quote:Originally posted by Peter H:
The great thing about Pantera ownership is that we can modify our cars to suit our personal preferences without reducing their value. However, past a certain point, you have to ask yourself if it is actually a Pantera you want. The Swiss car in the attached photo is, in my opinion, an insult to Tom Tjaarda. The owner could have cut up a Fiero instead, or just bought a kit car if they wanted to express their lack of any aesthetic sense. Why they had to butcher a beautiful and rare classic is beyond me. Looking at this photo makes me want to weep. Or vomit. Or both.
Peter,
I will respectfully disagree that you can modify a Pantera as pictured in your example and not reduce the car's value. I feel that you would be selling this highly modified car to a very limited market. This example would bring much less than had it not been so dramatically altered from Tom T's original design.
I am also of the opinion that such modified cars have negatively impacted the market perception of Panteras in general and suppressed their values. Exceptions being the strong prices now being seen for original un molested examples. But for such low production combined with incomparable styling and performance these cars should easily bring six figures.
As long as these highly modified styling exercises continue,combined with cross manufacture engines, Pantera values will continue to languish as a perceived hot-rodded kit car to the vast majority of car enthusiasts.
My 2 cents now worth 1.
Jeff