This Pantera is 1 of only 69 finished in factory Blue for the Philadelphia DSO-now beautifully reimagined in Ford Grabber Blue with matte-finish front and rear decklids. The bare-metal repaint was performed using PPG epoxy primer, surfacer, topcoat, and DC3000 clear, all applied in a hot booth by a five-person team over 40 labor hours. The result is a show-quality finish with period-correct flair.
Under the rear clamshell lies a blueprinted and fully rebuilt 351ci Cleveland V8, paired to a ZF 5-speed manual transmission with fresh synchros and a custom McLeod 3-leaf clutch and flywheel-a one-off assembly with a six-month lead time. All major mechanical systems have been addressed: suspension bushings and shocks replaced, cooling system upgraded with a heavy-duty radiator and twin 10-blade fans, and brake and clutch lines re-plumbed with stainless steel. The car runs at a cool 120F and has logged just 50 test miles since the engine rebuild. Notably, the vehicle sits on four brand-new tires and retains its magnesium sport wheels. A fresh oil change was performed post-break-in.
Further enhancements include a completely new A/C system, rebuilt pedal assembly, new brake booster, fully restored wiper mechanism with Bowden cable, and all new weather seals throughout. As with many hand-built Italian exotics of this era, the Pantera's analog charm comes with a unique and raw driving experience.