Description:

We are very proud to present this very rare and genuine De Tomaso Pantera Group 4, chassis “02858” for sale.

In 1972, due to customer demand, Alessandro de Tomaso decided to build six Group 4 versions of the 5.7 litre V8 Pantera. Taken straight from the production line, six standard steel shells were modified to what was permitted within the rules. Numerous bevelled holes were cut into the chassis to reduce weight. Further weight saving measures were achieved by replacing the front lid, doors and rear engine cover with alloy items. These cars were homologated as the “GT4”.

The GT4 was successful on the track proving itself competitive and at times managed to beat the all-conquering Porsche 911. This led to the demand for more Group 4 cars so a further batch of six cars were built. These cars, dubbed the “Gruppo 4” were identical to the GT4 technically and mechanically, but the Gruppo 4 cars had their lightweight holes pre-cut on the bench before being welded into a complete shell which facilitated the production process of these blue-chip, ultimate racing Panteras.  

One of these 14 examples, chassis “02858” is the earliest car by chassis number, but was actually the second of the eight Gruppo 4 cars built being completed on 26th April ’72. Finished in standard factory racing red and black, it was first registered on 1st July ’72 and sold to Achilli Motors of Milan, a GT and luxury car dealer. The full ownership and racing history of #2858 is known from new, a summary of which can be found in the History section below.

Exceptionally, #2858 has only had 4 owners from new since its birth 45 years ago and was never badly crashed or heavily modified. It is extremely original and has always been very well looked after by its current, 10+ year owner who has campaigned the car regularly on the European historic racing scene.

The car is in race-ready condition with only 7 hours on its 5.7 litre Ford Cleveland engine while its brakes and suspension have recently been refreshed. #2858 is sold with a new, 2017 FIA HTP and comes with good spares including a spare windscreen and two spare wheel sets. This stunning Pantera Gr4 also benefits from a road registration allowing it to be enjoyed on the road and in rallies such as the Tour Auto, Cento Ore Modena, etc..#2858 also comes with a well documented ownership- and race-history file.

Genuine Pantera Gr4 do not come on the market very often and very few cars are as original as #2858. They are the ultimate Italian-American racing pedigree Pantera eligible for many racing events incl. Le Mans Classic where they will regularly beat their in-period Porsche 911 RSR rival.  

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine, no-stories and properly sorted De Tomaso Pantera Group 4 !

History: 

Chassis “02858” is the earliest car by chassis number, but was actually the second of the eight Gruppo 4 cars built being completed on 26th April’72. Finished in standard factory racing red and black, it was first registered on 1st July ’72 and sold to Achilli Motors of Milan, a GT and luxury car dealer. Repainted light blue, the Pantera was raced for Achilli Motors by Gabriele Gottifredi from 1973 to 1975 and lthough the car struggled at times, Gottifredi and up and coming young Italian driver Renzo Zorzi did manage to bring the car home in a credible 8th place overall in the ’74 Giro d’Italia.

“02858” was garaged at Achili Motors unused from 1976 until bought by Marco “Spiffero” Curti in late ’79. Marco had been racing a Group 3 Pantera for some years and was looking to step up a class. The car had been repainted red, but the engine was in pieces so Curti shipped everything to de Tomaso who fully rebuilt the car to the latest Group 4 specs which entailed re-shaping the wheelarches to accommodate the smaller 2-inch wheelarch extensions permitted under the new post ’76 Group 4 regulations. Curti raced “02858” for 3 seasons from 1980 to ‘82 mostly in the Italian National championship but also in the world championship rounds at Mugello and Vallelunga and also in the last Giro d'Italia in 1980 where the Pantera put up another good showing finishing 10th. Curti then stored the car until selling it in 1998 to Germano Nataloni who quickly sold the car on to former Pantera racer Piergiorgio “Kabibo” Furlanetto.

Purchased by the current owner in 2006, “02858” is still racing in modern historics and remains today pretty much unmolested since its racing days with “Spiffero” in the early 80s.

A fully documentted ownership and race history file comes with the car.