The DeTomaso Pantera was an Italian exotic with the heart of an American muscle car. From the factory, the Pantera came with a 351 cubic-inch Ford Cleveland V8 engine, but we recently came across a Pantera with a powerplant that readers of this website will find much more interesting.
This heavily customized 1971 DeTomaso Pantera, which was built by White Post Restorations in Virginia, has ditched its tired old Ford Cleveland V8 for a modern-day, fuel-injected General Motors LS7 V8 engine. The LS7 is a very capable powerplant from the factory, but this one is particularly special. The engine, which was built by Thompson Motorsports in Texas, features Mast Motorsports heads, a Harrop Engineering intake manifold with eight individual throttle bodies and a custom dry-sump oiling system. There’s no word on how much power the motor is producing, but it’s safe to say it’s making way more than a stock 505 horsepower LS7.
Even more impressive than this custom LS7 is the eight-into-one fabricated exhaust system that is bolted to it, which was made by GP Headers Inc. The headers and exhaust curve up into the engine bay from under the engine and extend into a single collector. It’s a bit of a weird decision to have all eight exhausts wrap into one single collector, in our opinion, but there’s no denying that it looks incredible with the engine cover lifted up. The carbon fiber Harrop Engineering intake manifold nestled in the middle of the showy exhaust setup is a nice touch, too.
This Pantera also features Wilwood disc brakes, Nitron Racing shocks, a Pyrotect fuel cell and some tasteful two-tone blue and white paintwork. There’s no word on what brand the wheels are, but they look to be newer alloy units and are wrapped in sticky Toyo Proxes R88R rubber.
Have the modifications made to this DeTomaso Pantera have improved the somewhat obscure Italian exotic, or taken away from its original charm? Let us know in the comments below.
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Comments
Why it’s not like Ford didn’t build a 427 ? They should have rebuild the 351 it came with. Worst than that it’s Ugly.Am not fun of Frankenstein’s
That’s because someone had the sense to put in a better engine, not Ford crap.
Well at long last the car has a real performance motor installed. I like it because it is kind of understated from the outside and you won’t see any duplicates of it down the street either.
I think it is awesome when someone just builds what they want using whatever they want! I got pummeled with verbal abuse when I was planning to do a GM swap in my 1970 Mustang Sports roof build and ended up using a built 351W. I was totally dissatisfied with the build because i listened to other people and ended up selling the car when finished.
I got slammed for using a 302 in a Mustang. Unhappy people want to put others down. Build what you want. It’s yours.
Why didn’t you paint it really goofy…….oh…..NVM
Cool, those headers remind me of “Alien” (the spaceship in the movie), but I think they need heat shields between them and the the plenums!
That is unless their built into the plenums which would be better for looks.
It’s obvious that these folks have no taste. Besides the hideous paint scheme, if you swap out the motor you should stay with that manufacturer. I’ve had Panteras before and this car (or whatever this thing is) is an affront to most Ford folks everywhere.
A Ford in a Ford !!! Coyote or 351 / 427 stroker . Anything but a Chevy . If this was intended to piss somebody off it worked. Swanky Ford .
It must really piss you off when all the Chevy drivers pass you by. Fords are slow.
It is not a Ford, it’s a DeTomaso
Well boohoo. They obviously got sick of the boat anchor for an engine and opted for a better engine.
I respect the build, but wish they had stuck with a Ford motor. Would’ve been an amazing build if they had used the new Ford “Godzilla” 7.3 motor, as nobody has truly modded one of those yet. Still an awesome car.
It would have been better with a 10.2 litre supercharged big block Chevy engine.
One of the best engines Ford made was the 427 side oiler,those were in the 1964 Ford Thunderbolt/Galaxy or Fairlane,that engine would’ve looked like nothing but super badass,nothing could have beaten that car with the 427 side oiler for sure.
LS motors are great motors and much easier to customized because of all the aftermarket products available for the LS. Plus The Pantera is an Italian car with a ford motor anyway. Good Job. I would be delighted just to get a ride in that car. Very cool.
