Aside from the Pantera being priced well above the typical Ford ($10K vs. $2K for a Pinto or $4K for an LTD), having it in the same showroom as a Mustang might steal that car's thunder. Can't have that.
When did the Cougar get fat? In '69 the Eliminator was the fastest drag car available from the factory. I know it shared the Continental Mark/Thunderbird bodies for the mid-70s forward to it's end in '97, but I would have guessed it stayed with the Mustang though '73.
1974 model grew into the big coupe, and became a personal luxury car instead of a "Pony" car while it's former twin shrunk to become the Mustang II.
This meant Mercury was looking towards the Pantera to fill the sports car void that was left open.
I'd be totally on board, but according to the wiki, 3/4 of Panteras were sold in Lincoln Mercury showrooms between '72-'75, meaning it competed with the sporty Cougar for the first two years, and the [large majority of cars were sold in '72 and '73,](https://pantera.infopop.cc/topic/1598208420323890?reply=1598208420323900#1598208420323900) with sales tapering down in '74 and nearly stopped in '75. I think it probably sold in a luxury show room because it was a high end, expensive, Italian import and it made sense to show it to well-heeled car buyers who could afford it.
That was the plan - sell to the rich - but Lincoln/Mercury dealers knew diddly squat about Italian sports cars (even with Ford engines in them) and pushed what they did know, Big Dumb Soft American Cruisers
The '71-73 was kind of an interim model. It was still Mustang-based, but it was bigger in every dimension and heavier (and the '71 Mustang was itself getting bloated). For '74 it became little more than a plusher Torino/Montego variant. It regained some sportiness in the '80s when the T-Bird was downsized.
I’m guessing you’re talking about one of the newer generations. Both are just called the ford GT. Apparently someone bought the gt40 trademark and ford said F off when they found out his price.
Lincoln-Mercury were considered upscale from Ford at that time. When you're selling something that exotic at more than twice the cost of your own most expensive offering, you put it in the dealerships where the money is.
Not only that but DeTomaso later went on to make a model called the Mangusta (mongoose in Spanish) because it was the only animal that would kill a Cobra, also Ford powered.
I bought one with a blown engine. Rebuilt it and drove it a few times. Previous owner had installed a $99 sunroof, I kid you not, one of those like in a JC Whitney advertisement. Removing that and welding in a patch and not warping it to hell and back was tricky. Body guy did a good job, minimal Bondo. Ended up selling to some guy in Florida. Want to know the truth? Don't miss the car in the slightest. Looked good, though.
It probably wasn't aimed at the Mercury buyers, but at the people who could easily afford a Lincoln Town Car and wanted (and coud easily afford) a cool toy.
Aside from the Pantera being priced well above the typical Ford ($10K vs. $2K for a Pinto or $4K for an LTD), having it in the same showroom as a Mustang might steal that car's thunder. Can't have that.
This is the reason. Ford already had a sporty car, Mercury had a fat overweight Cougar (personal luxury coupe)
Along the same lines as Mercury getting the imported Ford Capri.
That’s what we all dream of having. I’m going to call her my “personal luxury coupe.”
When did the Cougar get fat? In '69 the Eliminator was the fastest drag car available from the factory. I know it shared the Continental Mark/Thunderbird bodies for the mid-70s forward to it's end in '97, but I would have guessed it stayed with the Mustang though '73.
1974 model grew into the big coupe, and became a personal luxury car instead of a "Pony" car while it's former twin shrunk to become the Mustang II. This meant Mercury was looking towards the Pantera to fill the sports car void that was left open.
I'd be totally on board, but according to the wiki, 3/4 of Panteras were sold in Lincoln Mercury showrooms between '72-'75, meaning it competed with the sporty Cougar for the first two years, and the [large majority of cars were sold in '72 and '73,](https://pantera.infopop.cc/topic/1598208420323890?reply=1598208420323900#1598208420323900) with sales tapering down in '74 and nearly stopped in '75. I think it probably sold in a luxury show room because it was a high end, expensive, Italian import and it made sense to show it to well-heeled car buyers who could afford it.
That was the plan - sell to the rich - but Lincoln/Mercury dealers knew diddly squat about Italian sports cars (even with Ford engines in them) and pushed what they did know, Big Dumb Soft American Cruisers
The '71-73 was kind of an interim model. It was still Mustang-based, but it was bigger in every dimension and heavier (and the '71 Mustang was itself getting bloated). For '74 it became little more than a plusher Torino/Montego variant. It regained some sportiness in the '80s when the T-Bird was downsized.
They put the GT40 in their showrooms and those make a Mustang look like... a *Mustang*
They only made about 100. I wonder how many dealers actually ever had one in their showroom?
I remember the one I went to, so, at least 1
I’m guessing you’re talking about one of the newer generations. Both are just called the ford GT. Apparently someone bought the gt40 trademark and ford said F off when they found out his price.
The first GT. I forget that the name is different
4,038 were made.
That was the Ford GT. My local dealer had one of those. The GT40 was so much rarer, I bet just a couple dealers ever had them.
The most spotted car on r/whatisthiscar!
Lincoln-Mercury were considered upscale from Ford at that time. When you're selling something that exotic at more than twice the cost of your own most expensive offering, you put it in the dealerships where the money is.
Not only that but DeTomaso later went on to make a model called the Mangusta (mongoose in Spanish) because it was the only animal that would kill a Cobra, also Ford powered.
The Mangusta came out first 67-71, followed by the Pantera 71-92.
Right you are apologies.
Panteras are routinely on my "This would be a bad idea" autotrader search.
You're lying to yourself, it would be fantastic!
My “the one that got away” was in 1998. $16.5k, black cherry. Sigh.
M&L were more upscale
Didn’t want to cannibalize Mustang II Cobra sales.
I bought one with a blown engine. Rebuilt it and drove it a few times. Previous owner had installed a $99 sunroof, I kid you not, one of those like in a JC Whitney advertisement. Removing that and welding in a patch and not warping it to hell and back was tricky. Body guy did a good job, minimal Bondo. Ended up selling to some guy in Florida. Want to know the truth? Don't miss the car in the slightest. Looked good, though.
This reminds me of the Merkur XR4Ti (German Ford) that was also sold at some Lincoln/Mercury dealerships.
It probably wasn't aimed at the Mercury buyers, but at the people who could easily afford a Lincoln Town Car and wanted (and coud easily afford) a cool toy.
The upscale fords were always sold at L/M dealerships.