quote:Originally posted by LF - TP 2511:
[QUOTE]There is no such thing as a Pantera (or any Detomaso) without some sort of rust, somewhere.
If you hold out for one, you will never buy one, because it doesn't exist.
Not true. As long as a little hidden surface rust is acceptable,
Rust is rust. If you prefer to call it a little hidden surface discoloration or whatever it doesn't change what it is.
The Pantera has in most cases too thin a gauge metal in it's monoqoc and it should have been vat dipped in a rustoleum type of primer.
Like the Porsches of the era, no galvanized steel was used. Early 70's 911's are prone to rust as well because of this.
My point was not to call the car a rust bucket. I don't really believe that it is.
I was trying to point out that people tend to overreact to rust.
The Panteras skins are actually on the easy side to fix.
In most places the contours of the car permitsheet metal patches to be installed well.
The "trickiest" spot is the rear upright. Also if you have a bad front or rear deck they are next to impossible to reapair and new metal ones are very expensive.
I'll take a shot at the time frame and say that if you own a Pantera for about ten years you are going to need to deal with it or stated differently you are going to need to deal with it about every ten years.