quote:My understanding (based on 10 years of ownership and way too much time spent reading on- and off-line) is that all metal-bumper Panteras are generically called Pre-L (with a sub set of the earliest Pre-L's called button-doors). Metal bumpers (71 or 72) = Pre-L. Rubber bumpers = L.
Generically (and incorrectly) speaking, people often refer to the metal bumperette cars as "pre-L" Panteras. However, in 1971 there was just the 1971 Pantera. "Pushbutton" describes the early cars which had push button door locks.
In late 1972 (August or so) DeTomaso began producing the Pantera L (Lusso) with single pod dash, 5 mph bumpers, and a host of other minor changes, thus giving birth to the term "pre-L" to distinguish 1972 Panteras which were not "L" models.