Dear EVO:
Thanks for your very well done coverage of the de Tomaso cars. I�ve been an owner of a 1971 Pantera for the last three years and absolutely love it. It�s awesome!
I�ve never driven a Pantera that �rattled a bit�, but because you said the steering was �slightly dead� I expect that your test car has a bad passenger side steering rack bushing. A repair bushing upgrade kit can be obtained from any on the many Pantera parts and service venders for about $40 US and it is an easy and complete repair. It should fix the �slightly dead� steering and the �rattled a bit� problem too.
The dashes and interior of the 1971 through early 1972 were much nicer (�suave�) than the later cars with the pressed plastic dash. As for the �beer gutted�� owners of the GT5 and GT5-S I haven�t seen any owners like that around Atlanta.
It�s hard to find a stock Pantera like the one you tested anymore because most Panteras of today have upgraded engines, suspension, brakes and 245/45ZR16 front tires (on 8� wide rims) and 335/35ZR17 back tires (on 11� wide rims). You might want to find an upgraded and well tuned Pantera and take it for a test drive, you would be amazed at the performance. With 500 HP they really move out smartly and can pull some amazing Gs on the track.
To learn more about the Pantera world of 2001 stop by http://www.PanteraPlace.com
Mike Dailey
Atlanta, Georgia USA
T e c T e l S o l u t i o n s
"An Information Technology and Telecommunications Consulting Group"
mdailey@TecTelSolutions.com http://www.TecTelSolutions.com
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