Chris Darling are you out there?

There is an article in "Pantera International" Spring 2003 page 10 by Chris Darling 'Do It Yourself Quad Low-Profile Headlights For The Pantera' with sketches/diagrams and photographs. I gotta do this to my Pantera sometime, looks great.

There is a photo of a Euro GT-5 Pantera with 'covered' headlights on p. 7, in POCA, the December, 1999 Newsletter. It is in the Letter From Europe from Patrick Renault in Belgium. The 'covered' Headlighs have a clear glass or plexiglass cover and are recessed, without any 'pop-up' feature. Those 'covered' lights look alot like the European Ferraris. That also looks really great, but as Jack DeRyke commented, the Motor Vehicle Code in New Mexico requires headlights to be 20" or 24" from the pavement. That's why people get stopped for just driving with their fog lights and parking lights on.

Technically speaking, as Jack stated, that's anouther reason the USA Panteras had shock spacers. Also, as we do these 3" or 2.5" pop-ups on our Pantera's while lowering them with shock spacer removal, well then, we are out of spec with State and Federal Laws. But the truth is, the Man is probably only gonna stop you to get a better look at your car, and isn't gonna ticket you anyway, maybe a warning. The Judge would maybe tell you to fix them... or pay the ticket. I'm just gonna do it to may car (the 3" pop-up) and be really nice to the cop if he pulls me over, maybe ask him if he wants to have a ride in this Pure-Bred Italian supercar.

Also used to be that you couldn't have Amber in the taillights, so only the Euro Pantera had Amber turn signals in the rear. Now almost all vehicles have Amber in the tail lights.

Seems like the Nissan ZX, the Mitsubishi 3000 GT, etc., have headlighs that are really alot closer to the gound than 20" or 24" Thus seems like the manufacturers are pushing the limits here too. [fyi, there are also laws on how high headlights can be]

[This message has been edited by ron norman (edited 06-29-2003).]

Two comments from Jack: first, I personally find HID headlights intensely annoying on oncoming cars and would not run them on my vehicles if they were free. Secondly, relative to the price of HIDs, Chris Darling's halogen conversion cost less than $100. He says they work better than the stock bulbs for fast after-dark highway driving; I haven't driven his car so I cannot verify this yet. Chris's phone number & e-mail address is listed in the POCA Registry.

I'm a new owner of a 71' :0) , do not have my registry yet, can someone please post Chris's e-mail address so I can contact him about his headlight upgrade , Have my baby in the shop ready to do the upgrade. Thanks !!!

Bill

While someone does this upgrade, could real detailed notes be made, with some images of the steps ?

I'd like to do this, but my list is long, and I'll need to wait for another person to lead. I read Chris' article, but I'd like more detail.

If you write it, I'll include it on my website.

Chuck

You guys actually like these lights?

Zbout the only thing out of place on a Pantera (presume stock) is the "frog" lights.
The round appearance, on a mostly angular body does look "odd". I tend to prefer a retangle-shaped headlight too. But after seeing Chris' car in the ballroom in Vegas this year (see my website for images), the small round dual-headlight conversion does have some appeal.

Chuck

I REALLY LIKE those lights. I'm not fond of the oval ones, and I think that I'll mount mine flush with each other from the angle perpendicular to the line of travel down the road. Flat face plate with round small headlamps. That's just my persoanl taste, like the photo in the top left on page 10, maybe even with the wider diameter one on the inside and the narrower diameter one on the outside, to balance the slight curvature inward from the fenders down to the hood, but then I could change my mind. That is a visual upgrade IMHO, but we can do whatever we want to our cars, and that is what is really the coolest thing of all. Harley's are not the only customs on the road these days. Hot Rodding, Customizing, this is an expression of self, and a guy should take liberties to do that which is appealing to himself while respecting another's personal preferences. Gotta be yourself. It's not gonna hurt the resale value, if I'm buying or selling.

Could someone please do me a favor and fax the article to me? I am looking for parts to put the beast back together after a minor ( if there is such a thing) fender bender. I am trying to decide what headlights I need and what replacement parts I need to locate. Unfortunately, I let my PI membership lapse (since renewed) so I did not get the May issue. My fax #352-955-2400 attention Gary Ford
thanks.

I'll fax it to you tomorrow, Gary.

I'll also include the 1999 POCA issue with the recessed headlights with plexiglass covers that fit the original contour of the bodywork/buckets in down position. That's a very unique look. Probably easier to achieve while you're searching for another bucket assembly. Could probably do that quick & easy w/o screwing into bnodywork while looking for HL bucket.

Check out ebay. There's a guy in Kerrville, TX parting out a 1972 Pantera. I bought a window motor from him. He's selling everything in pieces. Maybe buy some obscure part from him that nobody wants (for $1) to get his e-mail address, or try to reach him through the email feature about 'ask questions before you buy'. Search '1972 Pantera' and check the little box under the Search box on the left of the ebay screen.

I threw away the box he sent my item in and deleted his email & mine, but he's honest. www.wbay.com then hit the file folder tab at the top that says 'search' then the next page there's a 'search' box on the left hand side. '1972 pantera' & check the small box underneath it to include everything.

When you own a Pantera, you learn ways to get creative to get the parts, information, and services you want and need.

By the way, I've been in panic situations and it's hard to get to the brake pedal in a hurry. My trim wasn't fastened very well there, so that helped when I found the little screw close to the gas pedal cable, but I almost cut 0.5" from the brake pedal's right side so my foot could get to the brake faster from the gas. Seems like the sole of my right shoe wants to catch on the brake pedal coming up from the gas pedal, and send me 1.0 second closer to BAD NEWS!

I tried that 'frog eyes' argument with truelove, told her #7370 would look so much cooler with dinky little slits. She said, "Hey goofus, what are you doing with the lights on during the day, anyhow?" You don't understand, I replied, if someone was to tool alongside at night, he could see 'em. "If someone is alongside me," she corrected, "he'll be at a speed that requires all his attention on the road." Gotta love that truelove.

Mark, I faxed my application in on Monday so I am good to go.
Thanks for the faxes and emails guys
Gary

http://www.panteraplace.com/Pantera%20Pics/Pentalery%20MVC012L.jpg
http://www.panteraplace.com/ICD/ICD%20100502%2035.JPG

Here's 2 photos of Panteras with enclosed, non-pop-up, recessed headlights, courtesy of Mike Dailey's website, www.panteraplace.com

I think this looks pretty tricked out myself, and would be tempted to go this route before trying to replace headlight buckets, or at least while I was searching for replacement headlight buckets.

[This message has been edited by ron norman (edited 07-24-2003).]