71 Pantera vs 308

[Lowell]

This is perhaps a little far from the topics of this group, but anyway:

Anyone have any experience with a 1971 Pantera?
Anyone can compare it with a 308?

I have a friend who is interesting in buying the Pantera.

[Red Head Seeker]

Originally Posted by Lowell

This is perhaps a little far from the topics of this group, but anyway:

Anyone have any experience with a 1971 Pantera?
Anyone can compare it with a 308?

I have a friend who is interesting in buying the Pantera.

I have a few sports cars,& "1" is a 1972 DeTomaso Pantera. I can state without equivocation that "Bang for Buck" the Pantera is UNMATCHED!!!!....you have the BEST of ALL components!!!!....Italian body styling, American muscle, Bulletproof ZF transmisssion....the Pantera would run CIRCLES around a 308...NO comparsion!!!!....Pantera prices are on the rise!!!!....yesterday was a GREAT day to buy a Pantera...PM me if you want additional input......Mark

[pad]

If you're not hard of hearing, you will be after taking a Pantera on atrip. All kidding aside, I really enjoyed my Pantera. It was a fun car to run around in. Did not handle worth a damn, but fun to "giteron". BTW, my Z06 was 10 tiimes the car, in all categories. However, when all is said and done, it's the 308 that I'm keeping... My suggestion, drive both cars for at least an hour before you make a decision.

[Pantera1523]

I own both and love both... Yes the Pantera will run circles around a 308 but I wouldn't exactly put them in the same class to begin with.

If your friend is looking for a Pantera have him sign up for the DeTomaso email list. It is a very active list and there are tons of knowledgable people on there. Here is the link http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso

Scott

[godabitibi]

I owned both too 71 Pantera and 77 308. At the same time. They are VERY different cars. Panteras are monocoque and flex a lot. 71 are the worst for rust and body cracks. Driving position for long drive are pain in the a.. compared to the 308. Interior of the pantera is cheaper looking too. Mechanical maintnance are very easy with an american engine. Very easy to modified to get CRAZY power. My opinion is that Panteras are fun for short drives. If he likes raw power go with the Pantera. If possible drive both before buying. I kept the 308 and sold the Pantera. But that is just me.....

[david]

You gotta have small feet for the Pantera. Pedals are really crammed into a small space. Really fun to have a built 351 Cleveland blasting behind your head. You just stomp on it and grin from ear to ear. However, I prefer the 308 overall. Handling and visibility just are a bit easier for me with the 308. Pantera has almost an exotic Italian muscle car feel for me. And I have to admit, I'm a bit more in favor of American muscle cars in general. Always loved the concept behind the Pantera, but it fell a little short in the execution for me.

[thecarreaper]

I had an early "push button" euro Pantera for about 3 months. Sold it as I did not like it compared to 308's and 911's.

There is a yellow 74 Pantera here in Savannah that is / was still on the original MSO, low miles, ect. They may want to sell it. I dont want it.

[luckydynes]

The Pantera was my absolute dream car. I had a framed glass poster of one that had the motor and transaxle all polished. Back in '99 I considered getting rid of my 308 and buying one. I test drove a couple and spoke with private sellers. One of the private guys was selling his to buy a 308. He shared a lot of details about things that needed attention that reminded me of my 308 (slow windows, poor a/c). The simplicity of the engine is what appealed to me at the time since I'd grown up hot rodding American iron. I never went thru with it and dove into hot rodding my 308. I'd like to drive one again to see what I thought of the handling and brakes now I've got a bit more experience. Brutal acceleration is fun but you can get that cheap if you don't care about stopping or cornering. With the enigne layout I would hope you could dial them in like a 308, especially if you put an aluminum Ford lump back there.

I've decided I want one ... anyone want to trade for a 308? I've got a spare.

