#9402 1987 GT5-S new owner

Welcome! Great looking car!

Very nice!!! Welcome

Lui.
SWEEEEEET Ride and welcome.

Nice cat. Let's see some more pics!

Pretty car Lui, another Cat for Oz.

Superbe 5-S Lui, tell us how you got it, where does your car come from, tell us your story please.

Very nice. Almost looks like a Wilkinson build shown in the photo below, especially with those mirrors & wheels and especially if it has the modular engine:

Nice.

*Mic - I bought it in November from Con Michael who is also based in Perth Australia. As to my story I first came across panteras many years long before I had the means to even consider purchasing one. I had actually been scouting for a 69 Mustang fastback for a while when I came across the add for this Pantera
It was love at first sight Arranged to view it and go for a ride and in just over a week a revised offer was accepted and the rest is history.

*Does 200 - I'm pretty sure that is the same pantera. Wilkinson Pantera replaced the 5.7 pushrod engine with a high spec Ford Cobra 4.6 Quad cam and 32 valve engine with an intercooled Whipple supercharger.

A few more pics:

Interior:

Front:

I'm looking at replacing the current mirros which are really useless. Especially the right side mirror as the windscreen frame obstructs the view. I've purchased a set of 2010 Camaro electric mirros from Sacc Restorations http://pantera.saccrestorations.net/sck0002.html

Has anyone used these before. If so what do you think? Or are there other options that may suit better? Appreciate any input.

Beautiful car. I believe I may have seen it at Wilkinsons during one of my visits. I love the look of those mirrors on the car; it is a shame they don't function well. Congrats on a fine purchase - a lot of money has been spent on that ride.

Great looking s car!!! I bought and installed the same mirrors, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! I can see now, and they look great on my GT5-S.

Wayne

quote:

Originally posted by Lui:
.

I visited Perth in 1986 on the USS Enterprise.
What a great City!

Gorgeous car. Do you know what kind of power to the ground the 4.6L Whippled motor puts out?

Again, beautiful car -- the paint looks really strong on the car with nice bodywork.

Mark

I've seen this car in person and it is stunning and spectacular. Regarding Pantera mirrors, many people make the aesthetic mistake of using mirrors that are porportionly too large for the car. The best looking mirrors for Panteras are rather small. You might be able to make those beautiful Wilkinson mirrors more functional by having a convex mirror cut to fit and attached to the flat mirror.(That is what I did on my GT5S) Thanks for sharing pictures of your beautiful car. - Jim Coyne

private message (PM) sent

Yes, it's a beautiful car. And I really love the mirrors that you have on it now! I agree with Jim. I have had small convex stick-on buttons on my mirrors for years. My high rise manifold eliminates any rear view at all. But with these I can see all around - and can even avoid scratching my rims when parking! They cost under $10 and you should definitely try out a few sizes on different places on your mirrors before you change.

Beautiful Pantera Lui

Great color too

-G

quote:

Originally posted by wpl:
Great looking s car!!! I bought and installed the same mirrors, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! I can see now, and they look great on my GT5-S.

Wayne

Any chance of posting/sending a pic or two of the installed mirrors?

quote:

Originally posted by David B:
Yes, it's a beautiful car. And I really love the mirrors that you have on it now! I agree with Jim. I have had small convex stick-on buttons on my mirrors for years. My high rise manifold eliminates any rear view at all. But with these I can see all around - and can even avoid scratching my rims when parking! They cost under $10 and you should definitely try out a few sizes on different places on your mirrors before you change.

*David/Jim - I'll give the convex mirrors a go before I change them over. I too think they do look good (just not very functional).

quote:

I too think they do look good (just not very functional).

