The Beast Within
A beast lurks on Hobart's urban fringe, its lair a nondescript fibro garage. It lies dormant within, waiting for its master to bring it to rumbling, snarling life with a turn of his key, sending 98 RON petrol surging through its massive four barrel Holley 725 CFM carb, burning fiercely in its eight cylinders and out via twin exhausts that you feel as much as hear. The beast has a name: De Tomaso Pantera (aka the Panty-Tearer) and it looks as menacing today as when it was built in 1974. UMPH likes to think that The Master's need for a mid-engined Italian classic was born during a quickish run from Lower Longley, around the side of Mt Wellington and through to Ferntree in the X1/9. That and the Master's love of American iron in the form of big V8s, as had been fitted to his previous ride, a 50s Cadillac coupe`. What a way to combine those two influences: a sexy, low-slung Italian body fitted wrapped around a stonking great 351 F...