Ten Days of Affordable Exotics-Day 10: DeTomaso Pantera

Every gearhead wants to drive something unique. We yearn for the thrill of g-sled acceleration, the feel of cornering as though on rails, and styling that makes you the envy of everyone at Cars and Coffee. This usually means an exotic or nearly exotic car. The thrill of being shoved back in your seat, hearing the wail of a high performance engine, as the scenery outside your window blurs, as you watch the speedometer tell you you’re approaching warp speed, it’s an experience few others eclipse. The problem, for most of us, is that exotic car experience is usually accompanied by a hefty price tag, and that job working at Uncle Plucky’s House of Chicken hasn’t impressed your loan officer enough to finance a new Aventador. So, how do the true car geeks among us scratch that itch to go fast, corner hard, and look cool without selling off our first born? Look for those rare-but-attainable affordable exotics. As the average price for a new car is just over $33,500, I have tried to find exotics with an entry price around $40,000. Compared with the sticker of the 2018 Ford GT (around $450,000), Porsche 911 Turbo ($159,200 base), Ferrari 488 ($245,400), and the Lamborghini Aventador ($399,500), $40k begins to look like an absolute bargain.

DeTomaso Pantera 1971-1992- From the recently disqualified file (there are still some well-worn examples out there that fit our price parameters), comes the DeTomaso Pantera. A mid-engine design by Ghia, the Pantera was propelled by a Ford 351 Cleveland feeding a German ZF transaxle. The 351 was rated at 330 hp (this was a known farce by anyone who drove one. 380 hp was a common rating for stock models in later dyno tests) and pulled hard and fast for a car of this era. A top speed of 159 mph was complimented by a sub-six second zero to sixty time. The Cleveland was easily serviced with inexpensive American parts available at most any Ford dealer. Finding an inexpensive one may be tougher now than it once was, but the owner will be rewarded with a truly reliable exotic.

Pros: Easy to maintain, inexpensive parts, massive performance that is impressive even today. You will be assured exclusivity, as total production was just over seven thousand units. The ZF transaxle is nearly indestructible, and the 351 has proven longevity.

Cons: The Panteras were not properly galvanized, so they would rust if you looked at them cross-eyed. The 351 and ZF trans were hampered by cheaper parts and lousy craftsmanship in other areas of the car. The Pantera had deplorable Lucas electrics, nylon drive gears for the pop-up headlamps that easily stripped the teeth, and interior quality that looked as if it had been done “third shift on a Friday, after a couple bottles of wine”.*

Verdict: Buy one if you can, because they are only going up in value. The Pantera is infinitely modifiable, has great club and vendor support, and is one of the few really reliable exotics to be had.

*Quoted from a McPherson College Auto Restoration student with a truly wicked sense of humor.

Ten Days of Affordable Exotics-Day 9: Ariel Atom

Every gearhead wants to drive something unique. We yearn for the thrill of g-sled acceleration, the feel of cornering as though on rails, and styling that makes you the envy of everyone at Cars and Coffee. This usually means an exotic or nearly exotic car. The thrill of being shoved back in your seat, hearing the wail of a high performance engine, as the scenery outside your window blurs, as you watch the speedometer tell you you’re approaching warp speed, it’s an experience few others eclipse. The problem, for most of us, is that exotic car experience is usually accompanied by a hefty price tag, and that job working at Uncle Plucky’s House of Chicken hasn’t impressed your loan officer enough to finance a new Aventador. So, how do the true car geeks among us scratch that itch to go fast, corner hard, and look cool without selling off our first born? Look for those rare-but-attainable affordable exotics. As the average price for a new car is just over $33,500, I have tried to find exotics with an entry price around $40,000. Compared with the sticker of the 2018 Ford GT (around $450,000), Porsche 911 Turbo ($159,200 base), Ferrari 488 ($245,400), and the Lamborghini Aventador ($399,500), $40k begins to look like an absolute bargain.

Ariel Atom 2000-Present- Once, this kind of thing would only be possible in study hall, dreamed up by bored adolescents instead of doing homework. The Atom is, in essence, a go kart for grown-ups. It is an exo-skeleton onto which only the absolute necessities have been hung. It has an engine, transmission, full perimeter frame, suspension, steering wheel, two seats, seat belts, and that’s it. Nothing extra, nothing frivolous, nothing that needn’t be there, and that is the whole point. By having only what is absolutely necessary, the Atom is able to keep weight to a bare minimum. Supplying the power is a 2.0 liter, 245 hp Honda VTEC motor that rockets the Atom from a dead stop to 60-mph in a breath-taking 2.89 seconds. Only a few cars are quicker, and those will all put a considerable dent in your retirement fund. The Ariel is also the fastest car you can get for 0-100-0 duties, completing the task in a scant 10.88 seconds. The 2004-2006 Ford GT needed 13.17.