Yep ...lots of that in a Pantera

photo attached

Lui, The convex mirror that I started with was a half inch taller on the top and bottom but fit nicely on the left and right curves, I took it to a glass shop and asked if they could cut curved glass. They said no, so I said "how about if you try and if the glass breaks it will be my own loss and not yours". They said sure, we are willing to try.Obviously they were successful. Now view out the side provides complete confidence about what is happening to the right.

another view

That's the Vitaloni Turbo mirror. I went with the baby turbos.
Mine are power which I would highly recommend to anyone.
This lets you turn them away from all of the curiosity seekers that have to come up on you at night and ride in your blind spots with their high beams on.
I rented a Chrysler mini van this summer and it had a rear camera that mounts on the license plate frame.
As soon as I figure out the best combination of monitor screen and location. I'm going to install one.
I already have a talking back up alarm with the speaker mounted into the overhead speaker enclosure.
I think the mirrors you have on your car now are the same as on the Ferari F40 as I recall.
The Camaro mirrors are too big as are those Dodge mirrors Hall sells.
Every inch of glass in this car is valuable for your blind spots.
I'd recommend the Vitaloni Baby Turbos just for that reason.
Problem is Vitaloni is out of business almost 20 years so they are not easy to find and you have to compete with the Ferari and Masarati guys for the good ones.
Incidentally: great idea Jim, and what color red is that? Looks almost orange in these shots?

Doug, The turbos were also used by Lamborgini on the countach. I am going to use baby turbos on another wide body Pantera that I am building. I will try and post a photo of them.-Jim Coyne

The Turbo was actually my first choice but by accident I got the Baby Turbo side by side with it and tried them both.

The Baby Turbo seems to fit into the design of the car better(to me) and gives you almost the same size mirror.

To me. Either is a perfect choice for the Pantera.

The Baby Turbos are also used on a couple of motorcycles as well.

Try and find a set of electric ones. They are worth the effort to find them.

Incidentally, I'm wondering what Tjarda would say about all of this discussion. Sometimes I wish he would join in. I respect his opinions on the car.

I remember seeing that car in Wilkenson's shop...he had a couple of them. More info here:
http://www.provamo.com/Members...ale/THPNDJ09402.asp?

Hi Luis,

There are a ton of people that have the Camaro mirrors installed and love them. I can sent you some pictures of some cars with them installed.

Don't let a few peoples OPINION scare you from trying the Camaro mirrors. They look and function great. Some feel they are to big. I thought that at first until I got them installed. I actually think that most mirrors people have used are too small. Look around at modern cars, they all have larger mirrors. The Camaro mirror looks like it belongs on the Pantera.

Mirrors are a topic that is very subjective. One person likes big, one person likes small. One person like curvy, one person likes sharp lines.

Do what YOU like... Not what others like!

I'll send you some more pictures...

Take care, Scott

1...

2...

3...

4...

5...

Hi Scott. How you going? Thanks for the pics.

Have you any pics taken side on (at 90*)?

quote:

Have you any pics taken side on (at 90*)?

Hi Luis,

Like picture #4 above? It is a little hard to see because of the shadow from the window in the background.

Or do you mean a top down view photo?

Scott,
more like #4 but closer and at 90*

Here are a bunch of pictures of the mirrors installed on our car...

http://s1008.photobucket.com/a...Z06_Pantera/Mirrors/

congrats with the beautifull car Lui ... in "DOES 200" his posted pic there is still the wing

greetz from # 9425

Thanks Chris.

Hi Barry. Thanks. I have the wing in the garage. The last owner had it removed. It will be goign back on

Mirrors should be small, chrome, useless, change position every time you close the door. Exactly like mine...

quote:

Originally posted by Lui:
Thanks Chris.

Hi Barry. Thanks. I have the wing in the garage. The last owner had it removed. It will be goign back on

NNNNOOOOOO!!!!! DON"T DO IT!!!!!


Ron

I'm certainly not trying to TELL anyone what or what they should not do. I am also not trying to SELL anyone anything.

Some of the larger mirrors actually obscure forward vision. Certainly there are cosmetic considerations here but ultimately form should follow function.

