quote:Originally posted by Speedzone:
Many times I have been asked if my Pantera is a "kit-car", or I have overheard someone telling somebody such. I find it very irritating! Has anyone else experienced this?
I used to get insulted but now I feel it a complement that I drive a car so rare, not many know what it is. It is that uncommon. A kit car? I wish I had the skill to build a kit car and have it turn out that good. That would only be a compliment to my skill. Which I don't have. Back when it made me angry I told the offender I had built the car by myself from scratch with just my sense of style andengineering knowledge as a guide. Then I felt guilty about being an ass to these, mostly innocent, but usualy impressed people. So now I have a pre-reheresed speel about what thecar actualy is andjust why it is soooo cool. If someone shows an interest in your car, it is because they are impressed. Most people assume the car costs well over $100,000 dollars and by putting it in that class of car, I feel like onewise individual. That is why Ferrari and Lambo guys hate our guts. They have spent ten times the money to get the same crowd reaction we do.
If we happen to drive a car that can actualy blow the doors off their ten times more expensive car, they get very, very PO'd. That actualy happened to Pantera legend Gary Hall.He relayed a story to me where he and his grand son were out for a ride in his Ultra Pantera. They happened to run across to F-40s diceing it uip on public roads. Gary promptly passed them both right when they were at their limits. He honked and waved as he passed. Latter on his way back he say both F-40s parked at a cafe. He walked in and looked for the tale tell penny loafers and prancing pony polo shirts. He walked up to their table and asked if that was their cars parked outside, and they replied in an affimative manner. He then asked " What was that car I saw pass you guys ealier today? To which they replied it was an american hot rod that was totaly custom made. Not a car anyone could actualy buy. He just grinned and nodded.
I just love Gary Hall. I like him better than Santa Clause.
