DeTomaso Pantera replica
Discussion
A Pantera is Italian styling over cheap reliable U.S. mechanicals - thats what gave its appeal then - thats what will give its appeal now
It beats me why no D.I.Y. ('kit') version has been made in that market --so easy to replicate compard with Countach etc + layout at rear leaves itself open to virtually any engine and tranny - eg tuned 383 + used 911 tranny - make body from glass and kevlar with suitable light tubular chassis on modern suspension honed by Lotus / Prodrive and voila!
1100 kg everyday supercar with 400+ bhp / ton, 0-100 in single figures, fantastic quad pipe sound, spacious, exotic and all for under £20k complete, incl air and leather - guarantee it is not only possible, but surely unavoidable! - Come on you guys, must be somebody working on it...
It is this combination that made cars such as this (of which there were few,) a cult hero
I will take a high quality complete kit for £9k + supply own engine and tranny - anyone else?
It beats me why no D.I.Y. ('kit') version has been made in that market --so easy to replicate compard with Countach etc + layout at rear leaves itself open to virtually any engine and tranny - eg tuned 383 + used 911 tranny - make body from glass and kevlar with suitable light tubular chassis on modern suspension honed by Lotus / Prodrive and voila!
1100 kg everyday supercar with 400+ bhp / ton, 0-100 in single figures, fantastic quad pipe sound, spacious, exotic and all for under £20k complete, incl air and leather - guarantee it is not only possible, but surely unavoidable! - Come on you guys, must be somebody working on it...
It is this combination that made cars such as this (of which there were few,) a cult hero
I will take a high quality complete kit for £9k + supply own engine and tranny - anyone else?
There was a Pantera replica - it was a still born though. Called the Montana by Carlton, it was shown at Stoneleigh once only I think - bright blue GRP shell (got a picture of it somewhere). This was late 80's I think.
Pantera's aren't that expensive to buy to be fair BUT the maintenance costs can be horrific - there was a thread on here not so long ago when Italo did some excellent revision designs with Pantera 'hints'.
Only ever seen one on the road (Ipswich of all places) it was a GT5 and it had the most awesome presence (sound and vision) of any car I've seen before or since - totally brutal!!
Pantera's aren't that expensive to buy to be fair BUT the maintenance costs can be horrific - there was a thread on here not so long ago when Italo did some excellent revision designs with Pantera 'hints'.
Only ever seen one on the road (Ipswich of all places) it was a GT5 and it had the most awesome presence (sound and vision) of any car I've seen before or since - totally brutal!!
Edited by smash on Thursday 3rd April 14:25
Chris71 said:
How much does a genuine Pantera cost these days?
They're certainly not GT40 money and I fear it might be one of those cars where making a truly credible replica would cost almost as much as an original.
not looked for some time however they were absolute rust buckets - easier, cheaper and better to start again if a close eye is kept on costThey're certainly not GT40 money and I fear it might be one of those cars where making a truly credible replica would cost almost as much as an original.
I've seen basket cases from £15k with some quite nice useable ones starting in the low £20ks for early to mid '70's cars.
It's when you start getting into the later GT5S cars the prices start to get pricey although this isn't a bad one here
So you could get a real one as you say for the cost of building a copy.
It's when you start getting into the later GT5S cars the prices start to get pricey although this isn't a bad one here
So you could get a real one as you say for the cost of building a copy.
Sam_68 said:
.........spoooky ....genuinely hadnt seen that!!!proof, if proof were needed that a FAITHFUL repro at the right price would have a ready following a la 246 Dino - quite fancy the new Classics one if it is as good as appears and chassis and suspension develop / check out
a 500 bhp 1100 kg Pantera clone is a realistic DIY supercar dream and frankly I suspect could be brought to market at a price that would allow completion in the £20k bracket - using the originals philosophy of exotic Italian styling and everyday costs and practicality....
Bring it on, and dont screw up the looks -- needs to be faithful unless there is a special designer out there we dont know about who can add subtle flourishes - I cant imagine any I would like - loved the simple 70s italian interior too -- all sooo cheap to reproduce
Whilst the Ultima is the everymans Pagani, this would be the everyman's Ultima.... - there are a lot more people not loaded, than loaded and those generally dont mind getting there hands dirty creating their Goliath slayer...
Lone Granger said:
Sam_68 said:
.........spoooky ....genuinely hadnt seen that!!!proof, if proof were needed that a FAITHFUL repro at the right price would have a ready following
AdamW said:
Lone Granger said:
Sam_68 said:
.........spoooky ....genuinely hadnt seen that!!!proof, if proof were needed that a FAITHFUL repro at the right price would have a ready following
smash said:
There was a Pantera replica - it was a still born though. Called the Montana by Carlton, it was shown at Stoneleigh once only I think - bright blue GRP shell (got a picture of it somewhere). This was late 80's I think.
there was a thread on here not so long ago when Italo did some excellent revision designs with Pantera 'hints'.
Thanks Smash...there was a thread on here not so long ago when Italo did some excellent revision designs with Pantera 'hints'.
Edited by smash on Thursday 3rd April 14:25
I had forgotten about it, but I think it was in the Mr2 thread.