Perhaps it is best to try all of these SUGGESTIONS yourself and make your own decisions? Then there are NO fingers to point at anyone and it would be the best solution that was possible with all of the combinations available?

Best.

quote:

Mirrors should be small, chrome, useless, change position every time you close the door. Exactly like mine...

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

quote:

I am also not trying to SELL anyone anything

I guess I can't have an opinion since I sell them. By the way, I am not trying to tell anyone what to do. If you re-read my post I said "Do what you like". If Luis doesn't like them I would be more then happy to take them back!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by No Quarter:
Mirrors should be small, chrome, useless, change position every time you close the door. Exactly like mine...

*No Quarter - Mine aren't chrome but they are small, move around (I've actually got a wedge on the drivers side mirror), and the doors when open make contact with the mirrors as well

quote:

Originally posted by r mccall:

quote:

Originally posted by Lui:
Thanks Chris.

Hi Barry. Thanks. I have the wing in the garage. The last owner had it removed. It will be goign back on

NNNNOOOOOO!!!!! DON"T DO IT!!!!!


Ron

LOL.

quote:

I guess I can't have an opinion since I sell them

Sure you can, as long as you're open about that you sell them, so people understand that when they read your comment...

*Doug/Scott - I took the chance and have the camaro mirrors. I actually think they look good. I appreciate the additional picks Scott.

The mirrors come complete with the threaded studs for mounting making it harder to appreciate what they would like mounted without messing about with them - therefore the request for more pics and options.

The overall size of the camaro mirrors only protude about an inch more than the current mirrors. Keep in mind also that the GT5-S has a wider body, which I think helps to keep the camaro mirrors in poportion. I would also paint the mirrors to match the pantera - blending them in a bit more.

I haven't however made a final decision. Which is why I was interest to know what mirror options others had gone with. I'm in no rush either as the mirrors won't be going on until I do some body work.

For sure the wide body presents special considerations. Kinda like Dolly Parton trying to see her feet?
I doubt there is a perfect mirror for the Pantera no matter what you do, but if the Camaro mirrors works for it, great!
They certainly will be easier to replace if they get broken then my Vitaloni's?
Love the car. Best of luck with it. Great color.

I'm coming in late to the discussion, but those same mirrors were fitted to a CA wide body Pantera by Larry Stock at Pantera Parts connection.

He mounted them on the A pillar as you have and they looked ugly IMO, plus as you have found the door hits them. I said "why don't you make a backing and mount them on the quarter window". Larry few a few expletives around, but then next week I went back they were mounted on the quarter window and the A-pillar bodywork repainted. They looked a whole lot better too, not sure about any vision improvement though.

As has been mentioned mounting any mirror to get a good vision is challenging, especially so on a wide body car. The quarter window channel often gets in the field of view too.

On last thing, please do reconsider remounting the wing or if you do mount it in such a way it is easy to remove as your taste will constantly be going back and forth.

I have a soft spot for the 5S and you certainly have a beauty. Not many Pantera's can pull off that color, but it looks superb on your car. Where in Australia are you?

Julian

Hi Julian. I'm in Perth.

As for the wing mounted I've been thinking about buying or have made 4x stainless steel flush threaded plugs to cover the wing mounting holes if I decide to take it off.

This would mean if the wing is off then there's 4x stainless plugs on the lid. They could even be chromed black to match the other black detailing or painted the same colour as the car.

LOL. Never realized how polarising the wing was on the panteras. I think they look good either way.

What did Coz used to call the wing.... a serving tray for a BBQ?

Anyhow, it's a great place to put your tools, rags, polishes and during the idle time in a cold winter garage it will collect all sorts of crap.

quote:

during the idle time in a cold winter garage

What is that????

If it helps, I have the 2010 Camaro mirrors from Scott and Chris, and I think they look really good on the Pantera. They seem to fit the lines of the car better than anything else I've seen. I'll post pics when the car is back from paint in a few months.

