De Tomaso's replacement for their successful Mangusta in 1971 was the avant-garde and stylish Pantera.

Maintaining the best of the ingredients from the Mangusta, including the mid-mounted 300 horsepower, Ford 351ci, V8 Cleveland engine, five-speed ZF transaxle and dramatic styling, the Pantera also added monocoque construction in to the mix, the first instance of De Tomaso using this construction technique.

The Pantera was produced until 1991 with the last one being delivered to a customer in 1992.

It was designed by American, Tom Tjaarda, making its public debut in Modena in March 1970 and was presented at the New York Motor Show a few weeks later.

Power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes and rack and pinion steering were all standard equipment on the Pantera which could accelerate from 0-60mph in an eye-watering 5.5 seconds.

The cars sold well with various derivatives emerging from the factory although it is the early cars that have a certain purity ensuring they remain the most at...