Seems a strange & rather crude modification adding those massive rails under the car.
I would have thought that a better solution was to remove the rockers & either run an internal section of Chrome moly tube, or fabricate a Chrome moly lattice structure space frame to fit within the rockers.
Also, I would have doubted the ability of the Pantera roof to add a great deal of stiffness to the car.
The front pillars are very flimsy & the windscreen is not bonded in like a modern car to aid stiffness.
Recently we removed all of the paint around the bottom of the front pillars, only to find both pillars are cracked through the pressings both sides.
Although the paint was only cracked on one side, could be the original lead filling at the join allowing for the flex?
Anyway, we reinforced this area by cutting out the lead & the cracked sheet metal, welding two sections of 26x6mm flat bar up inside the pillar & down onto the top of the door post, the flatbar forms an L section.
The flatbar sections are plug welded into the pillar sheet metal & the ends of the flatbar fully welded to the door post.
Then re-wrapped in sheet metal to the original shape where it was cut away.
Stronger than the original, but still it’s an area that could do with added strength.
Regards,
Tony.
PANTERA INTERNATIONAL
A DE TOMASO CAR CLUB
Presents the De Tomaso Forums
The On-Line Meeting Place for De Tomaso Owners and Enthusiasts From Around the World
Clicking on the banner will take you to the sponsor's website.