Written by independent automotive journalist Tom Jensen
Lot #1352 – 1972 De Tomaso Pantera Custom Coupe “ADRNLN” will be selling with No Reserve at our 2022 Scottsdale Auction.
There are some elements every custom build must have to achieve greatness.
> It must have performance.
> It must have top-notch build quality.
> It must have jaw-dropping style.
> And it has to make your heart beat faster and your pulse quicken.
Say hello to ADRNLN, Lot #1352, a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera custom totally reimagined by the legendary custom shop Ringbrothers to combine the best styling and performance elements of Italian and American sports cars.
ADRNLN will cross the block at the 2022 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, January 22-30, at WestWorld, and will sell with No Reserve.
This very special Pantera was built for the 2013 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) annual trade show in Las Vegas, where it took Best of Show honors.
Ringbrothers collaborated with the skunkworks design team at athletic apparel company Nike to come up with a total new take on what a 1972 Pantera could be in terms of performance and aesthetics.
Because the Pantera was already such an iconic design, Ringbrothers took a nuanced approach to this project, refining the car’s looks while keeping its basic shape intact.
Among the subtle design cues Ringbrothers incorporated were small wheel flares and custom rocker panels with carbon-fiber brake cooling ducts. To the Pantera’s steel monocoque body they also added a carbon-fiber rear diffuser and hood that paid stylistic homage to Ford’s legendary GT40 race car.
ADRNLN looks fast sitting still, because it is fast, and all the subtle body modifications, along with the bright yellow paint contribute to an appearance and an attitude that immediately evokes the idea of speed.
The beauty of the exterior is matched by the form and function under the body. The suspension, which features tubular A-arms and AFCO coilover shocks was built by The Roadster Shop.
Stopping power is provided by Baer 6-piston calipers at all four corners, while ADRNLN rolls on 3-piece forged HRE wheels carrying wide Nitto Invo tires.
Under the engine cover, the original Ford V8 has been replaced by a much stouter Wegner Motorsports LS3 V8 engine that puts out 600 horsepower, thanks in large part to its Holley fuel injection system, tube headers and Flowmaster stainless-steel mufflers. Shifting is handled by a ZF 5-speed manual gearbox, and the stock clutch and flywheel have been replaced by a more durable setup from a Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
The same quality and attention to detail paid to the bodywork and mechanical parts can be found in the fully custom leather interior that has been freshly updated. High-end features include a modernized instrument cluster, a remote start system and power doors.
The interior color combination is dazzling, as the driver’s side of the cockpit is handsomely trimmed out in black leather, while the passenger-side is adorned in a bright yellow hue to match the exterior paint.
In addition to winning Best of Show honors at SEMA, this custom has received numerous awards and has made the cover of several enthusiast magazines.
After its initial build the Pantera was acquired by automotive coolant company Prestone, who used the custom creation as a promotional vehicle in shows and rallies.
ADRNLN was also exhibited in Los Angeles at the Petersen Automotive Museum, where it was shown alongside Elvis Presley’s 1971 Pantera.
According to the consignor, the car has been reconditioned and presented in the same Ringbrothers quality. And one lucky bidder at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale will have the opportunity to take this showstopper home.
For up-to-date information on this vehicle, visit here.
To register to bid at the 2022 Scottsdale Auction – a celebration of 50 years of The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions – click HERE.