Supercars Spotted Thread
Discussion
Last Sunday, I went out for a show and drive with a group called Malibu Autobahn. It met in a shopping center parking lot between the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County for a two hour meet and greet, followed by a 90 minute spirited run through the back roads of the Santa Monica mountains out to Pacific Coast Highway to a follow up meet at Zuma Beach in Malibu. A little over 300 cars participated in both the show and the drive, mostly exotics but plenty of BMWs, Mercedes, Corvettes, Audis, Mustangs, etc. Dozens of Lambos, McLarens, Ferraris, Porsches, F-types, a lot of Astons (Galpin Aston was the sponsor and displayed the first Vantage Convertble in the US) and many, many others. Several of my friends participated, and we went to lunch just up the coast at the famous Paradise Cove Cafe. All in all a great Sunday morning for me and my Pantera. 
tberg said:
Last Sunday, I went out for a show and drive with a group called Malibu Autobahn. It met in a shopping center parking lot between the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County for a two hour meet and greet, followed by a 90 minute spirited run through the back roads of the Santa Monica mountains out to Pacific Coast Highway to a follow up meet at Zuma Beach in Malibu. A little over 300 cars participated in both the show and the drive, mostly exotics but plenty of BMWs, Mercedes, Corvettes, Audis, Mustangs, etc. Dozens of Lambos, McLarens, Ferraris, Porsches, F-types, a lot of Astons (Galpin Aston was the sponsor and displayed the first Vantage Convertble in the US) and many, many others. Several of my friends participated, and we went to lunch just up the coast at the famous Paradise Cove Cafe. All in all a great Sunday morning for me and my Pantera.
Wait, what!!!? That Pantera is yours? Cooool. Always wondered what they're like to drive, so.... what's it like to drive? 
trackdemon,
Yes, that's my Pantera. As to what it's like to drive, that takes some conversation. I've had her for about 18 years, but about 6-7 years ago, I could count on 1 hand how many miles I drove it per year. Because I didn't drive it much, starting it was always a chore, pulling the air cleaner, dumping gas into the carb, running back into the car to try and start it, running back out to screw on the air cleaner (if it stayed started). Typically I had to do this 3 or 4 times, so it was a 30 min job just to start. And in 2013, when I bought my 5.0L Jaguar XKR tuned to 600 hp, I had a quicker, more comfortable, more reliable easier to drive supercar that didn't care if it was above 70*F outside or if there was traffic. So I gave up driving it at all. I made a decision about 5 years ago to either get rid of it or make it a car I wanted to drive rather than resented driving. The first order of business was to change it to fuel injection. Why I didn't do this 18 years ago is beyond me. Now first time a turn of the key and it roars to life. Then we replaced the non-original, non 351 Cleveland engine with a built 500+hp Cleveland, ripped out the entire interior, replaced the seats with C-4 Corvette seats with diamond quilted leather upholstery on every surface including the dash, firewall, seats, console etc. We tidied up the transmission, added headers and new exhaust, cleaned up some suspension issues, and resprayed the whole car. In the year I've had it back from 4+ years of modification and restoration, I've driven it more than the previous 10 years combined. As to how it drives, the first through third acceleration is brutally quick although you can't quick shift the transmission but instead have to make very deliberate shifting. Without power steering, tight curves are a bit ponderous but provide a lot of road feel. And since my size 14 feet cover the gas, brake, and clutch pedal with shoes on since they're spaced so closely, I drive the car barefooted. There is slight power assist on the brakes so when you have to stand hard on the pedal with bare feet, it's a bit scary. When I first bought the car, I upgraded the brake system with new, larger rotors, so the brakes are actually quite good. But being only about 40" off the ground makes every trip an adventure that feels like you're doing a 130mph, because it's really more of a rocket powered go-cart. The ride is surprisingly not that rough, visibility isn't terrible either. Anytime you want to venture to Los Angeles, you're certainly welcome to take her out for a day. In the land of exotic cars, Los Angeles, it still garners a hell of a lot of attention, and its shape and proportion still looks better than anything Lamborghini has made since the Miura.
