Reply to "Pantera Gr 3 #THPNLK01172"

FWIW, there exists a GR-3 Registration run from Sweden by Anders Hellberg. On his site he maintains a history of all known Gr-3s; there are 26 'factory-built' Gr-3s and 11 cars later converted to Gr-3 specs by the factory. Pantera #1172 is not on any known list. But there are many more Panteras on both sides of the Atlantic running around with a few or most of the Gr-3 parts on them. (www.scuderiadetomaso.se). My street '72L has quite a few that I added myself, and I know of several similar almost-Gr-3 cars. Gary Hall used to have some parts in stock in CA.

Defining the Gr-3 is a bit tricky because in Europe, the DeTomaso factory would sell you all the parts needed to legally race in FIA events. There was no factory stamp or designation defining a Gr-3, like there is for a GR-4 or GT-4. You could add the parts needed to your street Pantera yourself or have DeTomaso mount them on your car, or you could buy a GR-3 direct from DeTomaso in Italy. The FIA Homologation papers clearly state what is legal for GR-3, followed by a note that said 'all other modifications beyond this list moves the car into Gr-4' but obviously the GR-4s' extensively lightened chassis, relocated a-arm pickup points on the subframes and other integral mods would not be available on such conversion cars.

The 1972 Factory Supplemental Parts List for GTS, Gr-3 and GR-4 shows the parts available, with factory part numbers: 10" x 15" Campy rear wheels, single and double-adjustable Koni shocks, bolt-together roll cages, racing brakes etc.

On cages, note that the factory-offered 6 or sometimes 8-point bolt-together cage from 1972 was constructed of 0.062" wall mild steel tubing and may not be legal to race in your area any more. In the U.S for instance, a legal SCCA-approved and inspected roll cage (with official sticker) must be of 0.090"-wall (or more) mild steel tubing. I know of one real DeTomaso-supplied roll cage for one of the real GR-4s that was replaced with a heavier-wall clone to legally race the car here.

All this 45-year-old history is quite confusing and when pro racing is involved, its even more so. Good luck-