A Vision in Yellow 1971 De Tomaso Pantera ADRNLN
How a 1971 De Tomaso Pantera Became the Ultimate Tribute Build
Every gearhead has that one car—the holy grail, the dream machine, the ride that fuels fantasies of tearing up asphalt with unrelenting power. For Wisconsin’s own Randy Brickl, that car was the De Tomaso Pantera. With the exotic flair of an Italian supercar and the brute force of American muscle, the Pantera was a wild fusion of speed and style. It was also a favorite of the King himself—Elvis Presley owned one in yellow, and Randy had his sights set on a matching machine.
Randy managed to track down a yellow Pantera, but the car needed serious work. Undeterred, he planned to restore it himself, piece by piece. But life had other plans. Diagnosed with cancer, he was forced to put the project on hold. Despite a hard-fought battle, Randy passed away, leaving his dream unfinished.
Every gearhead has that one car—the holy grail, the dream machine, the ride that fuels fantasies of tearing up asphalt with unrelenting power. For Wisconsin’s own Randy Brickl, that car was the De Tomaso Pantera. With the exotic flair of an Italian supercar and the brute force of American muscle, the Pantera was a wild fusion of speed and style. It was also a favorite of the King himself—Elvis Presley owned one in yellow, and Randy had his sights set on a matching machine.
Randy managed to track down a yellow Pantera, but the car needed serious work. Undeterred, he planned to restore it himself, piece by piece. But life had other plans. Diagnosed with cancer, he was forced to put the project on hold. Despite a hard-fought battle, Randy passed away, leaving his dream unfinished.
But dreams don’t die that easily.
Determined to honor her late husband’s passion, Cheryl Brickl vowed to see the Pantera fully restored. She took it to a local shop, hoping to bring Randy’s vision to life. A year later, the car still sat untouched. That’s when a friend pointed her toward Ringbrothers, the legendary Wisconsin-based custom builders known for their boundary-pushing craftsmanship. With a reputation for turning muscle car fantasies into reality, Jim and Mike Ring were the perfect duo for the job.
Reinventing a Legend
“When Cheryl first brought us the Pantera, the idea was to do a straight restoration,” said Jim Ring. “But once we stripped it down to bare metal, we saw how far gone the sheet metal was. So we pitched Cheryl on letting us take it to the next level. She gave us the green light.”
And take it to the next level they did.
There’s barely a shred of the original car left. Every panel—except for a few inches on the roof and left-side panel—was custom-built from scratch. The entire stance was overhauled, sitting lower, leaner, and meaner than ever before. Rocker panels were sloped inward, fender flares widened, and fender peaks heightened. Gone were the old-school flip-up headlights, replaced by sleek, clear enclosures housing Audi A4 units from Mike Ring’s daughter’s wrecked car. The final touch? A blindingly bold custom color from BASF Glasurit called Yellow Line. If this car doesn’t stop you in your tracks, you might need your eyes checked.
Powering Up
Pop the decklid, and you won’t find the original Ford 351 Cleveland. Instead, there’s a beast lurking—a Wegner Motorsports GM LS3, dialed up to a thunderous 600 horsepower. Topped with a Holley Hi-Ram intake and EFI system, this naturally aspirated powerhouse snarls like an apex predator. Gear shifts are handled through a ZF five-speed transaxle from Bowler Performance, operated via a B&M shifter in a classic dogleg pattern, just like the original Pantera. Royal Purple synthetic lubricants keep the LS3, transaxle, and differential running smooth and cool. And for those purists crying foul about the LS swap? Jim Ring has a simple response: “Dollar for dollar, it’s hard to beat the performance.”
And let’s talk about sound. A set of custom-built headers and Flowmaster Pro Series laminar flow mufflers turn the ADRNLN’s exhaust note into a pure symphony of controlled violence. It’s not just loud—it’s a statement.
Grip and Handling
With that kind of power, the Pantera needed serious grip. Enter HRE S101 three-piece forged wheels—19x9s up front, 19x12s out back—wrapped in Nitto Invo rubber (275s in the front, 345s in the rear). Massive Baer six-piston calipers clamp down on big rotors at all four corners, making sure this monster stops as well as it goes.
Ringbrothers also reworked the chassis and suspension, calling in their friends at Roadster Shop for new front and rear subframes built around C5 Corvette suspension components. Custom tubular control arms, upgraded sway bars, and AFCO Racing monotube shocks keep the ADRNLN planted, whether carving corners or laying down tire-shredding straight-line pulls.
The Skunkworks Interior
Inside, the ADRNLN is unlike any other Pantera on the planet. Designed in collaboration with Nike’s Innovation Skunkworks Design Team, the interior is a study in contrast. The driver’s side screams performance and luxury, with a Recaro racing seat wrapped in high-end leather, a full suite of controls, and an Alpine touchscreen stereo. The passenger’s side? Minimalist and dark, stripped down to nothing but the essentials—no distractions, no extra comforts, not even an A/C vent. This cockpit is all about the driver.
The Final Drive
With the ADRNLN complete, Cheryl took her husband on one last ride—one that was years in the making. Soon after, the car hit the auction block at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, where it was scooped up by none other than Richard Rawlings of Fast N’ Loud fame. Now calling Gas Monkey Garage home, the ADRNLN lives on, a rolling tribute to passion, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of speed.
If there’s one thing this build proves, it’s that dreams—like the Pantera itself—refuse to be forgotten.
