‘Fast & Furious’ Pantera is going to auction
Following the AU$2.02 million achieved at auction by a Nissan Skyline GT-R that featured in Fast & Furious 4, another car from that super-successful movie franchise is going to auction in June, this time with Barrett-Jackson in the USA.
The car, a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera, featured in 2011’s Fast Five, the fifth instalment in the franchise, and was part of the train hijack scene with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker that also included a Ford GT40 and Grand Sport-style C2 Corvette.
Finished in black with white bodyside graphics, the Pantera’s ‘GTS’ identification is not stated in any of the auction listing information, nor the supporting press material, so it’s unlikely the car is a genuine GTS.
Also counting against this is that, while the Pantera GTS (a variant developed for racing) was released in 1972, it wasn’t available in the USA until 1974.
Compared to the standard Pantera, the GTS version had a more powerful V8 engine, as well as revised gear ratios, stiffer suspension, ventilated disc brakes all round and sharper steering. Externally, lower body paint outs in matt black identified the GTS against the base Pantera.
The car to be auctioned was used during the filming of Fast Five and is one of two genuine Panteras sourced. The other Pantera, a 1971 model, had its engine and transmission removed, was internally stripped and had the windows painted out. The gutted car was the one pulled from the train onto the custom flatbed truck.
The Pantera that’s seen driving away in the train scene is the one going to auction and features the standard 351ci Cleveland V8, to which an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, Carter 750 carburettor, electric radiator fan and MSD electronic ignition have been fitted. This mid-mounted engine is bolted to a ZF 5-speed manual transmission, which was also standard for the Pantera in 1972.
Changes made to the car for the movie were primarily internal and included the installation of an aftermarket battery shutoff, as well as a roll bar for stunt crew safety and mounting cameras, but the placement of this bar makes it uncomfortable for a passenger if it were to be retained by the next owner. To reduce weight, the spare tyre, luggage rack, air conditioning and heater motor were all removed ahead of filming. Oddly, the windshield wipers were removed, too.
To tie-in with the release of Fast Five in 2011, Hot Wheels produced a limited-edition model of the movie Pantera and it’s also pictured on the Fast Five limited-edition Hot Wheels packaging.
The vendor acquired the Pantera from Universal Studios in 2013, then had it cosmetically restored to appear as it did in the movie. As purchased, the car was described as being in good condition, allegedly due to overheating issues during shooting that saw it parked, thus limiting the amount of damage it acquired on location.
Restoring the Pantera to its on-screen appearance included new paint and graphics, accented by tinted windows, with ‘Vader’ power window motors added. The car's original 17-inch Campagnolo wheels were polished and fitted with new Michelin Pilot Sport tyres.
Barrett-Jackson adds that the headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights all work. A provided information board shows images of the car, with a Marti Report included, too.
The Fast Five De Tomaso Pantera will be offered with No Reserve at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas auction this 22-24 June and is part of what the auction house calls an eclectic docket, covering classic and modern American muscle, as well as competition cars, restomods and more.
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