quote:The reality is that we in the Pantera hobby have a skewed idea of what concours means, of what a show room stock car is. So many owners who think of their cars as "stock" have blacked out trim, or aftermarket wheels (Campy clones), or a dressed up engine, or they have smoothed & painted the engine bay, or they have painted their car a color something other than the original color. Take a car like that to a true concours show, and pit it against the concours Ferraris and Maseratis, it won't make it to first base.
Not trying to rain on your parade, but realize the automotive elite you're trying to impress, hated the car from day-one. Sure there were quality issues with the early cars, but the single most reason I hear why these cars aren't respected is lack of pedigree. The Pantera is a known morphodite put together with a single purpose in mind--make money. The lack of factory records for FORD era cars also contribute to the mutt factor.
I also realize a modified car will never reach first base in the snooty concours world. However, that's not a problem with me. I admire and celebrate the owners and vendors who have taken a flawed product, modified it, and finished what the factory started. They are the reason Pantera ownership thrives today.
Josh