(shameless plug for Scott & Chris)

Corey

quote:

If it helps, I have the 2010 Camaro mirrors from Scott and Chris, and I think they look really good on the Pantera. They seem to fit the lines of the car better than anything else I've seen. I'll post pics when the car is back from paint in a few months.

(shameless plug for Scott & Chris)

Corey

Thanks Corey!!!

quote:

Originally posted by David B:
What did Coz used to call the wing.... a serving tray for a BBQ?

Anyhow, it's a great place to put your tools, rags, polishes and during the idle time in a cold winter garage it will collect all sorts of crap.

At least it's functional .

Ok so I have managed to get a couple of things done over the last couple of months.

1- Upgraded the window regulators to the Vader kit. It works a treat. http://web1.wavelinx.net/tmitch/pparts.htm

2- Removed the old mirrors and replaced with Sacc Restorations 2010 Camaro Mirror kit. http://pantera.saccrestorations.net/sck0002.html

3- The door marker light replaced with LED type. I had one of the fittings missing and this provided a better fit - having said that on the right side door I used an "O" Ring inside the door to provide increased surface area for fitting to hold. I suppose one of vageries of a hand built car was that the right door marker light hole was a little bigger than the left.
I purchased the led lights from a local auto parts store, however the link is http://www.ledautolamps-uk.com...catid=6&productid=76

Mirror and Marker light Pics to follow.

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

Pic 4

Pic 5

Great work!

Those Camaro mirrors look really nice on the car. I was worried they'd look too modern but the suit the car very well. Nice to see you resisted the urge to reinstall the BBQ tray.

Mark

Yes, those mirrors do look nice. Any pics from the side? Can you show us how they're mounted?

Rear wings are great and unless you're trying to break a track speed record I suggest you put it back on. It helps explain to the uninformed masses what kind of car it is.

Instead of people asking you if it's a kit car, they'll just assume it's a Lambo. Awesome time saver.

quote:

an you show us how they're mounted?

David,

They are mounted with 2 studs that go through the door and fasten with nylocks on the inside of the door. The mirror is modified and sits flat on the top of the door.

Take care, Scott

quote:

Pic 4

Those look GREAT painted!!! This is the first car I have seen with the mirrors painted. I'm glad others didn't talk you out of using them. They look factory to me... Great job Lui...

Its an inside joke here at the office how much Pantera owners obsess over mirrors.

Panteras are difficult when it comes to choosing mirrors, when they're big enough to be functional they tend to be too big and over-power the car. When they are small enough to look "right" they are too small to be functional.

I think the Camaro mirrors sold by Scott are about as big as you can get without being too big, they walk a fine line in that aspect. The mirrors that glue onto the front corner of the side window create a blind spot, and they end up being too far forward, the window trim partially blocks the view of the mirror. The Camaro mirrors solve that problem too.

The lines of the Camaro mirror are reminiscent of the lines of the Colt mirror that was so popular decades ago, but the Camaro mirror is much more functional because it is larger and it mounts further back. I think Scott has chosen a good mirror to market. I also like the looks when its been painted body color.

Great work Lui.

-G

[QUOTE]Originally posted by David B:
Any pics from the side? Can you show us how they're mounted?[QUOTE]

David,
just for you some close up pics.

And from the top.

Fixing mounts (as Scott said it requires two threaded studs, which come with mirrors to be drilled in, plus a seperate hole for the cable (they are electric)).

This pic is looking up into the underside of top of door (hope that makes sense .

As far as perfect fit to be honest if the mounting base was 5mm narrower it would certainly help.
When you look at the mirrors from the rear of car there is just a small gap, (which I'm not concerned about and is something I'll address soon enough)where the mirror base sticks up/or doesn't quite sit flush where top of door meets window trim.
Having invested some time researching the different mirror options I am very happy with these. Also again one of the vageries of hand built cars the top of door trim available for mirror mount is slightly differrent on either side, with the left side in this case being just a tad narrower.

