Find of the Day: Rare 1987 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S Combines Italian Design with American Horsepower
08/17/2023
The DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S was an all-steel wonder that is so rare, our jaws dropped when we found one actively up for auction on Hemmings. The seller of this 1987 De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S reportedly bought the car new through AmeriSport, an importer of grey-market cars. To the owner’s knowledge, it was just one of 27 brought in by that importer and only five of this model and year are known to exist in the world, making it rarer than most supercars today,
From the bullet nose to the sloping tail with its Lamborghini-like spoiler, the Pantera GT5-S has an Italian exterior with American internals. It’s powered by a Ford 351-cu.in. OHV V8, the same engine found in classic muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and Ford Fairlane. It was factory-rated for 310-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 330 lb-ft of peak torque at 3,800 rpm, which, according to an in-period road test, pushed the sports car from zero to 60-mph in 5.2-seconds and down a quarter mile in 13.4 seconds at 102 mph, with a top speed of 140-mph.
The mere 3,424 miles shown on the odometer are from its early days. The car was stored for several decades before the owner had it restored from the ground, up. No expenses were spared in its thoughtful and accurate restoration, and the seller/owner reports all-new suspension and a correct replacement Ford 351 Cleveland V8 engine. The photos supplied in the auction listing reveal an incredibly clean, wide-bodied, mid-engine machine:
Recent
Here is an overview of some of the coolest Ford Mustangs currently offered on Hemmings Marketplace.
1965 Ford Mustang Convertible
Located in Kentucky, this 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible shows beautifully and is attracting quite a bit of attention on Hemmings. It features a 289 cubic-inch V8, a four-speed manual transmission, and Rangoon Red exterior. Refinished in 1999, the owner claims it “runs great and drives extremely well.” Recent work includes new front and rear bumpers, brakes, trunk liner, convertible top, seat covers and u-joints. The engine is believed to be original but the owner states partial VINs were only stamped on the blocks of high-performance engines, so that cannot be confirmed. The Code-5 manual transmission “shifts smoothly” and the “brand-new, power top works great,” according to its owner. Get it before it’s gone: This Mustang has already received a handful of offers.
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback
This immaculate 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback features a sleek exterior and a rebuilt 289 cubic-inch four-barrel V8 engine updated for unleaded fuel. It’s matched to a rebuilt four-speed manual transmission with an upgraded clutch and a new GT exhaust. A rotisserie restoration occurred at 65,000 miles. It now shows 74K original miles on the odometer. All-new upholstery, door panels, dash pad, carpet and sound deadener bring the interior back to “almost new.” This Mustang sports new chrome all around with new Ford front and rear bumpers, gas cap, taillight lenses and more. It rides on Scott Drake Legendary Rims and lives in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The seller can help arrange delivery at an additional cost.
1968 Ford Mustang Trans Am Tribute Car
Originally built as a C-code Mustang with 302 cubic-inch V8 and air conditioning, this street-legal tribute car has been reimagined as a Shelby Racing Mustang Trans Am coupe. It features many new parts including quarter panels, trunk, floors, shock towers, door skins, fenders and more. Kirkey Vintage racing seats with Simpson five-point harnesses keep you firmly in place, while a quick disconnect racing steering wheel points the way. It’s powered by a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 358 cubic-inch V8 featuring Robert Yates Heads, titanium valves and a custom-built Holley 930 cfm road race carburetor by VDL Fuel Systems. No effort was spared in building this car that is as at home on the track as it is on the street.
1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1
This 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is a resto-mod that underwent a rotisserie restoration some years ago. It’s powered by a 351 cubic-Inch Cleveland V8 producing 459-horsepower sent through a Tremec TKO five-speed manual transmission. A Detroit Locker equipped Strange Engineering 9-inch differential with 3.70:1 gearing puts the power to the pavement. The car includes a four-point roll cage, a period-correct AM/FM Cassette stereo, air conditioning, power steering, windows and brakes. The PPG-painted body includes a custom hood scoop and a modified stainless dual exhaust.
