Reply to "Pantera #7206 - GTS"

David,

Thanks for the kind words about my Pantera! Clearly, I share your feelings for it. My particular Pantera is not a regular GT5-S, it is one of about 6 or so Pavesi Targa GT5-Ss. DeTomaso offered a targa top as a factory option, but it's astronomical cost (50+% of the price of the car) prevented all but the few that were made from being produced. Carrozzeria Pavesi (one of Italy's premier coach builders) did the targa top conversion for the deTomaso factory while the body was in 'white' (just a shell). When completed, they were sent back to the deTomaso factory assembly line for finishing. My 5-S is the only known Pavesi Targa in the U.S. In my estimation, it is worth considerably more than regular 5-S.

Driving it with the roof off IS having your cake and eating it too! It totally transforms the feeling of the car from having the roof on top of your head to the sky being the limit. I can see all the other drivers around me when at an intersection or on the highway. The wind in my hair is awesome too! (Well, it was when I had hair.) I had a '74 Pantera that I had no intentions of parting with, but having had a taste of a 'topless' Pantera, there was no turning back for me!

Michael