1971 DeTomaso Pantera Packs A General Motors 427 V8 Punch
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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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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.