Dilemma solved — 1826 and 2281

After many, many happy years of owning 1826, my very clean, low-mileage and mostly original 1971 Pantera, I found myself wishing to do what most Pantera owners have done with bigger motors, customized interiors and various other personal touches. The problem was that I couldn't bring myself to do any irreversible mods to my car. I've done a few nice bolt-ons, but a couple of weekends and it could all be reversed.



Thus the dilemma: to mod, or not to mod. That was the question.

Many years ago I seriously considered buying the Pantera project that Danno (a former member here) was selling, but space, time and resources were limited (I'd just bought the Mangusta) and so I passed. A couple of years later I had the great pleasure of seeing how the car turned out when I met it's new Ontario owner Derrick.



Derrick had done a stellar job completing the project and when I saw the car in person, I fell in love with it. The 2005 Ford GT blue that Danno had painted the car was one of the nicest colors I'd ever seen on a Pantera. The details that Derrick finished off were really nicely done (including the 17" GR4-style wheels), and the engine build he completed made for an awesome looking and sounding package.



I heard that he was considering selling it a year back and I was still in the same position. I urged a few friends to consider it but it remained un-sold. I had a change in my space and resource situation and decided to contact Derrick and make an offer on the car, which he accepted.



I had a few sleepless nights wondering what I had done. I just agreed to buy a car I hadn't seen in years. Was I nuts?

I spent a VERY long day driving to find out. In short, no. The car was pretty much as I had remembered. A few small issues, but still a very striking car.

(Click the image below for video)



I drove 6+ hours each way to pick 2281 up and bring her to her new home. The return drive was really tedious as it was drizzly and the most dense fog I've seen in years—and at night to boot!



We made it home safe and sound just before midnight and it was all I could do to back the trailer into the garage. Unloading would have to wait.



Well, after a sleepless night (sort of like Christmas eve when I was a kid...) I awoke and set about seeing if it was all a dream. Nope. There it was still.



I spent today getting to know 2281 and she's a keeper, for sure. And, so is 1826. I think now I'll be able to indulge both sides of my Pantera passion. The logical, responsible side, and the crazy, obnoxious side.

Life is short, as we all know, and I don't plan on looking back with a bunch of regrets.

Mark