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Reply to "Model Year"

I would think the Marti report would have been enough.
A simplified version of the information below is printed on page 2 of the orange parts book.
Pantera International can also provide a statement to your state agency on club letterhead, free of charge, if that would help.

De Tomaso Calendar Production Year 1971
1001 - 1382 Pushbuttons (January 71 - April 71)
1383 - 2292 Chrome Bumper Pre-L (April 71 - December 71)

De Tomaso Calendar Production Year 1972
2293 - 4268 Chrome Bumper Pre-L (January 72 - August 72)
4269 - 4839 1972-1/2 Black Bumper Pantera L (August 72 - December 72)

Shortened Transitional Year 1973
4840 - 5899 Black Bumper Pantera L (January 73 - June 73)

Ford Fiscal Production Year 1974
5900 - 7380 Black Bumper Pantera L (July 73 - August 74)

There are a few pushbutton models that are exceptions to this scheme,
their final assembly occurred later than April 1971.

The project to build Panteras became a joint project between Ford and
De Tomaso Automobili in Spring 1970 when Ford bought-out the interests
of De Tomaso Automobili's former partners, the Rowan Controller Company
of New Jersey. The businesses owned and controlled by the partnership
were united under a new company named "De Tomaso Inc."

De Tomaso Automobili built cars on the calendar year, Ford built cars
on the fiscal year. "De Tomaso Inc." began building Panteras on the
calendar year following the protocol of De Tomaso Automobili.

De Tomaso Automobili sold their 20% interest in "De Tomaso Inc." to
Ford in late 1972. De Tomaso Automobili retained the use of the name
De Tomaso, therefore Ford renamed "De Tomaso Inc." as "Ghia Operations".
The businesses comprising "Ghia Operations" were no longer subject to
any influence by De Tomaso Automobili. The reckoning of a "model year"
was therefore aligned with Ford's business practice.

Thus 1973 became a transitional year from one reckoning of a "model
year" to the other; it began in January as per De Tomaso Automobili
practice, but ended in June as per Ford practice. The 1973 "model year"
was therefore only 6 months long.

Notice also the 1974 model year was 14 months long.
Last edited by George P
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