The Uncommon Personal Vehicle That MotorWeek Icon John Davis Longs For the Most

      This isn't Davis' actual vehicle; it’s simply the best image of a white Pantera that I could find without usage restrictions. Credit: nakhon100 via Wikimedia Creative Commons.

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      John Davis is among the most influential automotive journalists in the field. An articulate TV presenter with a unique style of speech, he has been a staple of MotorWeek for many years and has likely driven more cars than my colleagues and I have put together. His reviews generally emphasize the practical aspects of vehicles, which makes it both amusing and intriguing that one of his personal favorites is a DeTomaso Pantera.

      The Pantera is undeniably cool. Although it can be seen as a kind of hybrid between Ferrari and Lamborghini, its striking Italian design combined with an American V8 engine gives it impressive appeal. Today, it is a genuine collector’s item, which is likely due to many being damaged and the remaining ones being difficult to maintain.

      This serves as the core of a humorous story shared by Davis on a MotorWeek podcast reflecting on the show’s 45-year legacy. He has a very formal and somewhat rigid presentation style in the video car reviews I've watched him host. Yet, it’s amusing to learn that back in the '70s, he was working on a quirky Italian-American vehicle in the rain to keep it operating. To me, as a longtime fan, this presents a delightful contrast.

      I came across this artistic piece while looking for a shareable image of a DeTomaso Pantera (which translates to “Panther” in Italian). Interestingly, this is a 16×20 print available on Amazon for $13—consider it a little gift!

      Near the conclusion of the episode, around one hour and fourteen minutes in, host Jessica Ray asks Davis about cars from the past that he misses. The legendary auto journalist responds:

      "One car that I owned, which we never tested on the show... the DeTomaso Pantera... I had one back in the early '70s. It’s a car that always comes to mind whenever I think about great cars, or ones... I wish I could buy back."

      He reminisces about purchasing a salvaged one in 1975, disassembling it, and constantly working on it.

      "You were under the car addressing something every weekend, regardless of the weather. My [then] soon-to-be-wife, Cheryl, had an apartment with an open driveway, and I’d be out there on the gravel, trying to fix something underneath it."

      Ah yes, the challenges of owning a temperamental car remain unchanged.

      I’ve never met Davis in person, but I admire his reviews and occasionally find one I haven’t seen while rewatching old episodes on YouTube (MotorWeek regularly uploads past reviews to its YouTube channel). Here’s the entire anniversary episode interview. It will be especially engaging for my fellow car enthusiasts from the millennial generation and older who remember watching John Davis years ago and value stories from this period in automotive media.

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