Carroll's Pantera.
https://inventory.randluxury.com/vehicles/8/1983-de-tomaso-pantera-gt5-s
There are around a dozen of these that were purchased in Shelby's name while he was at Chrysler.
Iococca wanted an Italian exotic and investigated installing Mopar small blocks in them. There are two or three that I know of that were converted. I presume the others just laid in inventory at Chrysler some where? They all seem to be red.
Eventually Ioccocca decided on purchasing Lamborghini. The '92 Diablos had Chrysler vin tags on them as a result.
I never heard the story about Tjarda giving Shelby a car. Considering that he was just a designer and was not a Detomaso employee I doubt that. Especially since he passed a few years ago and can not be reached for comment now. I tend to think this is just another salesman's bs dreamed up to sell the car.
There has been one of the cars on ebay for quite some time at $250 with no interest that I know of.
I don't think those cars were ever US legalized at all. The Mopar powered ones were running around the streets in LA with MFG plates on them.
Thanks for the info regarding that Pantera, always something to learn on the forum, as I've said before the depth of knowledge here never ceases to amaze !
Mike
Mike I agree with Doug in that Tjarda giving this to Carroll is a real stretch along with him designing a high revving engine. Carroll was not an engine guy , period. "Build me something that will rev real high" sounds plausible but "he" couldn't tell you how to do it. He sold off an earlier "development car" that had a turbo 340 Chrysler in it but it was never "federalized" and couldn't be registered. Super low miles with turbo modifications by the late Art Chrisman and paid for by Chrysler. I agree this car offered is a similar situation. With both of the named principals having passed , the claims are harder to dispute LOL.
Randy
1986? / "Shelby Automobile" ?
Do those even go together? I think he was working for Chrysler.
Not even sure there was such a company in 1983?
Quote from: Coralsnake on September 11, 2019, 01:50:47 PM
1986? / "Shelby Automobile" ?
Do those even go together? I think he was working for Chrysler.
Not even sure there was such a company in 1983?
CS revived his manufacturing license in the early 80s when J Brunk came up with the scheme to remake 12 66 convertibles. 4 for CS 4 for Brunk and 4 to sell and pay for all 12. He kept it active since that time. A lot of the Chrysler development and some assembly work on cars like the GLHS was done under Shelby's name in Whittier CA.
Shelby's assembly line in Whittier CA that built the CSX-T and Shelby Dakota V-8 truck (1988-89) was Shelby Automobiles.
I know, because I worked there. Managed the press fleet and PR.
There was a Pantera at the facility with a Lotus-head Chrysler 2.2 turbo, and one with the Chrysler V-8. My memory is that it was a 360, not a 340, as the 360 was in production, and the 340 was not.
Side-Oilers,
I'm sure you are right as I was going off of what Art ( who was at the auction in Newport Beach) was calling it. That red Pantera was not a wide body. I do not recall the other one you mention being at the auction I attended ( Rick Cole IIRC). I know you were at the Whittier location and am not disputing your information. Do you recall the "wide body" currently being offered?
Randy
Randy,
No problem, I didn't think you were disputing my info.
I don't recall seeing the wide body car. But, it seemed like cars were continually being moved around in the shop, the storage lot out back, and wherever else they could find to park some iron.
Maybe it was kept at the Chrysler Shelby Development Center in Santa Fe Springs, which pre-dated the Whittier location. (Approx 1982-87 for Santa Fe Springs, IIRC)
Van
Maybe our super-sleuths Szabo and Richstang can decipher vintage photos of the Whittier and Santa Fe Springs facilities to find out... ;D
Quote from: Side-Oilers on September 11, 2019, 08:31:47 PM
Maybe our super-sleuths Szabo and Richstang can decipher vintage photos of the Whittier and Santa Fe Springs facilities to find out... ;D
Those Chrysler facilities are way out of my research ballpark. Even if I do like the Pantera's...
http://www.detomasoregistry.org/