This car is absolutely beautiful from the engine bay to the paint job!!!!!! This car is from 1971 and it looks like a 2020 it is absolutely beautiful and I am a Ford guy but I’m sorry all you haters can suck it this is a badass ride!!!!!
Before adding the name Pantera, DeTomaso built a few cars with Chevy engines for power
I personally think the Cleveland engine would be better. Anything but a GM LS swap. They’re just too common, boring.
That’s alright mate. Leave all the Chevy guys to have all the fun while all the Ford guys can sit in the slow lane, hoping their cars don’t break down. If you drive a Ford you going to need roadside assist badly. And by the way the cupholders are now located at the rear with every new Ford sold for convenience when pushing your new car.
Looks like a good way to heat up the incoming air…
I usually say that a car should be left alone when it comes to the original powerplant, transmission etc. Thats what makes it well wjT it is. However i can see that the designer(s), thought about the convenience of obtaining parts for the engine
And what better eay to do that than to put an LS motor in it. They make more budget friendly horsepower than any coyote or DOHC platform could. Hold up better over time, much easier to modify and all of that in a more compact design. Sorry Ford Fan Boys, but they knew what they were doing when building this one. Now this thing will fly..
To all of you bad-mouthers….
What about all of the probably thousands of Ford roadsters and T-Buckets, etc that are almost always built with Chevy small block engines????
Not “Motors” – Motors are electric. Gasoline engines are “Engines.”
I worked at a Lincoln Mercury dealership back in the 70’s and we sold those Panteras. I always have thought that they were quite nice looking and still do. Cosmetically, I agree that the paint could be better!! LOL
Why are engine cycles called motorcycles
Bicycle with an engine.
It looks awesome! Absolutely gorgeous! I’d have stuck with Ford power but to each his own. Really nice build.
It’s a nice build, I don’t have a problem with the LS swap, but as a GM guy, I would have stuck with a Ford power plant, the blue oval has some quite capable engines, even a bored and stroked Cleveland would be cool. Very well done, nice build, maybe another color. I’ve always liked the Pantera, one of my dad’s friends owned one back in the late 70s. I would like to hear this bad boy running.
Yeah but they wanted the Pantera to go faster, a Ford engine would just slow it down.
Best thing to happen to this car, the LS swap!!
Ford made good engines, for trucks
Great engine swap but I think a high HP shelby power plant would have been more appropriate. Hate the two tone paint, looks like a back yard paint job.
Yeah sure if you’re living in the 1960’s but Don Yenko would have a say in that.
427 a L88 Would have been better.
Wide body looks good but don’t care for the paint job. A Pantera should have a Ford Engine. As far as the headers I think they look amazing until they get to the single exhaust exit. This header system is common in updated Pantera’s and it is called 180’s. I would think the single exit looks dumb.
One more thing to the journalist writing this article, its not an Engine Cover, it’s called a Deck Lid.
Forgot about the Wheels, they look like a common Pantera Wheel painted black. Love them!
Ford’s new (PICKUP ENGINE) Godzilla would keep it closer to original. But to each his own. There will always be those who want to put there own stamp on a build.
Why do you leave such negative comments? The builder accomplished something 100x better than anything you’ve ever done. He actually did something, not just talk. I feel sorry for your sad life.
This car is sweet im not going to bash the guys choice for the build im sure nothing on the car was cheap so the ls swap is probably a good Power plant that is easily modified to make the most hp and reliability for the money. The car is amazing. And yes I probably would have painted it differently. But its his build and I got mad respect. Great job! And thanks for sharing.
I respect the owner’s taste, but they really should have kept the pop-up headlights. Fixed headlights are just too boring and common to add yet even more to the fray. But otherwise this car is awesome
It’s made by Ford so keep stock parts by Ford but use the 2013 5.8L 351 eng. With 650hp. It would be the beast of the street to top over 200+ mph. Or 2020 5.oL 760hp. Top that gm motors.
Nope,been a pantera owner for 15 years…. easily can make that kind of horsepower with a cleveland…no chebby training motor for me! Funky body work too :some peoples taste is only in their mouth
427 in a Pantera 💯 improvement. 351 Cleveland engine garbage. I would love to have a ride in that car it looks better than the original Pantera.