PS: Unless you really want black mirrors, the great thing with these is that you can colour match to your car. Helping them blend in and look more factory, especially to the uninitiated eye.

PPS:Thanks Scott and Chris for making these available.
How is the "Corvette ABS Braking" system coming along in your R&D for Panteras. I for one am interested.

quote:

Originally posted by Lui:

quote:

Originally posted by r mccall:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lui:
Thanks Chris.

Hi Barry. Thanks. I have the wing in the garage. The last owner had it removed. It will be goign back on

NNNNOOOOOO!!!!! DON"T DO IT!!!!!


Ron

X2

LOL. Such resistance to the wing.

It's not on yet so chillax.

I have a lot more planned before the wing comes into the picture.

quote:

Originally posted by Lui:
LOL. Such resistance to the wing.

It's not on yet so chillax.

I have a lot more planned before the wing comes into the picture.

If you go to events with tailgate parties, you should do the wing.
It gives you a place to put the barbie and beer.

I love the car. It's beautiful. The color is outrageous. Pictures of the GT5s do not do these cars justice.

I can not disagree that the Camaro mirrors are an interesting design statement at all, but they are HUGE and change the entire concept of the side elevation.

They seem to become the focal point to me. I don't know if I'd want to do that, but that is me personally. I must admit that they do work better on a GT5s for sure.

The toughest picture and the most important to capture for these mirrors I suppose is from the drivers seat.

One view from that perspective would say once and for all if they are the best solution...at the moment, and all other aesthetics I'd have to learn to live with and accept, very quickly.

Hi Doug,
Actually when the camaro mirrors are put next to the mirrors I originally had there is very little difference on size (length wise). It's the different mount (door as opposed to windscreen frame)that makes then seem like they stick out more. They are however within the the wide rear end parrallel line if you know what I mean.
Unless someone shows me a nicer set and functional set of mirrors I am very happy with these.

You know in Australia we love BBQ's.

I do agree however that porpotionaly they fit better on a GT5S.

I'll take some pics from the drivers seat tomorrow and post them up for you.

quote:

Originally posted by Lui:
Hi Doug,
Actually when the camaro mirrors are put next to the mirrors I originally had there is very little difference on size (length wise). It's the different mount (door as opposed to windscreen frame)that makes then seem like they stick out more. They are however within the the wide rear end parrallel line if you know what I mean.
Unless someone shows me a nicer set and functional set of mirrors I am very happy with these.

You know in Australia we love BBQ's.

I do agree however that porpotionaly they fit better on a GT5S.

I'll take some pics from the drivers seat tomorrow and post them up for you.

And Foster's...that's Astralian 4 behrrr!

I was speaking of the massiveness of the entire mirror assembly itself. You wide body guys (the cars not necessarily the drivers bodies) have issues with mirrors because of the width of the wide bodies. I understand.

On your car, it is a pleasing solution. On my slabside it wouldn't be as justifiable.

The car looks great. It makes those mirrors work. It will even make the wing work!

And the hidden advantage of having a wing is solving the mystery for those who stare blankly at the car with their mouths open. Instead of asking "Hey, is that a kit car?" they turn to their friend knowingly and say "Lambo!"

Saves a lot of time.

Go for it. The car is big and fat enough and the wing in that colour will be beautiful.

I also vote for the wing.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Who cares what other people think. If you like it and you are happy then all is good.

If everyone liked the same thing all our cars would look the same. What fun would that be!

I agree with Scott. Not everyone likes everything. As Brooke Pitt told me, don't try to build a car by committee. You need your own vision of what you want your car to be.

I have looked thru the registry for hours for paint colors, and I like some aspects and hate others of cars in the registry.

Nice Car! I have always loved that body style!
As for the wing do what you like and do not worry about what any one else likes. That has always been what I loved about the Pantera. Each one can be built to the owners personal taste.