Reply to "2 panteras on ebay"

My Fellow Enthusiast,

The Pantera was once called, "A Bargain Basement Countach Killer" by a major automotive publication back when these cars were competing with each other. I routinely see Panteras for sale that have 100k+ 'restifications' that the sellers are asking late 30's k to 50's k. We're talking about Panteras that are essentially new cars that also have dramatically improved drivetrains and suspensions, amongst other things.

How can these improved 'bargains' perform against the competition of then and now? I've heard that they can outperform the Lambos and Ferarris that cost much more, and are still able to be driven daily (if so desired) for 100k+ miles without major incident! I think that many thousands of dollars would have to be spent in maintenance alone to get that many miles out of either of those marques.

I personally feel that our cars are worth much more than the losses I see being taken. The only reason I can see for this is the perception we have that our cars are worth less than other exotics. Poppycock! I still find it hard to believe that I only paid such a paltry amount to own a beautiful, genuine exotic car!

My opinion is that even if those E-Bay cars sold in the 60-70s k range, those cars are still a bargain, comparatively speaking. Will they get that? Who knows, but what else can you get at those prices that can compare?

The only way the value of our Panteras will be driven up is if we do so, by asking for more and holding out. With such a strong aftermarket, it seems the Pantera is here to stay. As each year passes, the ranks will thin making them exceedingly rarer and worth more.

The Pantera still represents one of the greatest bargains to be had. Isn't it time we took it out of the basement?

Yours Truly,
Michael Elio