1972–1985 De Tomaso Pantera GTS Specs & Performance

The Pantera GTS represented the more overtly performance-focused side of De Tomaso’s mid-engine formula. With its low, aggressive silhouette and rear-mid-mounted Ford V8, it combined Italian sports-car design with the unmistakable character of American muscle. The GTS was aimed at drivers who wanted the Pantera’s exotic proportions backed by stronger performance, making it one of the most memorable versions of the original model.

From 1972–1985, the GTS used a 5.8-liter V8 producing 345 hp, paired with a five-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. That combination gave the two-seat coupe a claimed 173-mph top speed, placing it firmly among serious performance cars of its era. More than a numbers exercise, the GTS captured De Tomaso’s distinctive approach: a compact Italian body wrapped around a large-displacement American engine, with the driver sitting unusually close to the mechanical action.