I don't post a lot on the site but I read a lot and I love the heck out of this community. As a caretaker of two Panteras, I have tried my best to positively promote awareness of our marque and dispel many rumors and bad press surrounding it. With that said, I will pause to put on my flame suit for a bit for the next part.
I have been noticing a trend lately in the posts written concerning the values of our cars and the condition of certain cars whether for sale or not. None of this hasn't been mentioned before but maybe it should be again.
IMO we are our own worst enemy concerning values of our cars. It is the owners stating they aren't worth that amount or some other nonsense. Why I ask? Why are our cars lesser than a like period Countach that are seeing prices of $400k? The Miura? The Daytona? Why? They don't have fewer problems than our cars do. I can see production numbers being higher but that is about it. Pedigree and racing history falls short in that there is racing history and pictures of said history and many other Italian cars with American engines from that time with limited or no racing history that bring more money than ours. Speaking of the American engine argument, that doesn't work either. Use current Mangusta prices as an example to stop that rebuttal. Please help me understand why our cars are somehow not worth as much as the others? I see a bargain in the cars plain and simple.
My second point of observation is about many discussions always going back to how the car MUST be original. I have been around collector cars all my life and I understand "investor" cars and the push for originality and part coding even if the part is a weak link in the car. Yes, our cars have become known for customization aka "molesting" or "butchering" in many posts. The point of a car being absolutely original has been beaten to death more lately than ever before. The horse is dead, why beat it into every post? I also find it interesting that the highest prices I have seen fetched for Panteras recently have been for cars that were not stock, (Ring Brothers). I understand a single sale, especially a celebrity is not a true representation of the overall market but it is still a sale and still interesting.
This observation hits home a bit more with me as both of my cars have group 4 flares. I bought them as group 4 cars and kept them that way. I like the look of the factory racing cars. Maybe a little hypocritical here but I kept the body modifications true to the original group 4 appearance as seen in the 70s. My finished car is always a crowd favorite and I am repeatedly flattered with awards and show wins. I have been offered large numbers for the car but that would be like selling a family member to me. Anyway, this forum should make all enthusiasts feel welcome and I think George has done an excellent job trying to do just that. After reading many posts lately, IMO the use of offensive terms to describe any customization has been increasing to the point where I, for one, don't feel as welcome here. I am not trying to start trouble or stir the pot... Just expressing an opinion and voicing observations. Flame away.
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