Hi folks. In 2013 I bought my first and only Pantera, 1971 s/n 1685. Darryl, the previous owner, converted it to a GT5 look car. I was painted Gold with the following specifications:
Interior: 84 Corvette seats black naugahyde
Paddy Hopkirk steering wheel
Diest seat belts
Vader power windows
Vader rear view camera.
A/C rotary compressor and front mounted condenser.
Exterior: Body has been media blasted
Group 5 kit made and installed by Hot Rods and Stuff.
Delta wing.
Front deck is fiberglass with vents.
Wheels & Tires Etoile 3 piece wheels front 9.51x16
rear 10.5x17
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 SL front 245/45ZR16
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 XL rear 335/35ZR17
Electrical Vader head lights
Hella driving lights.
Cooling: Radiator 6 row copper lay down custom from Spar
twin Flex a Lite fans and custom shroud.
Fan in engine bay and largest front fan thermostatically controlled even with engine off.
Hall stainless tanks and stainless pipes.
Aluminum water pump.
Brakes: Wilwood Super Lites front calipers with 12,19” vented rotors Rotors 1,25" wide)
Wilwood HD 48 Curved Vane Spec-37 rotors
Willwood Aluminium Tandem Master Cylinder 260-8555-BK
Engine: Long block built by J. Bittle American
355 cu in
TRW 10.5:1 pistons
Crower Cam #15266
Edelbrock Torker intake
Holley 3310, 750 CFM double pumper
Holley electric fuel pump and regulator with canister fuel filter.
MSD-6A
Unilite Distributor
monster wires.
Big bore headers and mufflers.
Aluminum flywheel.
ZF: Ring gear safety wired.
Clutch
Suspension Delrin bushings
The car was sitting for some time, so I did all the mechanicals to bring her back to the road. I replaced the steering rack using a F308 part, re-done the brakes, new tires, dual clutch, temporary black paint… I drove the car for some time and now it is time to restore her, so this is my dilemma …….. how far should I go?
As all my previous cars were Alfa Romeos, GTV, Sprint, Giulia,…. my experience tells me to go back to the closest to her original state. But as I learned in my short experience with Panteras and reading our forum, maybe is not necessary.
The original paint was light blue. During the GT5 conversion, they cut the wheel well fenders. I have the pieces of trimmed fenders to re-weld them in place. Lots of items missing: Campagnolos & proper tires, seats, windshield chrome moldings, hood (without holes) and more.
So I have to decide between an original state restoration, something intermediate in narrow body, or keep her as GT5.
I know there is a matter of personal taste, but yours experience will be appreciated.
Some pictures attached about the three states of the car. (Blue one taken from the web, the others from 1685)
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