Yes, that's my Pantera. As to what it's like to drive, that takes some conversation. I've had her for about 18 years, but about 6-7 years ago, I could count on 1 hand how many miles I drove it per year. Because I didn't drive it much, starting it was always a chore, pulling the air cleaner, dumping gas into the carb, running back into the car to try and start it, running back out to screw on the air cleaner (if it stayed started). Typically I had to do this 3 or 4 times, so it was a 30 min job just to start. And in 2013, when I bought my 5.0L Jaguar XKR tuned to 600 hp, I had a quicker, more comfortable, more reliable easier to drive supercar that didn't care if it was above 70*F outside or if there was traffic. So I gave up driving it at all. I made a decision about 5 years ago to either get rid of it or make it a car I wanted to drive rather than resented driving. The first order of business was to change it to fuel injection. Why I didn't do this 18 years ago is beyond me. Now first time a turn of the key and it roars to life. Then we replaced the non-original, non 351 Cleveland engine with a built 500+hp Cleveland, ripped out the entire interior, replaced the seats with C-4 Corvette seats with diamond quilted leather upholstery on every surface including the dash, firewall, seats, console etc. We tidied up the transmission, added headers and new exhaust, cleaned up some suspension issues, and resprayed the whole car. In the year I've had it back from 4+ years of modification and restoration, I've driven it more than the previous 10 years combined. As to how it drives, the first through third acceleration is brutally quick although you can't quick shift the transmission but instead have to make very deliberate shifting. Without power steering, tight curves are a bit ponderous but provide a lot of road feel. And since my size 14 feet cover the gas, brake, and clutch pedal with shoes on since they're spaced so closely, I drive the car barefooted. There is slight power assist on the brakes so when you have to stand hard on the pedal with bare feet, it's a bit scary. When I first bought the car, I upgraded the brake system with new, larger rotors, so the brakes are actually quite good. But being only about 40" off the ground makes every trip an adventure that feels like you're doing a 130mph, because it's really more of a rocket powered go-cart. The ride is surprisingly not that rough, visibility isn't terrible either. Anytime you want to venture to Los Angeles, you're certainly welcome to take her out for a day. In the land of exotic cars, Los Angeles, it still garners a hell of a lot of attention, and its shape and proportion still looks better than anything Lamborghini has made since the Miura.
tberg said:
trackdemon,
Yes, that's my Pantera. As to what it's like to drive, that takes some conversation. I've had her for about 18 years, but about 6-7 years ago, I could count on 1 hand how many miles I drove it per year. Because I didn't drive it much, starting it was always a chore, pulling the air cleaner, dumping gas into the carb, running back into the car to try and start it, running back out to screw on the air cleaner (if it stayed started). Typically I had to do this 3 or 4 times, so it was a 30 min job just to start. And in 2013, when I bought my 5.0L Jaguar XKR tuned to 600 hp, I had a quicker, more comfortable, more reliable easier to drive supercar that didn't care if it was above 70*F outside or if there was traffic. So I gave up driving it at all. I made a decision about 5 years ago to either get rid of it or make it a car I wanted to drive rather than resented driving. The first order of business was to change it to fuel injection. Why I didn't do this 18 years ago is beyond me. Now first time a turn of the key and it roars to life. Then we replaced the non-original, non 351 Cleveland engine with a built 500+hp Cleveland, ripped out the entire interior, replaced the seats with C-4 Corvette seats with diamond quilted leather upholstery on every surface including the dash, firewall, seats, console etc. We tidied up the transmission, added headers and new exhaust, cleaned up some suspension issues, and resprayed the whole car. In the year I've had it back from 4+ years of modification and restoration, I've driven it more than the previous 10 years combined. As to how it drives, the first through third acceleration is brutally quick although you can't quick shift the transmission but instead have to make very deliberate shifting. Without power steering, tight curves are a bit ponderous but provide a lot of road feel. And since my size 14 feet cover the gas, brake, and clutch pedal with shoes on since they're spaced so closely, I drive the car barefooted. There is slight power assist on the brakes so when you have to stand hard on the pedal with bare feet, it's a bit scary. When I first bought the car, I upgraded the brake system with new, larger rotors, so the brakes are actually quite good. But being only about 40" off the ground makes every trip an adventure that feels like you're doing a 130mph, because it's really more of a rocket powered go-cart. The ride is surprisingly not that rough, visibility isn't terrible either. Anytime you want to venture to Los Angeles, you're certainly welcome to take her out for a day. In the land of exotic cars, Los Angeles, it still garners a hell of a lot of attention, and its shape and proportion still looks better than anything Lamborghini has made since the Miura.
