Reply to "1974 Pantera in California $29,995"

Your comment on mileage is a good one. Having owned, bought and sold cars since 1974, I find that most owners have had their engines rebuilt for better or worse over the years. Not many engines are internally stock as this one is and in my view, this could be a plus if the engine has proper compression, etc. Several owners I have met over the years have engines with even more miles than this car and have strongly avoided rebuilding. It seems that some factory engines just run better and more reliably than some rebuilt ones. My first Pantera spun rod bearings at less than ten thousand miles and there was considerable wear and damage to the internals. The engine was subsequently rebuilt with Hi-Po parts and never ran as reliably, economically or cooly.
On the other hand, most customers I have met, can't wait to begin upgrading their engines after purchase. Increasing horsepower and torque are important goals to a large number of enthusiasts and fortunately, the cost of overhauling, replacing and upgrading a 351C is a mere shadow of the cost of doing the same on a Ferrari, Maserati or Lambo (Porsche too). Thus, the proof of the pudding on this engine at over 100K miles may have more to do with the performance as it sits now and the expectations of the purchaser. I believe that the engine is one of the least important things to consider in comparison to coachwork, ZF, originality, etc. Finally, what a person asks for a car generally differs from what he/she may end up receiving. Are you ready to make an offer?
Cordially,
Dave Adler