Autoblog

Hey buddy, wanna buy a De Tomaso? Have we got a deal for you. You don't want to settle for just one De Tomaso, so not buy the whole De Tomaso enterprise? On June 28, the De Tomaso name and car operation will go across the auction block giving devotees of the Argentine-Italian marque a shot at attaining their dream. Four years ago De Tomaso pulled the plug after its Mangusta project failed to gain traction and relaunch the company. That was around the same time that company founder Alejandro de Tomaso passed away. Up for grabs will be the rights to the De Tomaso, Pantera and Guara names, as well as the Modena plant where the cars were built.

Founded in 1959, the company is perhaps best known for its De Tomaso Pantera, a car that combined rakish good looks with bulletproof Ford mechanicals. Before the Pantera came the Vallelunga and the infamous Mangusta, which is still considered one the most beautiful sports car of all time. Thousands of Panteras were built from 1971 through 1993 before the company tried an all-new model, the Guara. It didn't have the desired effect on sales and the company floundered. One last attempt to revive the brand came in 2000 when it introduced the new Bigua/Mangusta. A falling out with partner Qvale spelled the end for this once proud sportscar and GT maker. After Alejandro passed in 2003, the company went into liquidation, bringing us up to the present auction.

Our source at Argentina Auto Blog tells us that there will be two lots in the sale. The first will include the rights to the De Tomaso name and logo, as well as rights to the Pantera and Guara names. The starting price is expected to be 1.78 mil Euro. The second lot will include the factory and offices in Modena at a starting price of 7.63 mil Euro. That auction will start July 3. A side note: Alejandro ended up in Italy after fleeing his native Argentina following a failed plot to overthrow Juan Peron. That bit of lore goes along free with your purchase.

[Source: Argentina Auto Blog]

click above image to view more high-res live shots of this perfect Pantera

Hi-Lustre had a really black, really shiny 1973 DeTomaso Pantera on display at this year's 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. It's a car that takes us back to wild and wacky days when Bricklins, Bertones and DeLoreans were much more familiar sights on mean Midwestern streets. Panteras were so magical for us that at one point when we did some childhood time in Indiana, we tried to trade our little metal Lamborghini for a friend's little metal Pantera, and he wouldn't do it. We haven't spoken since.

Before there was a heavy metal band with the same name, this car was the panther that made the most noise. We're still not fans of the plastic front bumper, but as for the rest, it's just as pretty as it was 34 years ago, well before the car turned into a cladded monstrosity. And we really think we could raise a family in that engine bay... or at least eat off of it, if nothing else. Of course, this car is another reminder of Ford's regrettable ownership escapades with high-line European automakers, but we're trying to put that behind us. Be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res pics of the Pantera nero.

OK, Bonhams and Goodman in Australia is now near the top of our list of favorite auction companies. They just posted a catalogue of 150 cars from a private collection that will be up for sale next week. The best part about this offering is that these are all one man's cars and many of them aren't particularly well known. There are lots of fun and odd lots in this collection, and many enthusiasts will recognize the names or shapes, but they are generally unheralded cars from the craptacular '70s and '80s.

AMC Matadors, Chrysler Cordobas, Opel Monzas, and Lincoln Town Cars sit alongside Maseratis, Jaguars and Mercedes. Nothing too spectacular. Certainly nothing that would challenge the top bids at the recent Otis Chandler liquidation. Expected bids range from sub-$1,000 beaters to a Jag XK150, Bentley Mk. IV and DeTomaso Pantera which are expected to fetch $70,000-$80,000. Most of the cars have low mileage and have been sitting for some time, so winning bidders should expect to do some freshening before the cars are roadworthy again, but once they are, it should be a lot of fun. Looking through the listings is like reading the classifieds from 1978. We highly recommend checking it out for yourself.

[Source: Hemmings]