Daily Drivers

For the last almost 2 years my Pantera has been my daily driver about 7-8 months of the year. There are certainly some comfort compromises you have to make. It is usable every day but you have a high level of anxiety when it comes to things like weather. If the forecast calls for rain, it stays home. I'm involved in sales so my customers love to go for rides going to lunch or I'll let them drive it. I've done things like update the AC and change the seats the the Corvette seats that some one on this board sells. I have no idea what I spent on gas and I don't want to know. Vince

I have driven 1362 on a daily basis except for rain too. Too bad that old lady at the church backed in to it. She was so upset I told her not to worry about it. Then I went home and upgraded the air to 134 sandeen, with new idler. Who could stand to go into Walmart and leave your car outside? I'm kiddin' about the old lady. I will be in control of my car all the time and it's in the garage or I'm driving. I cannot stand to leave it out of veiw or possention. What if some scateborder bushed the side and didn't make it? They are made to drive but not all the time. go barefoot

I bought my Pantera to drive, and I drive it every day during the Spring, Summer and Fall, weather permitting here in Ohio. I drove my beast to work four times this week; the one day I didn't was because I had a number of erands to run before and after work. I haven't done anything special other than replace 32-year old wear parts. My significant winter projects over the past 4 years include rebuilding of the front and rear suspension and upgrading of the air conditioning. I've also done a little rust repair while I had access to those areas that needed attention. Otherwise, just normal auto maintenance.

Ron

I drive mine everyday day of the week. The only problem I'm running into is the price of gas. Just put 2200 miles on mine in the last week.

quote:

Originally posted by STP:
Does anyone here drive their pantera on a daily basis or more than say 3 times a week? If so, what problems have you run into? What have you done to make the car more usable? In your oppinion, is it usable as a daily driver?

Thanks, Sean

Kirby Schrader used to drive his on a daily basis. He lived in Texas, so snow wasn't really an issue.

Two years ago, I was working on a project in Italy and had my Pantera there as my daily driver for about 2 months. Coz - you complain about the price of gas - you ought to see the price of gas in Italy!!! :-O

I think it is far better for the car to be used daily than to be used once every blue moon...

I agree with you. The less you drive it, the more that goes bad on it. I have only been driving mine 200 miles a year and it has really taken a toll on the car. Storing these things is like abusing them. I have less than twenty-five thousand miles on a car 33 years old. What the hell am I saving it for?? I am not getting younger. I better start driving it more or I will never get a hundred thousand miles on it before I die. I do plan on being buried in my car however.

Did we ever figure out who has the highest mileage on their Pantera? I seem to remember some guys had over 100,000 miles on theirs. Any mileage left in the car after I die is mileage wasted. I'm not saving it, I'm using it. Vince

I've heard that Gary Wilson put over 200,000 miles on his blue '72 GT5 conversion before his death in the late 90's. His Pantera is featured in the book 'DeTomaso, The Man and the Machines' in the picture section. Even with that mileage, he kept the car in beautiful condition.

Some time back (year or two?), I saw his Pantera for sale on ebay, twice. If it wasn't his, it was identical in every detail.

Michael

Dave Hall from Golden, CO has well over 200,000 miles on his Pantera.

http://coloradopantera.com/images/automezzi04/1971-pantera-black.jpg