VIN: the Escuderia Montjuich De Tomaso Pantera Gr.4 chassis 2823
History of chassis 2823
Chassis THPNMR02823 was one of twelve Group 4 Panteras built for the 1972 season. A further two cars were assembled at the end of the year which took total production to 14 units.
Completed on April 7th 1972, chassis 2823 was a works-prepared car that briefly raced as an Escuderia Montjuich entry. The team from Barcelona had three guaranteed entries for the 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours so Alessandro de Tomaso cut a deal that saw two Panteras run at la Sarthe under the Escuderia Montjuich banner.
As a warm up, chassis 2823 was entered for the Monza 1000km World Sportscar Championship race on April 25th. Three other works-prepared Panteras were also on hand for what was Italy’s premier sports car event.
Wealthy industrialist and Escuderia Montjuich patron, Jose Juncadella, was joined in 2823 by novice, Fernando de Bavieria. Juncadella was an experienced amateur that had previously driven top flight Ferraris, Porsches and Ford GT40s. By contrast, Monza would be de Baviera’s first major sports car race.
The entire Monza event was held in torrentially wet conditions and both drivers had to set a time within 123% of the pole man. De Baviera was one of 20 that didn’t make the cut. As a result, the Scuderia Montjuich Pantera failed to qualify.
Chassis 2823’s next and only other appearance in 1972 came at the Le Mans 24 Hours (June 10th and 11th).
All five Panteras at the event had new 500bhp engines recently flown in from Ford. Unfortunately, three of these units failed in the Wednesday and Thursday practice sessions including that of 2823 which terminally overheated. A less stressed 440bhp engine was fitted for the race.
2823 started 49th on a 55-car grid. Best of the Panteras was the Franco-Britannic entry in 37th. The GT class pole went to the Greenwood Chevrolet Corvette in 16th.
The first Pantera retirement came 16 minutes into the race and another followed on the three hour mark (7pm). A few minutes after 7pm, chassis 2283 also retired (owing to a lack of oil pressure). By this point, its right-hand nose had been biffed in a minor coming together with another vehicle.
One Pantera did make the finish at Le Mans in 1972; the Claue Dubois entry placed 16th overall and eighth in the GT class.
After the event, 2823 returned to the factory for light repairs.
In mid 1974, the car was sold to Dick Guldstrand andRay Geddes (ex-Ford liason to De Tomaso Automobili). They sold 2823 almost immediately to amateur Porsche racer, George Stone.
Stone entered the Pantera for the Talladega 200 mile IMSA race on October 10th but blew the engine after nine laps.
2823 never raced in period again.
In 1975, George Stone sold the car to Mike Downs and Lynn Butler who had an IMSA campaign planned but they ultimately abandoned the idea.
In 1976, chassis 2823 was sold to Jim Pinington who began to convert it into a street car but never finished.
2823 ended up going into storage until 1998.
Notable History
De Tomaso Automobili
Red & Black livery
Works car campaigned under an Escuderia Montjuich entry
25/04/1972 WSC Monza 1000km (J. Juncadella / F. de Baviera) DNQ (#42)
11/06/1972 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (J. Juncadella / F. Baviera) DNF (#30)
Returned to the factory for light repair
1974 sold to Ray Geddes and Dick Guldstrand, USA
Sold to George Stone / Silverstone Enterprises, USA
10/08/1974 IMS Talladega 200 Miles (G. Stone) DNF (#76)
1975 sold to Mike Downs / Lynn Butler
1976 sold to Jim Pinington
1998 sold again
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
