1972 Pantera: GTS This Italian sports car is no fable
Sixth-century Greek orator Aesop used his lion and fox fable to demonstrate the timeless lesson that familiarity breeds contempt.
While it certainly is often true that the more you get to know something, the less awe and respect you have for it, that's not the case with Mike Zerbe and his '72 Pantera GTS. It's quite the opposite, because in his case, familiarity bred content.
The Elmhurst resident had the unique ability to be regularly exposed to this ruby exotic for ten years before he ever considered purchasing it. Its former owner had recruited his mechanically inclined buddy Mike to help with tuning and maintaining the low-slung classic after seeing firsthand Zerbe's proficiency with high-performance machines (Mike owns and tinkers with a 600-horse wheelie-standing Mustang).
The time eventually came when the friend had the hunger to move on to more modern track toys but offered the GTS to only Mike in late 2009.
“He really wanted to keep seeing it regularly at times even drive it … if I let him,” says Mike with a grin.
As he was already very familiar with the mechanics of the car and its overall ultraclean condition, making the purchase was an easy decision for Mike. Yet there was one aspect over the ten-year span he didn't have a chance to learn the driving experience.
“I had to work at getting my six-foot frame into the low, narrow cabin space. Once you're inside and almost at ground level, you're looking up at Corvette drivers.”
Once he had mastered how to contort his lanky frame to get behind the wheel, the first order of business was getting the GTS out onto open roads, which is where Mike prefers to keep it.
“When you get behind the wheel you feel like you're in a race car. Out on the highway it rides like it's on rails and taking the on and off ramps and curves is quite exhilarating! You feel like you're a part of the road.”
When it's not in a state of rapid motion, Mike enjoys showing up with it at area cruises, turning the heads of all who see the red Italian beauty.
“It's neat to see the reaction of people as they don't always know what it is but usually come up to find out more. I've parked between modern Ferraris and people pass right over them to come see this Pantera.”
It probably doesn't hurt that this GTS is painted in Ferrari Red or that it sports wide, steamroller-size Kinesis wheels, hiding Wilwood disc brakes. While the creased body is Italian, the power plant is all-American and what you'll find under the hood of select tire-smoking Mustangs. Opening the rear deck lid reveals the factory Boss 351 Cleveland mated to a ZF 5-speed manual transmission. A Simpson race harness keeps Mike in place during those spirited jaunts.
Despite having all the right pieces to have a genuine track-day monster, Mike remains hesitant to run all out at any of the local road courses.
“I have to say, I'm a little afraid to drive it hard. I know if I could get up enough nerve, I would love the experience but I wouldn't know what to do if I put it into a wall and compromised the sheer beauty of it.”
Just like Aesop's fox, Mike is getting very comfortable piloting this red rocket, so don't be too surprised if you see him tearing up apexes and S-curves once the warmer weather of spring rolls around.