2017 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 R
A Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 R, this limited-edition beauty is one of 49 GT350 Rs available in Race Red for the 2017 model year. With the R designating a “Race spec” model, it complies with various racing competition rules. Power is from a 526-horsepower Voodoo Coyote engine making 429 lb-ft of torque. It’s coupled to a Tremec six-speed manual transmission. Also on board are Brembo high-performance brakes, a MagneRide adjustable damper system and 19-inch carbon fiber wheels. The interior is complete with a pair of Recaro sport seats, the Shelby Track & Electronics Package, and a Voice-activated touchscreen display with navigation and Sync3.
An All-New Way to Make Cars
At its introduction in 1983 for the 1984 model year, the Fiero was truly revolutionary, both in in its production as well as the car itself. Just look at some of the specifications of the first American-made, mid-engined two-seater: a plastic body over a space frame; ab engine mounted behind the driver and in front of the rear axle; fully independent suspension; four-wheel disc brakes, full instrumentation, rack-and-pinion steering and even an upshift light on four-speed manual cars.
Pontiac used the term “Enduraflex” to advertise the plastic body panels for the Fiero, but there were actually four different types of reinforced composite plastic used in the assembly of the car: sheet-molded compound for the hood, rear engine cover, upper quarter panels and roof; reaction injection-molded urethane for the front and rear bumper covers; reinforced reaction injection-molded urethane for the front fenders, doors and lower rear quarter panels; and thermoplastic olefin for the rocker panels. Even the pop-up headlamp covers were made of a composite plastic.
Strong Initial Sales
Marketing the car more as a sporty, economical commuter rather than an all-out sports car, Pontiac sold an astounding 136,840 Fieros for the 1984 model year, an impressive figure given a modest goal of 30,000 units. But all was not perfect in the Fiero-land.
Since we are talking 1980s GM here, compromises abounded to keep the cost of the otherwise exotic Fiero down to economy car standards. The only available engine in 1984 was the “Iron Duke,” a 2.5-liter OHV inline-four developed in the 1970s for economy. Even with electronic fuel injection and a 9.0:1 compression ratio, it could only muster 92 horsepower. The four-speed shifter had a reputation for being sloppy. The front suspension had been cribbed from the Chevette and the rear was a modified version of the strut front end of an X-car (Citation, et al.). A spate of engine fires required a recall in 1987 of nearly all 1984 Fieros.
Updates and Upgrades
Fortunately for enthusiasts, Pontiac engineers did not sit still and improvements began with the 1985 model, when a 140-horsepower 2.8-liter V6 was added to the options list, as was a five-speed manual—but only for the four-cylinder models. A slick fastback model joined the notchback version for 1986. Late in the ’86 model year, the Muncie/Getrag five-speed manual became the standard gearbox for the V6 cars. The body got a mild refresh for 1987, and, finally, in 1988, the entire suspension was redone, with revised control arms and steering knuckles up front and a new tri-link rear suspension with struts for the rear. Fatter stabilizers bars were used on both ends.
The road test magazines of the day that had cautiously endorsed the original Fiero while pointing to faults in previous years took no pause in praising the vastly improved car. Unfortunately, despite Pontiac finally getting the car right, much of the wind had gone out of the Fiero’s sales. For the 1988 model year, just 26,402 examples were sold, less than 20% of the 1984 model year. There would be no Fiero in Pontiac’s lineup after 1988.
This 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT now listed on Hemmings Auctions appears to be a clean, unmolested example of that final-year goodness. It features the vastly upgraded suspension, the fuel-injected V6 engine and a five-speed manual transmission. It’s also noted as being all original, save for an aftermarket cassette stereo system likely installed when the car was much closer to new.
With just under 73,000 miles on the odometer at the time of submission, this Fiero seems properly broken in but with plenty of miles still remaining to be enjoyed by its next driver. The Bright Red paint still seems to shine in the Florida sun where the seller is offering the car and the black lace alloy wheels show no discernible curb rash in the photos provided.
Take a look at what peak Fiero looks like on Hemmings Auctions and let us know what you think.Interested in a new or late model used car?
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