Or, was it because that's the kind of car you WANTED to drive? Regardless of authenticity, it is one of the nicest Panteras I’ve seen anywhere.For what my .016$ is worth, this is a good conversation to have, as long as everyone understands that nobody's opinion is "true" except in their own case, and from their own viewpoint. Many good points are being raised here.
I don't mind people modifying their cars at all, but to me, some look fantastic (Will's car jumps to mind) and some look horrendous (that white thing Garth posted is an eyesore — to me). I always respect the rights of people to do as they wish as long as it doesn't harm others. Does someone modifying a Pantera harm someone who doesn't alter theirs? I don't really think so, but if it does, the damage was already done years ago — likely long before any of us bought our cars at a discount because of them. One could argue that “ugly” harms others, but we are all free to look away. And in some cases, “ugly” just makes “pretty” look beautiful.
I completely understand those who feel a need to preserve an original and un-touched example of an important artifact, and indeed I appreciate them doing that. However I don't think people should be so vocal and critical of someone for making a few more changes than they did. Any deviation from "factory original" is a change. Period. Bolt-on or not. Either you wish to honor the exact car that was produced, or you want to perfect and improve it in some greater or lesser way. For some that is 2% deviation, and for some that is 98%. For most of us, it is somewhere in between. Unless I drive a car that is 100% original, I think it would be wrong for me to be too critical of one that is modified a few % more than mine is.
I had my own struggle with this debate, having a largely original Pantera (well, when I bought it anyway). It looked OK, but not "great" and I proceeded to rebuild and lower the suspension, alter the cooling system, add wider wheels (10" Campys), a few Hall components (air cleaner, valve covers etc.) and “improve” it. I don’t care about the investment value at all. I do care that what I see when I walk into my garage makes me happy and looks exactly the way I want it to. Because I, like many others, had the “itch” to do some modifying of my own, I acquired a second Pantera. It was already quite modified from original (no body mods) and I am continuing to have fun creating my own “super-Pantera” with it. I NEVER hear a negative word from a passing stranger when they encounter the car. It looks fantastic and makes people smile — especially me. And it gives me a tangible way to explore my own skills and design/mechanical abilities, which is much more fun than preserving the original factory applied dirt on a “perfect” original car.
I also own a GT40 replica. The highest form of vehicular heresy is to drive a “fake”, or even have one in your “collection”. But I am not a collector. I am a car guy, and I like having and driving (yeah, my friends are laughing at that) cool beautiful cars. If I was fortunate enough to own an original GT40 it would be in my living room surrounded by lights. And at $5M+, probably rarely ever see the road. I can happily drive my fake anywhere, park anywhere and even ram it into other vehicles (sorry Denis) without being too concerned about damaging it. Same goes for people with Group4 Pantera clones vs. original cars.
So, to Blaine: Thanks for starting this interesting thread. Others: I enjoy and value your perspectives. Mikael: I’m a 1, 2, 3, maybe a 4, for myself, but am really glad that 5 and 6 exist because if everyone was a 1 or 2, we would be just like all those red Ferraris at Concorso — Boring.
Mark