One-of-a-kind De Tomaso Pantera 'ADRNLN' to debut at SEMA

The De Tomaso Pantera, a perfect mash-up of classic Italian styling and American underhood brawn, struck a chord when it debuted at the 1970 New York auto show. Inspired by the Pantera's unique character, custom vehicle builder Ringbrothers decided to restomod and rechristen it “ADRNLN.” It's set to re-debut at the 2013 SEMA show on Nov. 5.

The first time Mike and Jim Ring saw this particular 1971 Pantera, it was in pretty rough shape. The car's previous owner, Randy Brickle, was restoring the car, but, unfortunately, he passed away of cancer before the project was finished. Randy's wife, Cheryl, wanted to pay tribute to her husband and made the decision to finish what Randy had started. A friend referred her to Ringbrothers to finish the dream car her husband was so fond of.

At the 2012 SEMA show, the Ringbrothers had a chance meeting with the Nike innovation skunkworks design team. The team was impressed with Ringbrothers' craftsmanship and eye for modern aesthetics, so it decided to jump onboard with the restoration of the Pantera, adding an entirely new direction to the project.

The two collaborated and ultimately brought the car to life by -- or so we're told -- telling the story of Cheryl and her late husband, Randy. The design team created an interior that was individualized through the color and materials while still highlighting the performance and luxury of the car.

Under the hood, the Pantera sports a Wegner Motorsports LS3 V8, which is responsible for pumping out an insane 600-hp. A pair of Flowmaster stainless steel mufflers helps to keep the Pantera's exhaust note sweet. Putting all that brute power to the ground is no easy task, so the team installed a set of HRE-forged wheels and Nitto tires. Stopping power can be credited to the six-piston calipers strategically placed at each corner.

ADRNLN makes its official debut at 4 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the Royal Purple booth of the 2013 SEMA Show and will be on display from Nov. 5-8. Look for more information as the show draws nearer.

By Natalie Sejnost