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Pantera #4245 - My new '72! Couple of questions

G Guest
Hello everyone. Thanks for all of the help in the "cars wanted" forum.

I flew out to Ohio and drove a 1972 Pantera Pre-L with 21,000 original miles 800 miles back to CT with zero issues. Well that's if you don't count the crackhead that accused my of following him @ 2am in a rest area....

It is a red 1972 Pre-L in very original condition. It's still wearing the narrow Campy's but with new tires.

I do have a couple of questions. It appears to me to be a Pre-L, but with at least some "L" features. It has the frightening engine compartment gas fill. (Any retro kit still available?) It has the seatbelt buzzer unit. It has split rear bumpers with no signs of previous shock resistant pistons ever being installed. They also look the blacked out stock bumpers, not like the Amerisport versions I have seen.

The front is what I'm not sure about. It has split bumpers, but the are plastic? Again, no evidence of crash cans. Also, the signal lights are mounted to the bumper, not molded out of the body. My question is, was this ever a factory install? Or are these some old school replacement bumpers?

Also, how can I determine what engine is installed? ie: 2-bolt vs. 4-bold, compression, etc.

I can't believe how smooth my trip in 90+ degree day, in a 35 year old car went! I held 80-90MPH most of the way overnight & averaged 18-19MPG! Best of all I made it without any mechanical issues.

Forgive the lousy nightime pictures - I will post some updated ones in a few days...

Anybody have some updated Campy clones for sale?
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1973ufo1973ufoTeam Pantera Participant at Sandhills Open Road Race - August 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, & 2013
Congratulations Muscle Maniac on your purchase! If you drove it home with no problems it sounds like you got a good one right off the bat. Appears that you got an early L model as your interior & dash look exactly like my car (#5042). The front bumpers look like the AmeriSport fiberglass split bumpers I've got on my car but your statement that your front lights are part of the bumper & not the body has me a little confused. My bumpers do cover up the old shock mounting holes as yours probably do. Without a pix of your rear split bumpers I can't comment on what they might be. If your engine is anything like mine was (before a rebuild) it's probably an 8.5-1 low compression with open chamber heads. Mine turned out to have 4 bolt mains when we tore it down - not sure if you can determine what yours is from the outside? I too was getting 18-19 mpg on a 1200 mile trip I took before my rebuild which leads me to think your engine is probably similar to what I had before rebuilding it. Good Luck & Have FUN!

Bob
1973ufo1973ufoTeam Pantera Participant at Sandhills Open Road Race - August 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, & 2013
OOPS! Didn't notice your pix #3 showing your rear bumpers first time around. Looks like Euro split bumpers to me. Sure doesn't look like it ever had rear bumper shocks on it unless a former owner had them filled in. Wish mine had come that way.

Bob
panteradougpanteradougMember
I think that this is a 72-L. It might have been modified in the rear to take the European bumpers.
I'm not sure why it doesn't have the front pods for the directionals.
Maybe it is an original Euro car?

Many years ago I had a friend drive from Grosse Pointe Shores, MI to Spara, NJ in a 74 Pantera in 8 hours basically Rt 80 all the way. No problems mechanically but it was almost new then.

I did the trip once in 16 hours cruising around 75 in my Ford Van. Also no problems mechanically. As I recall that gave me an average speed of around 63 mph for the trip.

Lets see, the Pantera did it 1/2 the time so the average speed must have been around 126? Nah can't be...right? Wink
garth66garth66"When speed is the only thing that counts"
Yup, those front bumperettes definitely look like the Amerisport units to convert an L-model front bumper to a pre-L look. If your car was built late in 72 (July/Aug/Sep), it's possible that it could be a change-over car that came with an L-model front bumper, although I've never seen one with the L-model front bumper and the pre-L rear bumperettes. Or, maybe the last owner lost the original pre-L bumperettes and put these on to clean up the look (ask him). I can't tell from the pics if the front turn signals are mounted to/in the front bumperettes or if they're mounted to the body. More detailed pics here would be helpful.

Most important, what's the VIN?

Congrats on finding a car you can drive!
MM Muscle Maniac (Guest)
O.K. back to the bumpers. I took a few shots and can see zero evidence any holes where patched. The car has had one closed door re-spray since new, so it seems unlikely major surgery was performed.. I took a few more close ups.

The speakers are on the center console - is that normal? It was said the Blaupunkt may be original?

Tom, This is the car you drove. I think I may have seen your post here dating back last fall?

Garth, the build date is 8/72. That's funny, my build date was 8/71...
MM Muscle Maniac (Guest)
quote:
GREAT FIND!!! Kinda looks like ours!!! Just curious what size and brand tires does she have?
Jeff


O.K. don't laugh. Kelly "charger" M&S 185/65/15's up front & 225/60/15's in the rear. I probably shouldn't have shot to 130MPH the other night..... The tire/rim combo will probably be the first change.
MM Muscle Maniac (Guest)
Dave,

That is what I was talking about. Where those a factory, or dealer added/aftermarket item?

I'm thinking about switching over to GTS front bumperettes as they are cheaper ($249e vs 399e for chrome) and come in black to match my rears. They also have the signal light integrated in like my pre-l needs. That is if they are still available....
MM Muscle Maniac (Guest)
quote:
If you need rims and tires call Curt at (909) 595-0144.


Does he handle Campy clones or just custom rims? I want to stick with the original look.

I have glasspack type pipes now designed for the L bumper cars (the pipes point back rather then up). What is the best system for the stock pre l look, but with the best performance/sound. Hall Pantera GTS? Pantera Performance Mind Train? Some other stainless clone?
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