How much do they weigh and how much weight savings for an aluminum lump over cast iron?

cheers

[thecarreaper]

Originally Posted by luckydynes

The Pantera was my absolute dream car. I had a framed glass poster of one that had the motor and transaxle all polished. Back in '99 I considered getting rid of my 308 and buying one. I test drove a couple and spoke with private sellers. One of the private guys was selling his to buy a 308. He shared a lot of details about things that needed attention that reminded me of my 308 (slow windows, poor a/c). The simplicity of the engine is what appealed to me at the time since I'd grown up hot rodding American iron. I never went thru with it and dove into hot rodding my 308. I'd like to drive one again to see what I thought of the handling and brakes now I've got a bit more experience. Brutal acceleration is fun but you can get that cheap if you don't care about stopping or cornering. With the enigne layout I would hope you could dial them in like a 308, especially if you put an aluminum Ford lump back there.

I've decided I want one ... anyone want to trade for a 308? I've got a spare.

How much do they weigh and how much weight savings for an aluminum lump over cast iron?

cheers

I can put you in touch with the owner of this yellow car. i think it has less than 20k original miles. Recently fully serviced.

[MNExotics]

I love the Pantera and intend on owning one at somepoint. That Cleavland motor is tough as nails and easy to manipulate more power out of. My friend has 2 and is just finishing up putting a new Ford "coyote" engine with 180 deg headers in one of them. Lighter and more powerful excited to see it done.

[PittsS2APilot]

To me the Pantera looks mean. The 308 looks sexy. I'll take a sexy broad over a mean bitc* anytime! ha

[MNExotics]

Originally Posted by PittsS2APilot

I'll take a sexy broad over a mean bitc* anytime!

Both for me please

[Fave]

Originally Posted by PittsS2APilot

To me the Pantera looks mean. The 308 looks sexy. I'll take a sexy broad over a mean bitc* anytime! ha

I had one of them once.... A redhead.

[Rock]

no way the pantera is total crap, look for a good ferrari no comparison

[jim400i]

How tall is your friend? The 308 is small inside. The Pantera is REALLY small inside.

[tuttebenne]

Don't know about this "Pantera runs circles around a 308" stuff. If you are talking about a drag race, then I can see it but the Pantera doesn't handle anything like the 308. When I used to do track events, my stock 308 never lost to a Pantera. They have to be heavily modified to stop and to corner like a 308. But as a lower budget Italian exotic, all things being equal, the Pantera is the real deal. (lower budget in the maintenance department)

[Rock]

Originally Posted by tuttebenne

Don't know about this "Pantera runs circles around a 308" stuff. If you are talking about a drag race, then I can see it but the Pantera doesn't handle anything like the 308. When I used to do track events, my stock 308 never lost to a Pantera. They have to be heavily modified to stop and to corner like a 308. But as a lower budget Italian exotic, all things being equal, the Pantera is the real deal. (lower budget in the maintenance department)

this pantera we have is stock with aftermarket headers, its slow. It may break into the 14's with a tail wind. Handling????????? it has a hard time going straight.

life is too short, get a real car.

[Falcon]

I really like Panteras but the first time I drove one it reminded me of my father's Mach 1 Mustang. I then realized I reminded me of the Mustang because it was; it had the same engine. The Pantera is like a beautiful Italian model with a Brooklyn accent. It seems a bit odd. They are also uncomfortable and don't handle very well. They are not comtempories of the 308. Ford stopped importing Panteras before the Ferrari was developed. I would buy a Pantera but it is not interchangeable with a 308.

[Matto]

Originally Posted by Lowell

Anyone have any experience with a 1971 Pantera?
Anyone can compare it with a 308?

Apples and Oranges, my friend. Muscle car vs. a true GT car. The 308 was never designed for straight-line speed. It was intended to be a nimble, quick and exhilarating road car with wonderful handling. All of which it has. IMHO, the joy of a 308 will long outlive that of a Pantera, though I like the Pantera a lot. To me, just on design alone, there is no comparison.

[hyenahf]

as for all the nay sayers of the pantera's performance heres what phil hill and sterling moss had to say about its performance.

but what do these two know about handling right??

Countach, the ultimate supercar