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In 1975, before he became MotorWeek's trusted voice for 45 seasons, John Davis had a purchase decision to make: Jensen Interceptor or De Tomaso Pantera? Both were exotic cars with American engines he could actually work on. He chose the Pantera—specifically a two-year-old 1973 L model he found in Norfolk, Virginia.
The catch? A family bought it for their son's high school graduation. The son promptly wrecked it. They had it partially repaired, sent him to the Navy, and sold it to John.
John drove it home and completely disassembled it. Every part. His entire apartment became a workshop—engine components in the kitchen, transmission parts in the bedroom, body panels in the living room.
Italian exotic styling. Ford 351 Cleveland V8 power. American engineering he could wrench on himself.
He rebuilt everything that didn't move. Daily Driver until 1979
Decades later, after reviewing thousands of cars on America's longest-running automotive TV show, one truth remains: "I still miss that car today."
The host who's driven everything shares the restoration story that started it all—complete with apartment management nightmares and why choosing American-powered exotics changed his automotive journey.
*** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***
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