Reply to "Fall Pantera Run"

Deeb:

Thanks to Mikee's link, I was able to have a closer look at the John Scotti GT5. The engine bay looks dirty but otherwise not too bad. The salesman told me the motor had been freshened up a year ago, and it does look like it has fresh paint on it. Of course, the real questions are how the engine actually runs, what shape the ZF is in, what the car looks like from underneath and what lurks under that new paint job.

Someone installed an aftermarket shift knob and pedal covers. The heater a/c control is the early model, not the Maserati unit that's in every post-1980 GT5 and GT5-S Pantera I have seen. The engine has an aftermarket air cleaner and spreader bar, and I don't think those deck lid struts are original. Also, the valve covers look aftermarket to me, although I have never been clear on whether DeTomaso ever installed ones like them at the factory. Mine were just regular stamped metal.

The interior looks pretty worn, and someone has butchered the dash and door panels with aftermarket stereo speakers. The photos that are still missing are of the front trunk and the rear luggage tub. They appear neither in the web photos nor in the ones the salesman sent me...

Of course you are right that neither of us should be trading our cars in for this one – there simply is no comparison. But then again, we have spent dumpsters of money and untold hours in restoring and upgrading our cars. Unless there are unseen rust issues, someone willing to invest time and money in the John Scotti car could have a nice Pantera at the end of the day. As a friend of mine likes to say, "there are few problems in life that more money won't fix!"

Thanks for taking the time to go down there and have a look at those mirrors for me. I appreciate the trouble you went through, and regret you were subjected to such ridiculous abuse. With that kind of attitude toward potential customers, it's no wonder that GT5 is still sitting in John Scotti's showroom.

BTW, I am flying to Vancouver today and will be meeting with Steve Meausette, who has a radical Weber equipped, bundle of snakes exhaust GT5-style 1972 Pantera that he has modified for a clamshell rear hatch! Steve and I will also try to hook up with Herman Leong who has a white 1982 GT5 that was featured in PI Magazine (and is another car originally imported and sold by John Scotti, incidentally). Steve also wants to take me to Burnaby to Wes Stinson's house to see his collection. Wes has three Panteras including a rare factory Group Three. I plan to take some photos and to ask Steve, Wes and Herman if I may post a few after I get back.

- Peter