ADRNLN SPECS
Drivetrain
Engine: Wegner Motorsports LS3
Power: 600 HP
Intake: Holley Hi-Ram EFI
Transmission: ZF 5-Speed by Bowler
Lubricants: Royal Purple
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: HRE S101 (19x9 Front, 19x12 Rear)
Tires: Nitto Invo (275 Front, 345 Rear)
Brakes & Suspension
Brakes: Baer 6-Piston
Front Suspension: Roadster Shop w/ Custom Tubular Arms
Rear Suspension: Roadster Shop w/ Custom Tubular Arms
Shocks: AFCO Racing Monotube
Exterior & Interior
Paint: BASF Glasurit Yellow Line
Interior: Nike Skunkworks Design
Seats: Recaro
Stereo: Alpine Touchscreen
Exhaust
Headers: Custom Ringbrothers
Mufflers: Flowmaster Pro Series Stainless
This is not just a restoration—it’s a resurrection. The ADRNLN is everything the Pantera was meant to be… and then some.
Determined to honor her late husband’s passion, Cheryl Brickl vowed to see the Pantera fully restored. She took it to a local shop, hoping to bring Randy’s vision to life. A year later, the car still sat untouched. That’s when a friend pointed her toward Ringbrothers, the legendary Wisconsin-based custom builders known for their boundary-pushing craftsmanship. With a reputation for turning muscle car fantasies into reality, Jim and Mike Ring were the perfect duo for the job.
Reinventing a Legend
“When Cheryl first brought us the Pantera, the idea was to do a straight restoration,” said Jim Ring. “But once we stripped it down to bare metal, we saw how far gone the sheet metal was. So we pitched Cheryl on letting us take it to the next level. She gave us the green light.”
And take it to the next level they did.
There’s barely a shred of the original car left. Every panel—except for a few inches on the roof and left-side panel—was custom-built from scratch. The entire stance was overhauled, sitting lower, leaner, and meaner than ever before. Rocker panels were sloped inward, fender flares widened, and fender peaks heightened. Gone were the old-school flip-up headlights, replaced by sleek, clear enclosures housing Audi A4 units from Mike Ring’s daughter’s wrecked car. The final touch? A blindingly bold custom color from BASF Glasurit called Yellow Line. If this car doesn’t stop you in your tracks, you might need your eyes checked.
Powering Up
Pop the decklid, and you won’t find the original Ford 351 Cleveland. Instead, there’s a beast lurking—a Wegner Motorsports GM LS3, dialed up to a thunderous 600 horsepower. Topped with a Holley Hi-Ram intake and EFI system, this naturally aspirated powerhouse snarls like an apex predator. Gear shifts are handled through a ZF five-speed transaxle from Bowler Performance, operated via a B&M shifter in a classic dogleg pattern, just like the original Pantera. Royal Purple synthetic lubricants keep the LS3, transaxle, and differential running smooth and cool. And for those purists crying foul about the LS swap? Jim Ring has a simple response: “Dollar for dollar, it’s hard to beat the performance.”
And let’s talk about sound. A set of custom-built headers and Flowmaster Pro Series laminar flow mufflers turn the ADRNLN’s exhaust note into a pure symphony of controlled violence. It’s not just loud—it’s a statement.
Grip and Handling
With that kind of power, the Pantera needed serious grip. Enter HRE S101 three-piece forged wheels—19x9s up front, 19x12s out back—wrapped in Nitto Invo rubber (275s in the front, 345s in the rear). Massive Baer six-piston calipers clamp down on big rotors at all four corners, making sure this monster stops as well as it goes.
Ringbrothers also reworked the chassis and suspension, calling in their friends at Roadster Shop for new front and rear subframes built around C5 Corvette suspension components. Custom tubular control arms, upgraded sway bars, and AFCO Racing monotube shocks keep the ADRNLN planted, whether carving corners or laying down tire-shredding straight-line pulls.
The Skunkworks Interior
Inside, the ADRNLN is unlike any other Pantera on the planet. Designed in collaboration with Nike’s Innovation Skunkworks Design Team, the interior is a study in contrast. The driver’s side screams performance and luxury, with a Recaro racing seat wrapped in high-end leather, a full suite of controls, and an Alpine touchscreen stereo. The passenger’s side? Minimalist and dark, stripped down to nothing but the essentials—no distractions, no extra comforts, not even an A/C vent. This cockpit is all about the driver.
The Final Drive
With the ADRNLN complete, Cheryl took her husband on one last ride—one that was years in the making. Soon after, the car hit the auction block at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, where it was scooped up by none other than Richard Rawlings of Fast N’ Loud fame. Now calling Gas Monkey Garage home, the ADRNLN lives on, a rolling tribute to passion, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of speed.
If there’s one thing this build proves, it’s that dreams—like the Pantera itself—refuse to be forgotten.
ADRNLN SPECS
Drivetrain
Engine: Wegner Motorsports LS3
Power: 600 HP
Intake: Holley Hi-Ram EFI
Transmission: ZF 5-Speed by Bowler
Lubricants: Royal Purple
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: HRE S101 (19x9 Front, 19x12 Rear)
Tires: Nitto Invo (275 Front, 345 Rear)
Brakes & Suspension
Brakes: Baer 6-Piston
Front Suspension: Roadster Shop w/ Custom Tubular Arms
Rear Suspension: Roadster Shop w/ Custom Tubular Arms
Shocks: AFCO Racing Monotube
Exterior & Interior
Paint: BASF Glasurit Yellow Line
Interior: Nike Skunkworks Design
Seats: Recaro
Stereo: Alpine Touchscreen
Exhaust
Headers: Custom Ringbrothers
Mufflers: Flowmaster Pro Series Stainless
This is not just a restoration—it’s a resurrection. The ADRNLN is everything the Pantera was meant to be… and then some.
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