Guide: De Tomaso Pantera 290
History
In his first few years as a motor manufacturer, Alejandro de Tomaso was a prolific concept car builder.
His dynamic little company ultimately went on to attract massive investment from Ford in the late 1960s.
As the Ford money rolled, in the number of show cars and design studies slowed but several variations of the firm’s production cars were unveiled.
The Pantera 290 was one such example. It was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1972, just over twelve months after the first Pantera deliveries had begun.
Equipped with a tuned version of Ford’s three-litre Essex V6 coupled to a five-speed gearbox, claimed performance figures were 207bhp, 0-62mph in seven seconds and a top speed of 140mph.
Aside from the Pantera 290 decals, the only cosmetic change was a bank of five radiator cooling vents cut into the front lid. The 290 was painted yellow with the optional ‘black-pack’ livery popularised on the Pantera Gr.4 and GTS.
Although the Oil Crisis of 1973 and 1974 could have seen a smaller-engined Pantera derivative sell reasonably well, the concept was never put into production and the solitary 290 disappeared from view.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
