It is a "Replica" of a De Tomaso Pantera but since I am not building it with similar specs as a Pantera, I call it my interpretation of a Pantera.
It is a long drawn out project that started as early as 2011...when I bought a finished De Tomaso Pantera replica.
The first year a lot happened in the project, but then things went slow (Purchase of a house, three children and relocation of garage etc.) until winter of 2019 when it gained momentum again.
The reason for the purchase of the replica Pantera was as they say "Two Fold"
1. The engine we were planning to put in the original Pantera (another project I have, more info at https://bodinecc.com) just didn't fit. The only way to get the new powertrain to fit would be to modify the car so much it would lose its original value and that was not acceptable. So a new car had to be found.
2. Having a project car that had no real original value, ie free hands to do what you want.
So I found the De Tomaso Replica for sale just a few blocks from where my parents lives so I bought it =)
It is a very well built car and hard to distinguish from a real pantera but it is built in a completely different way. A pantera is built using a steel body on a steel monocoque made up of many steel sheets folded and welded together. This replica has a glass fiber body glued to a steel tube space frame chassis.
The new engine for the car
It's a Mercedes M120 6 liter V12 engine making 400Hp in stock form. I found the engine in a junkyard. It was a low mileage unit so I put on my charm and got the price down to 1000$ so I bought it .
More info about my projects at: https://bodinecc.com
To be continued....
gumby
HalfDork
2/4/20 3:59 p.m.
If I could buy any car from my birth year, a Pantera would be very near, if not the, top of the list. A replica that nice would do me just fine!
noddaz
SuperDork
2/4/20 4:32 p.m.
Wait. A Pantera REPLICA? Today I learned!
Awesome monster you are building there.
awesome, I will be following this! never knew they made replica pantera's either
trumant
New Reader
2/4/20 6:04 p.m.
Love me some Pantera. Also gobsmacked that this is the first I've heard of replicas.
What is that big old beast you are planning in putting into your project and how are you planning on using the finished product?
what gearbox are you using that will take that much power ?
gumby said:
If I could buy any car from my birth year, a Pantera would be very near, if not the, top of the list. A replica that nice would do me just fine!
Have you driven one? I was fortunate to drive a 73 many years ago & while I won't say I was disappointed, the experience was much more akin to driving a muscle car of the era vs. a sportscar.
Oh. My.
A replica?
One step closer to one of my dream cars.
Pete Gossett said:
gumby said:
If I could buy any car from my birth year, a Pantera would be very near, if not the, top of the list. A replica that nice would do me just fine!
Have you driven one? I was fortunate to drive a 73 many years ago & while I won't say I was disappointed, the experience was much more akin to driving a muscle car of the era vs. a sportscar.
I would agree, albeit in limited seat time experience. It's much more classic muscle than it is classic exotic. Still a hoot, just in a more primitive and scary way... haha.
californiamilleghia said:
what gearbox are you using that will take that much power ?
Here is the new powertrain of the car. A Mercedes M120 V12 engine and the same base engine that is used in both the race car Mercedes GT1 and the Pagani Zonda.
6,0Liter
Twin overhead cam shafts
4 valves/cylinder
400hp/600Nm stock
Transmission is a 6-speed Getrag unit from a Porsche Boxster S. Choose this one because of limited space in engine compartment.
Power is not the problem for the transmission but the torque is, but the nice thing with a V12 is that the torque delivery is very nice and smothe compared to engines with fewer cylinders.
More info about my projects at: https://bodinecc.com
To be continued....
Here is the clutch that I will use on the car.
A dual disc 5.5" alu unit rated at 680Nm.
More info about my projects at: https://bodinecc.com
To be continued....
ble =)
So next task was to modify the gearbox to be able to bolt it to the V12 engine. The Porsche bolt pattern was sawed off and a plate with the Mercedes boltpatern was fabricated. The plate was then fixed in place and the gearbox was sent off to the welder. (more pictures of the modification on my website) Here is the result:
More info about my projects at: https://bodinecc.com
To be continued....
I dont see, but who built the replica? Company that did it?
So far, I am liking this. Would like to see some interior shots of the car. Keep it coming!
I have posted a new clip on YouTube of my other car. Mostly as a test and to inaugurate my new channel. Its made from two old clips so I apologize for not the best sound/video quality.
More to come and with better sound and video quality.
Thinkkker said:
I dont see, but who built the replica? Company that did it?
So far, I am liking this. Would like to see some interior shots of the car. Keep it coming!
It was a company here in Sweden during the 80ies that sold glass fiber bodys and chassis to people to complete the build themselves.
More info about my projects at: https://bodinecc.com
First startup of the Mercedes V12 engine :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YHjcfpo6HE
I hope I can get the pick up speed almost this fast with flywheel and clutch
Unfortunately, the second clip only has sound in one channel ... iPhone...
More info about my projects at: https://bodinecc.com
OjaiM5
HalfDork
1/3/21 3:58 p.m.
DANG! What an awesome build.
Thanks guys!
More info about my projects at: https://bodinecc.com
In reply to Bodinecc :
What did you use for throttlebody's on the m120? I had a m120 s600. Love the engine hate the Mercedes electronics and ETA's.
Yeah, it looks like you've modified the electronics. What have you done? I'm super interested after seeing what others are doing with V12s.
yupididit said:
In reply to Bodinecc :
What did you use for throttlebody's on the m120? I had a m120 s600. Love the engine hate the Mercedes electronics and ETA's.
I use two wire throttles from two BMW M62 V8 engines, one throttle for each bank. The throttles was leftovers from other projects. They are joined together by to push/pull rods in the middle of the engine, its this disc I turn in the video.
GIRTHQUAKE said:
Yeah, it looks like you've modified the electronics. What have you done? I'm super interested after seeing what others are doing with V12s.
I use a aftermarket ECU that I have tuned myself, sadly it can not run the engine fully sequentially (can only do 8cylinders that way). So I have it set up in wasted spark mode with two tripple ignition coils. The injectors are run in batch mode. This setup I will use to get the engine running and get the car approved and road legal. I have another engine I will build ITB's for and nice headers like 12 to 1 or something. I have not decided what ECU I will use for that engine yet.
More info about my projects at: https://bodinecc.com
This is an awesome build! What is it with you Swedes and your awesome engine swaps into Panteras? This swap reminded me of the HemiPanter, another Swedish Pantera that has a 572 cu. in. all aluminum Hemi. https://www.hemipanter.se/
Yeeesss! That is amazing! It fired right up and idled like it came from the factory.
The way it rocks makes it look like your engine stand is no more than an older tire!