My god that`s cool. And it sounds like you totally deserve it, good on you!Yes, that's my Pantera. As to what it's like to drive, that takes some conversation. I've had her for about 18 years, but about 6-7 years ago, I could count on 1 hand how many miles I drove it per year. Because I didn't drive it much, starting it was always a chore, pulling the air cleaner, dumping gas into the carb, running back into the car to try and start it, running back out to screw on the air cleaner (if it stayed started). Typically I had to do this 3 or 4 times, so it was a 30 min job just to start. And in 2013, when I bought my 5.0L Jaguar XKR tuned to 600 hp, I had a quicker, more comfortable, more reliable easier to drive supercar that didn't care if it was above 70*F outside or if there was traffic. So I gave up driving it at all. I made a decision about 5 years ago to either get rid of it or make it a car I wanted to drive rather than resented driving. The first order of business was to change it to fuel injection. Why I didn't do this 18 years ago is beyond me. Now first time a turn of the key and it roars to life. Then we replaced the non-original, non 351 Cleveland engine with a built 500+hp Cleveland, ripped out the entire interior, replaced the seats with C-4 Corvette seats with diamond quilted leather upholstery on every surface including the dash, firewall, seats, console etc. We tidied up the transmission, added headers and new exhaust, cleaned up some suspension issues, and resprayed the whole car. In the year I've had it back from 4+ years of modification and restoration, I've driven it more than the previous 10 years combined. As to how it drives, the first through third acceleration is brutally quick although you can't quick shift the transmission but instead have to make very deliberate shifting. Without power steering, tight curves are a bit ponderous but provide a lot of road feel. And since my size 14 feet cover the gas, brake, and clutch pedal with shoes on since they're spaced so closely, I drive the car barefooted. There is slight power assist on the brakes so when you have to stand hard on the pedal with bare feet, it's a bit scary. When I first bought the car, I upgraded the brake system with new, larger rotors, so the brakes are actually quite good. But being only about 40" off the ground makes every trip an adventure that feels like you're doing a 130mph, because it's really more of a rocket powered go-cart. The ride is surprisingly not that rough, visibility isn't terrible either. Anytime you want to venture to Los Angeles, you're certainly welcome to take her out for a day. In the land of exotic cars, Los Angeles, it still garners a hell of a lot of attention, and its shape and proportion still looks better than anything Lamborghini has made since the Miura.
