My 1972 De Tomaso Pantera
Discussion
tberg said:
rig43p,
Thank you for your kind comments, they've made my day! And the offer's always open, find your way to southern California and you're welcome to take it out for a day.
Goodness me, now there's an offer! It's only a 5hr drive from me up in San Francisco Thank you for your kind comments, they've made my day! And the offer's always open, find your way to southern California and you're welcome to take it out for a day.
What a fantastic looking thing. I bet it drives better than any other Pantera out there at this point!
rig43p,
Come on down! It'll be waiting for you. I have promised myself that one year when I'm confident that it won't break down along the way, I'm going to drive it up on Concorso Italiano at Pebble Beach. Each year, a large contingent of Pantera owners converge there, and I'd like to do it as well. Maybe after my vapor lock issue is cured once and for all, I'll do it, and you can meet me there. Until then, you're always welcome.
Come on down! It'll be waiting for you. I have promised myself that one year when I'm confident that it won't break down along the way, I'm going to drive it up on Concorso Italiano at Pebble Beach. Each year, a large contingent of Pantera owners converge there, and I'd like to do it as well. Maybe after my vapor lock issue is cured once and for all, I'll do it, and you can meet me there. Until then, you're always welcome.
Abbott,
How observant of you to notice the flush glass. The interesting thing is just the stainless trim and rubber gasket for the original windshield, not the glass itself, is more expensive than the flush glass windshield itself (where you don't need any of that). And every Pantera including mine that has that trim has a joining piece that is not very good fitting and ruins the look. Since I never bought the car for investment purposes, I don't care if it isn't true to the original, IT'S BETTER! And it makes the car look so much more contemporary. The leather on the seats, dash, and firewall aren't true to the original either (as well as the Corvette seats), but it makes the car more comfortable, more enjoyable, more luxurious. It's not for anyone else's benefit, it's for me.
Thanks for you comments, I really do appreciate it.
Ted
How observant of you to notice the flush glass. The interesting thing is just the stainless trim and rubber gasket for the original windshield, not the glass itself, is more expensive than the flush glass windshield itself (where you don't need any of that). And every Pantera including mine that has that trim has a joining piece that is not very good fitting and ruins the look. Since I never bought the car for investment purposes, I don't care if it isn't true to the original, IT'S BETTER! And it makes the car look so much more contemporary. The leather on the seats, dash, and firewall aren't true to the original either (as well as the Corvette seats), but it makes the car more comfortable, more enjoyable, more luxurious. It's not for anyone else's benefit, it's for me.
Thanks for you comments, I really do appreciate it.
Ted
I can unreservedly say that your car gets my vote for best restoration of a Pantera, your styling choices are very sympathetic to the original design - it is subtle yet the tweaks & upgrades that only reveal themselves with detailed viewing just adds to the impressiveness. Thanks for sharing this beauty.
Keen to help with the vapour lock issue - can you show a photo of the intake system & engine bay? Also details of the ECU you running?
Keen to help with the vapour lock issue - can you show a photo of the intake system & engine bay? Also details of the ECU you running?
By the "little black things" I am assuming you're speaking of the tiny black "bumperettes" under the pop-up headlights. These were the original front bumpers on the Pantera for 1971-mid-year 1972. Originally chrome, I had them blackened. End of 1972, when the "L" model appeared, the U.S. bound cars got the large black 5mph bumpers front and back along with a flat dashboard without the speedo and tachometer pods.
First things I noticed about your car was the flush windscreen and bigger wheels, but the wheels look so factory and “right” it only helps to enhance the visual impact.
Never lusted after these, but I feel that’s my loss. Your Pantera is a stunner, as overused as that term often is. It also serves to highlight how the original clean versions of Italian Supercars are the purest and date the least (original Murcielago vs late models, early Gallardo vs late models) because they aren’t festooned with big wings and gaudy sideskirts.
Hopefully you get the vapour-lock problem sorted. What is the engine? I just read 351C, which i assume means a 351ci? Ford small block?
Never lusted after these, but I feel that’s my loss. Your Pantera is a stunner, as overused as that term often is. It also serves to highlight how the original clean versions of Italian Supercars are the purest and date the least (original Murcielago vs late models, early Gallardo vs late models) because they aren’t festooned with big wings and gaudy sideskirts.
Hopefully you get the vapour-lock problem sorted. What is the engine? I just read 351C, which i assume means a 351ci? Ford small block?
tberg said:
By the "little black things" I am assuming you're speaking of the tiny black "bumperettes" under the pop-up headlights. These were the original front bumpers on the Pantera for 1971-mid-year 1972. Originally chrome, I had them blackened. End of 1972, when the "L" model appeared, the U.S. bound cars got the large black 5mph bumpers front and back along with a flat dashboard without the speedo and tachometer pods.
Yeh, that's them - Glad you weren't saddled with the giant ugly bumpers. Do they still have to stay on the car?tberg said:
Abbott,
How observant of you to notice the flush glass. The interesting thing is just the stainless trim and rubber gasket for the original windshield, not the glass itself, is more expensive than the flush glass windshield itself (where you don't need any of that). And every Pantera including mine that has that trim has a joining piece that is not very good fitting and ruins the look. Since I never bought the car for investment purposes, I don't care if it isn't true to the original, IT'S BETTER! And it makes the car look so much more contemporary. The leather on the seats, dash, and firewall aren't true to the original either (as well as the Corvette seats), but it makes the car more comfortable, more enjoyable, more luxurious. It's not for anyone else's benefit, it's for me.
Thanks for you comments, I really do appreciate it.
Ted
this is what car ownership is about - enjoy it and do what ever you want to do to it for YOU. If an owner in the future doesn't like it they can put it to their taste!How observant of you to notice the flush glass. The interesting thing is just the stainless trim and rubber gasket for the original windshield, not the glass itself, is more expensive than the flush glass windshield itself (where you don't need any of that). And every Pantera including mine that has that trim has a joining piece that is not very good fitting and ruins the look. Since I never bought the car for investment purposes, I don't care if it isn't true to the original, IT'S BETTER! And it makes the car look so much more contemporary. The leather on the seats, dash, and firewall aren't true to the original either (as well as the Corvette seats), but it makes the car more comfortable, more enjoyable, more luxurious. It's not for anyone else's benefit, it's for me.
Thanks for you comments, I really do appreciate it.
Ted
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