quote:Straps that secure the AC hoses are riveted and possibly incorrect
Snorkel appears to be missing from air cleaner
Original aluminum DeTomaso plates missing from valve covers (like the one mounted on the rear cross member)
I have a '74. I bought it with low miles in 1990. It had a known and documented history provided to me.
1) AC straps on that car are accurate. Routed and riveted just like mine. Pain in the neck to service. I am finally changing the lines to go through the wheel well. I will MIG up the rivet holes.
2) The snorkel is there in the same way mine was. It faces forward toward the bulkhead on the right side. There is an air heater hose that goes down to the frame from the bottom of the snorkel. I see the clamp for the hose on the bottom of the snorkel. This is correct.
3) '74s did not come with DeTomaso plates on the original rocker covers like the early cars did. Thats why there is a market for the DeTomaso cast rocker covers !!!
4) Undercoating should have been in the engine bay covering the original body colour paint. Under car undercoating appears to be accurate.
5) Rear bumper has collapsed shocks. Due to age, the oil would leak out and do this ...
6) Don't know why a 3000 mile car would have a worn out shift knob that needed to be replaced with a billet one ??? Can't see a clear picture of the shift gate so as to look at the fingures (But, replacement gates are easy to come by)
7) It has the accurate single long under car water tube that can only be replaced with engine removal (or cut).
8) My original cross-member engine bay brace did not look like that one.
9) On my car, the engine emissions and tune up data plate (orange) is in the engine bay just beside the riveted one. In the service manual it is refered as being there. I see it on the engine (left rocker cover) on this one.
10) My car had the Detomaso plate on the lower rear cross member like this car.
11) Brake fluid is hydroscopic and will cause master cylinder failure in time (seals, barrel) especially on a low mileage car. A replaced brake MC is not out of line. Same goes with the rubber water tubes. They get brittle and crack - replacing those is not out of line either. Just minimum maintenace in my view. In the same vain, I wouldn't expect the spark plugs to be original.
I have seen a bone stock go at auction for $78K. This one is very very close.
Finally, I have said it before and I will repeat it here:
I NEVER EVER trust mileage quoted on a DeTomaso Pantera unless claimed and substantiated by the original owner. It takes all but a few minutes to disconnect the speedo cable. Speedometers are EASY to replace on the Pantera. Replacement Speedometers with 0 to low miles are easy to come-by. Hey, I have my original speedo with 12,000 miles in storage while I drive around with another one. And Finally, DeTomaso, in a Service Buletin, explains how to take off the bezel and turn back the odometer !!!
So... as far as this car goes ...
Honestly, just based on the photos and aside from a few minor issues (I would like to have a really close look at the engine bay to be satisfied why the colour difference) - I feel from the photos that it is a very very close to original '74. I have seen many cars represented as factory original that are far from it.
B.G.