Italo
Lone Granger said:
AdamW said:
Lone Granger said:
Sam_68 said:
.........spoooky ....genuinely hadnt seen that!!!proof, if proof were needed that a FAITHFUL repro at the right price would have a ready following
, with some detail design changes you could come up with a modern update, and still retain the basic look.But who is going to put the money in such an expensive project ?, can't see a kitcar manufacturer doing it at the moment, but could be wrong.....
Italo
Lone Granger said:
Pleeese let Stoneleigh bring this about - like the option of the earlier narrow bodied variant, then as per real thing evolve into wider body..
Hi David, it all depends on the good will and development money invested in the project, by a kitcar manufacturer.I'm sure if someone identifies a niche market, just as some have with Diablo Replicas........maybe Parallel Design could work out something, their chassis could fit the new Pantera design
Lone Granger said:
Chris71 said:
How much does a genuine Pantera cost these days?
They're certainly not GT40 money and I fear it might be one of those cars where making a truly credible replica would cost almost as much as an original.
not looked for some time however they were absolute rust buckets - easier, cheaper and better to start again if a close eye is kept on costThey're certainly not GT40 money and I fear it might be one of those cars where making a truly credible replica would cost almost as much as an original.
Any replica would obviously need a big American V8, a mid engined chassis and a convincing body/interior in other words you'd need something similar to the Ultimas and decent GT40 replicas that seem to start at about £20k on the secondhand market. From what was said above, that's almost the cost of a basic Pantera. Under those circumstances I'd save for a few extra months and get the real thing.
Chris71 said:
Lone Granger said:
Chris71 said:
How much does a genuine Pantera cost these days?
They're certainly not GT40 money and I fear it might be one of those cars where making a truly credible replica would cost almost as much as an original.
not looked for some time however they were absolute rust buckets - easier, cheaper and better to start again if a close eye is kept on costThey're certainly not GT40 money and I fear it might be one of those cars where making a truly credible replica would cost almost as much as an original.
Any replica would obviously need a big American V8, a mid engined chassis and a convincing body/interior in other words you'd need something similar to the Ultimas and decent GT40 replicas that seem to start at about £20k on the secondhand market. From what was said above, that's almost the cost of a basic Pantera. Under those circumstances I'd save for a few extra months and get the real thing.
True, but personally if 400bhp/ton and RHD were the key requirements, rather than being a Pantera I'd consider any number of other cars.
A left hand drive car with the base spec engine is still going to be a more authentic experience (indeed a 100% authentic one) than all but the best replicas.
I'm aware it comes down to personal preference, but I'm of the opinion that if I can tell the difference between the replica and the original, or if I could ever afford the original then I wouldn't bother.
Commercially I guess there are plenty of people who would disagree with me, but I just think that comparing a £50,000 GT40 replica to a £500,000 original or even a £5,000 MR2 F355 to a £50,000 original is very different to comparing £30,000 of replica to £40,000 of original.
A left hand drive car with the base spec engine is still going to be a more authentic experience (indeed a 100% authentic one) than all but the best replicas.
I'm aware it comes down to personal preference, but I'm of the opinion that if I can tell the difference between the replica and the original, or if I could ever afford the original then I wouldn't bother.
Commercially I guess there are plenty of people who would disagree with me, but I just think that comparing a £50,000 GT40 replica to a £500,000 original or even a £5,000 MR2 F355 to a £50,000 original is very different to comparing £30,000 of replica to £40,000 of original.
On the flipside Parallel designs are still selling their Diablo replica which will prolly cost in excess of £30K against real Diablos starting around 40K - so it could work as a business.
Bear in mind the exclusivity of the Pantera compared to any other supercar about - they really are quite rare - and you could see demand.
Bear in mind the exclusivity of the Pantera compared to any other supercar about - they really are quite rare - and you could see demand.
A decent GT5 will cost you £50K plus - yes the early 70's Ls are half that but it's a bit like comparing a slab side 289 with a 427 - you want the 427!
Ford small blocks are easy to get hold of and cheap to rebuild - £20Kish build is realistic with same (more likely more) power as real Pantera.
I do wonder why we don't see more bespoke bodies for existing kit chasis - afterall it's only borrowing a leaf out of the mass production market - how many cars share common floorpans these days? the kit industry needs to smarten up a bit - no point in reinventing the wheel! If there's a great chassis out there why not use it and save serious dvelopment costs.
Anyway just to remind us of the shear brutal beauty of the Pantera (and this is the GT4 - the widest badass of the bunch!). . .
From wildpantera.com
Ford small blocks are easy to get hold of and cheap to rebuild - £20Kish build is realistic with same (more likely more) power as real Pantera.
I do wonder why we don't see more bespoke bodies for existing kit chasis - afterall it's only borrowing a leaf out of the mass production market - how many cars share common floorpans these days? the kit industry needs to smarten up a bit - no point in reinventing the wheel! If there's a great chassis out there why not use it and save serious dvelopment costs.
Anyway just to remind us of the shear brutal beauty of the Pantera (and this is the GT4 - the widest badass of the bunch!). . .
From wildpantera.com
Edited by smash on Tuesday 8th April 23:00
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