Reply to "High Dollar Pantera market heats up..."

Here is a different perspective.

This is my own opinion from a non owner. So take it for what it is.


A bit over 3 years ago I decided that I wanted a Pantera. So much so, that I was willing to sell off everything I owned. Decades of collecting, hard work, and dreams massed up an approximate value of 30K+ in stuff.

At that time (3-4 years ago) you could get a very decent driving car for that. In addition to that I found many solid project cars in the 20K range some even less.

So finally I did manage to sell all my stuff and ended up getting less than I wanted for it, such as life. This was about a year ago. So in that short amount of time prices seemed to about double. Project cars where starting around 30K and decent drivers about 40K+. I got completely priced out.


Cats on this and other forums would be very supportive to wannabe owners and say very encouraging things like "Just keep on saving up. It might take a while but you will get there."

So lets look into that in today"s market. How long would it take to save up to buy a Pantera? We will pretend that it is possible for me to save up 1K a month. How long would it take? You may say 4 - 5 years and your good to go. However, if values continue like they are, in 4 - 5 years I would maybe be only half way there for the same car. Then to continue on to another 4 - 5 years to still only be at 75% of current values, and so on and so on. Sure at some point it would level out and maybe in12 years from now I could get a Pantera. All of this assumes saving $1000.00 a month. That is not even close to possible for me at this time in my life.



Another option is to finance a car. I did look into this. It would lock in the current pricing, plus interest of course. However, I not a fan of debt. It is one thing to save for a decade. It is another thing entirely to be in debt for a decade.

I could go on for days about the many reasons why the Pantera is awesome. One thing that was a bit of a surprise is how awesome the other owners are. This forum is a great testament to that. In addition to the local chapter here, shout out to Great lakes Panteras. You cats are so nice, and so helpful, and full of so much knowledge and wisdom that I read this forum regularly still even though I may never get a Pantera. A lot of the other fancy marque clubs do not have the same kind of folks in them as found here.

Sharkey states "we owners need to stick together as a group and keep the prices in the sky. It works." He is right about that. The question is, who's buying? It probably will not be a guy like me with the love and passion for the car, the history, the story, etc.... I will simply be who's pockets are the deepest.

Again, Sharkey is correct, you as owners can dictate the values. In addition to that, with all due respect, you as owners are responsible for the marque. It has been your hard work, energy, love and passion that has kept this brand stronger than ever 40+ years later. The Pantera has typically been cited as the super car for the working man. Is that how you want it to continue to be? That is up to you all as owners.

Here is a couple rhetorical questions for you cats.

Most of you bought a car a while ago when prices where far lower. Could you afford the current buy in prices today?

I know most all of you cats would never sell your car. If you did, would you sell to the highest bidder or take less to sell it to a real enthusiast?


Please don't misunderstand me here. I am not saying this to have a pity party for myself. In fact I will benefit from rising car values. My story ends (or begins) with me taking all that money I had and putting most all of it down on a house. I took the very little left over and bought a POS stainless steel rust bucket to put in my new garage. This project will be sucking my time and money for years to come. I do love this car, but it is no Pantera.

Sorry for the long rant but this has been on my mind for a while now.