To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History Nov 5, 2025

45 Years of MotorWeek, John Davis' Unforgettable Pantera:

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Car

Jensen Interceptor

The Jensen Interceptor is a classic British sports car that was made in the late 1960s and 1970s. It has a powerful American V8 engine and is known for its stylish design.

Term

Chrysler V8

The Chrysler V8 is a type of engine made by Chrysler that has eight cylinders arranged in a V shape. It's known for being powerful and is often found in American cars.

Car

De Tomaso Pantera

The De Tomaso Pantera is a sports car that was made in the 1970s and 1980s. It has a powerful engine and a sleek design, combining Italian style with American power.

Term

exotic car

An exotic car is a fancy and expensive car that is very fast and looks unique. They are often rare and are made for people who love cars.

Car

The Tesla Model 3 is a type of car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. It's known for being fast, having a long battery life, and featuring cool technology like self-driving capabilities, making it a popular choice for many drivers today.

Term

L model

The L model is a version of the Pantera that had special bumpers to make it safe for driving in the U.S. during the 1970s.

LIVE

But what I really wanted was something quote unquote like an exotic car, but that had an

American engine that I could work on.

I wasn't really interested in doing anything European, it would be way beyond my skills.

And there were two particular cars that were making the rounds that were reasonably affordable

on the used market at that point.

One was the Jensen Interceptor, which had a Chrysler V8 in it.

And the other was the Di Tommaso Pantera and before that the Magusta, but the Magusta was

nothing but trouble.

Of course, so was the Pantera, but less so.

I don't remember how I narrowed it down, but I came across a two-year-old, and this is 1975 now,

a two-year-old Pantera down in Norfolk, Virginia.

So a 73 model, which was what was the first, what they call the L model, which meant it had

rubber front bumpers to meet the US safety standards.

I went down to Richmond, a family had bought it for their son, you know, as a high school

graduation project.

And I think he promptly wrecked it, they got it repaired, they sent him off to the Navy.

I drove the car home, completely took it apart, filled up my little one-bedroom apartment with

car parts everywhere, and pretty much rebuilt everything that didn't move.

And drove that until 1979, so and I still miss that car today.

About this episode

John Davis shares his nostalgic journey with the Di Tommaso Pantera, a car that combined exotic appeal with American engineering. He recounts the search for a project car in the mid-70s, ultimately choosing a 1973 Pantera that he meticulously rebuilt in his apartment. Davis reflects on the challenges and joys of owning such a unique vehicle, highlighting its quirks and his fond memories, including the car's history with a family and its transformation from a wrecked graduation gift to a beloved ride.

Chrysler V8 exotic car L model

Jensen Interceptor Tesla Model 3

Original notes

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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 Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! ***

Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive.

Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong.

To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History

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45 Years of MotorWeek, John Davis' Unforgettable Pantera:

Jensen Interceptor

Chrysler V8

De Tomaso Pantera

exotic car

Tesla 73 Model

L model

About this episode

Original notes