Eight cylinder day is upon us, the number that is the answer to everything for many people. This V8 car is an interesting hybrid that indeed was an answer for many. Today we examine Tomica F55-1, the De Tomaso Pantera GTS. This casting entered the range in July 1978, and there’s no mistaking it for anything else:
The Pantera, a famous mix of Italian style and American power. This casting of a winged and flared fender later 70s GTS model really looks the part on wide wheels. Being a Tomica of this era, it has abundant fine casting detail. The paint color and finish is exceptional, with a consistent metallic quality and black highlights, along with the crisp and accurate side identification. This model features a detailed interior, crisp glazing, and mildly springy suspension (it’s a sports car, can’t be too soft), but no snappy door action - more on that later. Scale is a claimed 1:61, likely accurate, and close enough to 1:64. From all angles, you know exactly what is in front of you:
Front and rear have similar detail:
The base is plastic, a trend of the time, and contains ample technical and identifying detail:
Now on to the lack of snappy door action. Instead of this, it has smoothly and precisely hinged engine cover:
Definitely a casting I am happy to have in my collection. There aren’t many small scale Panteras out there, and this is likely the best. Wide wheels also suit this model better than button wheels in my opinion, which adds more appeal:
And now on to the theme, the engine. These had a tuned Ford 351 under the engine cover, and it lives here. Not easy to photograph at this angle, but one can easily see it, cast in red:
The flash helps a bit, too - detail looks reasonably accurate here:
Once ignored and neglected, these cars are now quite desirable. A few 1:1s from pantera.infopop.cc, classicdriver.com, starmoz.com along with engine shots from hagerty.com
