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Reply to "Rumours on refurbished 351 engines on new Pantera in early 80's"

I agree with Denis and the others: the stamped block number should match the original number plate; be aware there are stamp sets and repro number plates around, too. Also (at least for original U.S. delivered cars), it's fairly well known that while shifting new cars from ship to dock holding areas, longshoremen were caught staging impromptu drag-races that left some cars with rods blown through the blocks- on new Panteras with less than 1 mile on the odometer! What happened during shipping in other parts of the world, I don't know but barbarians live everywhere....

All known factory replacement blocks had NO stamped numbers; Ford warrantied engines but made no attempt to locate a 'proper' year. This does not include what may have happened at various concessionaire's shops in the different countries. I don't think DeTomaso had time to mess around rebuilding an unfamiliar engine for a brand new car, then doing the paperwork for reimbursement when Ford assemblies were as close as a telephone call.
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