Anyone know much about the De Tomaso Pantera? Values?

[RussBost]

Was browsing the classifieds & came across this Pantera

link

So what's wrong with it? it's about half the price of most UK Panteras, but from the ad certainly looks like a nice car, done a few more miles than some of the more expensive ones, but 55,000 isn't exactly a lot, however, I have always found if something looks too good to be true it usually is! Anyone know anything about, or had any dealings with the seller, Arjun Auto?

I have also been looking at another one, similar age, but has (or should have) the big rear spoiler as opposed to the roof spoiler, but it's missing, how hard is that going to be to find a replacement for?

Also any info on the different variations across the years would be interesting, they seem to have had several iterations of rear spoiler & various differing exhaust setups amongst other bits that differ

[dang2407]

It is LHD and also when I saw it on another website, the interior looked tatty. I inquired about it a few months back but the owner was very vague and said he already had a buyer. I didn't persue it any further...

[RussBost]

Does the LHD make a significant difference on the Pantera, RHD ones are very rare indeed?

[Doofus]

LHD doesn't make a huge difference. That one is US-spec, which isn't popular, because of the impact bumpers.

[Scrimper]

Prices have risen rapidly on these recently. This is a "cheap" US import. There are many modified cars that emulate the later wider arch models (like GT5), most of these standard American cars are going thta way. Really depends what you want, i hate the US spec front bumper but perhaps you could get it replaced. Engines are reasonably cheap but the gearbox is main thing to look out for on these cars.

[kev b]

What about rust?

[Scrimper]

kev b said:

What about rust?

As long as only cosmetic rust is reasonably easily addressed. If an older car needs body work, most people put a wide arch kit on.

[Yipper]

Fantastic cars. Loads of character. Half Italian thoroughbred, half American muscle car. Prefer them with a big wing.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[The Surveyor]

Scrimper said:

kev b said:

What about rust?

As long as only cosmetic rust is reasonably easily addressed. If an older car needs body work, most people put a wide arch kit on.

Like most cars of this era, the rust will never be just cosmetic. When they were cheap, they were bodged so check very carefully for cosmetic rust, and even more carefully for structural rust. Electrics are fragile but with the exception of the transaxle, the mechanicals are relatively simple.

[RussBost]

Having established that it has the wrong interior, exhausts & wheels amongst other things it does appear to be somewhat "messed with", that along with the ugly bumpers are probably sufficient reason for it not to be worthy of further inspection - Ho Humm - back to the drawing board ................

[steveirl]

The Surveyor said:

Scrimper said:

kev b said:

What about rust?

As long as only cosmetic rust is reasonably easily addressed. If an older car needs body work, most people put a wide arch kit on.

Like most cars of this era, the rust will never be just cosmetic. When they were cheap, they were bodged so check very carefully for cosmetic rust, and even more carefully for structural rust. Electrics are fragile but with the exception of the transaxle, the mechanicals are relatively simple.

On the button advice here, in fact, cosmetic rust is more likely to be a sign of a deeper rooted problem with rust in the underlying chassis structure. They are no worse than other Italian exotics from the same era, which doesnt say much, but so many 70\80s Italians have been cheaply repaired because properly sorting them is a time consuming and costly process.
I can't comment on that car, but with any Pantera check the usual areas such as door bottoms, windscreen base, floor, and get underneath and poke at the suspension mount points, front crossmember under the radiator, rear chassis legs and under the engine mounts and sills, also the rear decklid is double skinned and a pain to repair if it is rusted. The mechanicals would be the least worrysome, The transaxle is tough if well maintained, but expensive to repair.
Charismatic cars, I bought one in 2003, one of my all time favorites..regret selling it a few years ago, but I have bought another.