tberg said:
trackdemon,
Yes, that's my Pantera. As to what it's like to drive, that takes some conversation. I've had her for about 18 years, but about 6-7 years ago, I could count on 1 hand how many miles I drove it per year. Because I didn't drive it much, starting it was always a chore, pulling the air cleaner, dumping gas into the carb, running back into the car to try and start it, running back out to screw on the air cleaner (if it stayed started). Typically I had to do this 3 or 4 times, so it was a 30 min job just to start. And in 2013, when I bought my 5.0L Jaguar XKR tuned to 600 hp, I had a quicker, more comfortable, more reliable easier to drive supercar that didn't care if it was above 70*F outside or if there was traffic. So I gave up driving it at all. I made a decision about 5 years ago to either get rid of it or make it a car I wanted to drive rather than resented driving. The first order of business was to change it to fuel injection. Why I didn't do this 18 years ago is beyond me. Now first time a turn of the key and it roars to life. Then we replaced the non-original, non 351 Cleveland engine with a built 500+hp Cleveland, ripped out the entire interior, replaced the seats with C-4 Corvette seats with diamond quilted leather upholstery on every surface including the dash, firewall, seats, console etc. We tidied up the transmission, added headers and new exhaust, cleaned up some suspension issues, and resprayed the whole car. In the year I've had it back from 4+ years of modification and restoration, I've driven it more than the previous 10 years combined. As to how it drives, the first through third acceleration is brutally quick although you can't quick shift the transmission but instead have to make very deliberate shifting. Without power steering, tight curves are a bit ponderous but provide a lot of road feel. And since my size 14 feet cover the gas, brake, and clutch pedal with shoes on since they're spaced so closely, I drive the car barefooted. There is slight power assist on the brakes so when you have to stand hard on the pedal with bare feet, it's a bit scary. When I first bought the car, I upgraded the brake system with new, larger rotors, so the brakes are actually quite good. But being only about 40" off the ground makes every trip an adventure that feels like you're doing a 130mph, because it's really more of a rocket powered go-cart. The ride is surprisingly not that rough, visibility isn't terrible either. Anytime you want to venture to Los Angeles, you're certainly welcome to take her out for a day. In the land of exotic cars, Los Angeles, it still garners a hell of a lot of attention, and its shape and proportion still looks better than anything Lamborghini has made since the Miura.
Can't believe I missed this reply! Sounds like you've done a kinda restomod on it, retaining the fantastic look and feel of that period of car with a chunk more performance and reliability. I love it. Should I find myself in LA I'll certainly give you a shout, very generous offer!, would make a fantastic magazine feature. Some wonderful roads to the North ideal for a beautiful photoshoot....Yes, that's my Pantera. As to what it's like to drive, that takes some conversation. I've had her for about 18 years, but about 6-7 years ago, I could count on 1 hand how many miles I drove it per year. Because I didn't drive it much, starting it was always a chore, pulling the air cleaner, dumping gas into the carb, running back into the car to try and start it, running back out to screw on the air cleaner (if it stayed started). Typically I had to do this 3 or 4 times, so it was a 30 min job just to start. And in 2013, when I bought my 5.0L Jaguar XKR tuned to 600 hp, I had a quicker, more comfortable, more reliable easier to drive supercar that didn't care if it was above 70*F outside or if there was traffic. So I gave up driving it at all. I made a decision about 5 years ago to either get rid of it or make it a car I wanted to drive rather than resented driving. The first order of business was to change it to fuel injection. Why I didn't do this 18 years ago is beyond me. Now first time a turn of the key and it roars to life. Then we replaced the non-original, non 351 Cleveland engine with a built 500+hp Cleveland, ripped out the entire interior, replaced the seats with C-4 Corvette seats with diamond quilted leather upholstery on every surface including the dash, firewall, seats, console etc. We tidied up the transmission, added headers and new exhaust, cleaned up some suspension issues, and resprayed the whole car. In the year I've had it back from 4+ years of modification and restoration, I've driven it more than the previous 10 years combined. As to how it drives, the first through third acceleration is brutally quick although you can't quick shift the transmission but instead have to make very deliberate shifting. Without power steering, tight curves are a bit ponderous but provide a lot of road feel. And since my size 14 feet cover the gas, brake, and clutch pedal with shoes on since they're spaced so closely, I drive the car barefooted. There is slight power assist on the brakes so when you have to stand hard on the pedal with bare feet, it's a bit scary. When I first bought the car, I upgraded the brake system with new, larger rotors, so the brakes are actually quite good. But being only about 40" off the ground makes every trip an adventure that feels like you're doing a 130mph, because it's really more of a rocket powered go-cart. The ride is surprisingly not that rough, visibility isn't terrible either. Anytime you want to venture to Los Angeles, you're certainly welcome to take her out for a day. In the land of exotic cars, Los Angeles, it still garners a hell of a lot of attention, and its shape and proportion still looks better than anything Lamborghini has made since the Miura.
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