Beating the horse

Don't expect many flames. That makes perfect sense to me.

Thank you David. I appreciate that.

Dear Throttled,

I have never bad mouthed our cars and lately they are getting some well deserved love.

IMHO our cars are works of art, now don't get me wrong I am not saying this Joe can paint over a Monet and make it better, to each his own, make it sing to you.

What I am saying is I like the looks of the wing on my car, yes it is over the top and most likely will never see any kind of real use at speed, but I like the look. I also like the "ugly front 5 mile an hour bumper" it brings the car to a point... now would I like to have a pre L with the small bumper also... yes. The paint on my car is yellow gold pearl not exactly factory color... so what I like it and if they had the color in the 70's it should have been that color. Just because some of us like the big flares that came on only a few cars or the big wing and some people want the original gas that came in the cars when they were new does not mean we are bad owners of the brand but I agree with you that when we talk down the brand it does no good for anyone.

I stand with you, Fire suit on!!

I got my car to drive it. I would hope that is why anyone who has one bought it. I did not get it for an investment, if I got offered 100K for it I wouldn't sell it, I am going to drive and enjoy the crap out of it 'till I can't get in or out of it anymore. I have yet to see two cars that are exactly the same and I like that.
So, I guess what I am saying is, set up your car how you want it, drive and enjoy it and when it is time to sell my car, I hope my widow gets as much as she can!

Now it is time for me to get out and go for a drive!

"Right now are the good old days!"

I don't think there are bad owners either. I just hope we continue to be accepting of every example of our marque, whether or not we agree with what the owner has done. I have heard an owner telling a person that wanted to purchase a car that they didn't know why someone would want one as they were pieces of junk. I heard it because I was the person the owner was speaking with before I bought my first one. Although that didn't put me off at al, I don't think that is ever acceptable.
No fair going for a drive! We had snow last night. If you do go for a drive, put a video on YouTube so I can ride along!

Everyone on both sides of the original verses modified coin is generally easy-going and accepts other owners. I love De Tomaso cars, but in my opinion the owners are far more valuable than the cars. I hope each owner, no matter where they stand on this issue, realizes each De Tomaso owner deserves their kindness, and deserves respect. Nobody comes to the forums for disrespect.

In fact ... if a guy is having a bad day, a bad week, a bad month, perhaps a bad year ... one kind word from a forum member can brighten his life tremendously. We should all keep that in mind; I'm speaking to myself as well.

Generally guys who like original cars respond to posts about original cars, and guys who like modified cars respond to posts about modified cars. In other words if a member has nothing good to write they write nothing at all. There are exceptions of course, but don't take it personally, their opinion is no more valid than your own. Rather than focusing on the one guy who was negative, think of the hundreds of other members who weren't.

As classic car owners we all have no realistic option other than to roll with the market and accept the ramifications of our choices, even as those ramifications evolve. Most folks who can afford a Pantera are mature enough to realize there are ramifications to their decisions, they probably don't need to be reminded of that. The one thing that doesn't change is the level of respect we owe each other.

Panteras have gone up in value the last couple of years, but it is true the Mangusta prices really jumped in comparison. I've never had the Mangusta bug, but others love them as much as I love the Pantera. Buyers dictate the market. Was the Mangustas jump in price due to lower production numbers? I can't say. I am happy for Mangusta owners however.

Also realize the rising prices have attracted a whole new group of owners from other disciplines and marques, where value based upon showroom condition is taken for granted.

I am glad you are here Marc. Please don't leave us.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

I own a Delorean and if you want to talk about miss conceptions of a car and the marque look no further. No, those are not aluminum panels on the car. No, it does not have cocaine inside the door panels. There are countless myths and false "facts" that are still continuing to be spread to this day. One owner called and appraiser and when he showed up, ask if it had the original 351 Cleveland engine still in it. Needless to say his Delorean did not have the "original 351 Cleveland" in it. This guy is an appraiser and still does not really know what's going on.

If you are interested in reading ridiculous amounts of public comments there is a thread on the DMCtalk forum filled with absurd and sometimes funny comments.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread....Day&highlight=stupid

Now let's discuss modifications. At least in the Pantera world mods are typically performance based. Some are cosmetic, but that it is more like art. When talking art, some love it, some hate it, but it is all about the artist(owner)perspective.

In the Delorean world the bulk of all mods are done to make the car look like" the one in the movie". They will spend tons of time and money to make the car a parody or cartoon version of itself.

There are tons of owners who have this car only because it is a part of pop culture. They are not really car guys, not really interested in the marque of the story behind it. They bought the car simply because it was in a movie. It is my thought that is why the value of the Delorean stays relatively low because it is often viewed as a Hollywood prop more than a part of automobile history.

I read a lot of talk on this forum asking why these cars are not worth more. My question is, how much do you think it should be worth? What is enough? I know for a fact that prices have more than doubled in the past two years. That is the sole reason I own a Delorean and not a Pantera. I was priced out. If prices keep rising like this I will probably never afford to get a Pantera. That is a bummer for me and other true car enthusiast that don't have super deep pockets. Great for you owners, but most of you don't want to sell anyway for any price, to which I truly understand.


I feel there is a huge amount of similarities to the DeTomaso and the Delorean marque. One thing that is parallel is that a lot of the public just does not know the real story or truths behind the car. One of the main false understandings of each car is that "they are just a bunch of junk that never did run right". We all know that stuff isn't true. Then there is the know it all spectator at the car show who will argue with you the owner about how "you know these cars had a Chevy engine in them when they where first being sold. Somebody must have put that old Ford motor in there later. You should put the original Chevy motor back in that thing than it will be worth something." You know this guy, trying to impress his girl friend with his expansive knowledge of cars. It is hard to talk sense into these folks since they know that they are right. You are the idiot who bought a Pantera without the "original Chevy motor in it."

That is the kind of stuff that keeps values down. which is cool by me, let that moron drive home from the car show in Toyota Corolla while you go home in a Pantera.

I think your right! Drive it, love it, and invest in it, their is no measure of passion.

I am happy to see my original post really turned into some good conversation and some great comparisons and perspectives.
In my opinion these cars should follow their peers in value. Does that mean ups and downs? Sure it does but that is part of any market. I don't plan on selling either of my Panteras but I don't like to see them flounder compared to other like cars of the era. If it was because the car's were inferior then fine but they weren't. I bought my first Pantera as a rolling chassis with no engine, no transaxle, full of dirt, no real rust and a good story. I got the bird blood and feathers in the passenger floor for free. The car needed everything. I spent over ten years and almost every spare dime I had bringing it back to fulfill a dream I had to own one as a child. My apologies if I get a little touchy about terms like "molested" or "butchered", I think I am like most here in that we are passionate about our toys.

quote:

If you are interested in reading ridiculous amounts of public comments there is a thread on the DMCtalk forum filled with absurd and sometimes funny comments.

Amusing stuff in Delgado's link....

You know you're a DeLorean owner when "Run DMC" is not an 80's band, but a daily prayer.


I think we are lucky with the recent appreciation of our cars. I got in at the right time - a little later and I wouldn't have gotten in....

Rocky