Pros: Fast, light, small, easy to see nearly every part means it is easy to work on. The Ariel Atom is cheap enough you could save it for a strictly track-day car, but why on Earth would you want to? This thing is a blast at any speed, a motorcycle for car people, a grown-up go kart, with performance which is eye-opening to the most jaded of performance car owners. You’ll be the only person with one in your neighborhood.

Cons: Weather of any kind will make you long for the outer skin of your daily driver. There is no room to carry anything. There is barely a windshield (don’t smile while driving unless you really need grasshopper protein). This car will give you a permanent smile, but nobody will be able to see it because the wind will have permanently disfigured your head and face. This car is for fun outings only, and lacks almost any semblance of practicality.

Verdict: If you can get one, do it. Few other cars will make you feel so much like a kid again, or so much like you are doing something illegal when you are doing nothing of the sort. It is a hoot, a blast, fun every day, the cherry on top of life’s sundae.

Ten Days of Affordable Exotics-Day 8: 2001-2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Every gearhead wants to drive something unique. We yearn for the thrill of g-sled acceleration, the feel of cornering as though on rails, and styling that makes you the envy of everyone at Cars and Coffee. This usually means an exotic or nearly exotic car. The thrill of being shoved back in your seat, hearing the wail of a high performance engine, as the scenery outside your window blurs, as you watch the speedometer tell you you’re approaching warp speed, it’s an experience few others eclipse. The problem, for most of us, is that exotic car experience is usually accompanied by a hefty price tag, and that job working at Uncle Plucky’s House of Chicken hasn’t impressed your loan officer enough to finance a new Aventador. So, how do the true car geeks among us scratch that itch to go fast, corner hard, and look cool without selling off our first born? Look for those rare-but-attainable affordable exotics. As the average price for a new car is just over $33,500, I have tried to find exotics with an entry price around $40,000. Compared with the sticker of the 2018 Ford GT (around $450,000), Porsche 911 Turbo ($159,200 base), Ferrari 488 ($245,400), and the Lamborghini Aventador ($399,500), $40k begins to look like an absolute bargain.

Corvette Z06 2001-2004- Offered as a stand-alone model, and based on the 1999-2000 Corvette Hardtop (FRC or Fixed Roof Coupe, as it came to be known among the VetteHeads), the Z06 came equipped with a 385 horsepower LS-6 displacing 5.7 liters. The block for the LS-6 was quite similar to the stock LS-1 block used in the rest of the Corvette line, but with a host of specific modifications designed to milk another 35hp from the engine. The exhaust was the first mass-produced titanium system, and shaved an additional 19 pounds of overall weight. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires were 23 pounds lighter than the stock coupe and convertible tires. As none of the C5 generation Corvettes came with a spare tire, the Z06 was simply equipped with a flat repair kit. The Z06 came with numerous performance options standard, and every Z06 was outfitted with the 6-speed manual transmission. For the 2002 model year, power was bumped to 405 horsepower. Performance was impressive and suitably quick, with a zero to 60 time of 3.9 seconds, and the quarter mile passing in 12.3. Top speed was rumored to have been nearly 170mph.

Pros: Corvettes have long been known not only as the kings of performance, but also the pinnacle when it comes to bang for the buck. Right now, these fifth generation Corvettes are trading for well under the $20,000 mark. Service is available at any Chevrolet dealer, at Chevy hourly service rates. Parts are readily available. If you can keep your foot out of the throttle, the Z06 even returns pretty decent fuel economy, yielding 17mpg in town and 29mpg on the highway. The Z06 is a great platform for performance modification, with many examples producing up to 800 ponies and beyond. This is the super car for the common man; affordable, easy to work on, economical, easy to modify, and simply collectible.

Cons: As has been a common criticism of past Corvettes, the quality of the interiors is not up to that of its more expensive competitors. Corvettes are known to develop squeaks and creaks with time and age. Cargo room, though better than previous generations, is still somewhat limited. There was a steering wheel lockout recall issued on some C5 Corvettes-you will want to be sure this has been addressed. Due to being so low to the ground, and having seat bolsters designed to provide positive lateral support, said bolsters will show wear before any other part of the seat. It is nearly impossible to get in and out of the car without dragging the bolsters.

Verdict: Affordable, economical, with great performance, handling, braking, and acceleration, the Z06 seems like an obvious bargain. It has reasonable parts prices and dealer service rates, and exclusivity without excess sacrifice. If you can live with the smallish cargo area, and some small noises won’t drive you nuts, the Z06 is a stellar performer.