of them in my life.
I bought a new red pantera in 1972, which I sold in the late 70's. I bought a yellow 72 in the early 80's, I have so many good memories of those two cars. I lived in Cobb county Georgia a suburban county of Atlanta. I was getting gas one day, and I another customer asked me " is that one of those cut down Volkswagen,s?? ( Referring to the fiber fab kit car on a VW chassis) 🤣🤣🤣
The same guy looked inside the car, and said, ( That car looks like it would drive pretty good,
if it had a bigger steering wheel!!!!!! ) 😂😂😂😂😂
But the car would do a true 167 MPH ( 6,100 rpm, in 5th gear ) and she was steady as a rock!!
Such a beautiful, awesome car, I so wish I would have kept one of them, I have so many cool stories about owning those cars 19:32
Great looking car 😮❤❤❤
Fantastic film.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wspaniale się oglądało film. Jim zrobił lepszy film niż Top Gear. To się nazywa prawdziwa pasja i miłość do motoryzacji. Jeden z najlepszych filmów motoryzacyjnych jakie widziałem. Również kocham Panterę, cudowne auto które pozwala się cieszyć tym co najlepsze i nie rujnować portfela. Najwspanialsze połączenie włoskiego piękna i amerykańskiej potęgi a wszystko za rozsądną cenę. To jest prawdziwa siła Pantery. Nikt inny nie potrafił połączyć tych trzech rzeczy w jedno. Jazda Ferarri jest jak małżeństwo z prima baleriną natomiast jazda Panterą jest jak randka z prostytutką. Pozdrowienia z Polski Jim !
Translated: It was great to watch the movie. Jim made a better movie than Top Gear. This is called true passion and love for the automotive industry. One of the best automotive movies I've ever seen. I also love the Panther, a wonderful car that allows you to enjoy the best and not ruin your wallet. The greatest combination of Italian beauty and American power, all at a reasonable price. This is the real strength of the Panther. No one else could combine these three things into one. Riding a Ferarri is like a marriage to a prima ballerina, while riding a Panther is like a date with a prostitute. Greetings from Poland Jim!
dobre dobre...pozdro....;)
Great story, it’s my dream car as well… sigh…. Someday I’ll own one.
Nice video,
beautiful car
Thank you! 👍
Absolutely loved it a dream car
Great video, I also remember my first site at 11 years old in NJ It was an Orange Pantera
i love pantera's. my dream car
Yeah I wish I could have a Pantera. The first time I saw one I was Hooked !!!! 👍🏻🇺🇸
Mr.Demick I love the early Panteras . Your car and the back story are equally moving. I really like the wheels fitted to your car. Dont let it go ! They dont make stuff like that anymore . Unless your building your own .
Love your videos. I hope your channel blows up. Suggest E9. 3.0CSL.
An E9 CSL would be amazing. I'd like to get more BMW content on the channel. Thanks for watching.
Incredible for a 1971 car!! O_O
awesome vehicle
That engine sounds fantastic
Cool film. Been to Los Lunas many times as my in laws live there, never realised there was a race shop there!
odd . I saw mine first pantera at about the same time outside a union 76 gas station in So. Lake Tahoe when i was about 12....slate grey...absolutely gorgeous.....
Jim is correct. These cars need to be driven just as my Porsche 928S4 is driven. Not a daily driver but gets driven and runns sweet. I love it when people like Jim who own these types of cars, actually use them as they were meant to be used. Love your work Jim. Keep on driving and keep on dreaming. :-)
great story
Really cool story, and these cars have that effect. Perhaps someday I will share the story of my fathers GTS which bought 49 years ago from the Lincoln/mercury dealer. He added a second F150 auxiliary fuel tank after Brock Yates invited him to run in the cannonball. He still owns it today.
That’s a true long term affair.
Growing up around that Pantera turned me into a crazed car guy. Someday I will have the pleasure of being the next custodian of his Pantera.
@PanteraJim Are you able to share what wheels/sizes/offset you did as well as the suspension? Your stance looks spot on.
Those wheels are the bomb. IMHO Panteras look great with stock fenders.
Beautiful car
You have excellent video skills. I found the story interesting as well. This is Charles, I met you at the shell station on the Crest today.
Thanks Charles. Looking forward to seeing the twin turbo Viper.
It's perfect.
The car looks impeccable from the inside out.
Not to bad for nearly 190,000 miles on it :)