Engine Compartment

I found this one that looks the same:

http://www.panteracars.com/berm623.html

so I'm guessing some cars came that way.

European cars had the angular engine compartments and the US spec cars came with the rounded engine compartments. Why? I don't know, but I'm sure someone on this board knows.

Perry,

The engine compartment is that of an Embo manufactured post '78 coach which is factory style once Ford era coaches ran out.

This particular car hs been discussed here on the forum at some length as it has an earlier style VIN# almsot duplicate of the REAL car is listed in Chuck's registry. This car has one letter misiing in the VIN, so it has a suspicious history and may even be stolen.

Here's the previous thread;
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8350049225...670091735#6670091735

Thanks for the replies.

I'm trying to learn, and keeping my eye open in case a the right car comes along. (obviously this one isn't it.)

I've never seen this type of configuration.

The engine compartment looks exactly like what a Euro style late model wide body GT5 looks like. Same with the front trunk.

The dash is not GT5 style although it is a single pod and has been recovered. I don't think those seats were stock for that year, but the rest of this car looks like a '74.

Yes this is my 1979 Euro cars engine compartment ... the frame is also boxed and I would sware the car is heavier then my L car .. but never wieghed either car.

Ron

quote:

Originally posted by SoCal:
European cars had the angular engine compartments and the US spec cars came with the rounded engine compartments. Why? I don't know, but I'm sure someone on this board knows.

The answer was sort of given, but during the Ford era the engine compartment panels were stamped. When Ford and DeTomaso had their falling out, the dies were destroyed. So DeTomaso continued for a while using the remaining body panels, but when that supply dried up, roughly 1978, he had those panels fabricated instead of stamped.

So in a sense, it was fabricated in someone's garage, but in a sort of industrial sense. He obviously couldn't justify the tooling costs to duplicate the dies considering the low volume of post-Ford era cars that were being made.

The Ford folks must have been in a kinda of vindictive mood to destroy the dies. I work in a metal stamping plant. Just a couple of years ago we were cleaning up our storage yard. Some of the dies they finally decided to dispose of were very old. One set I am positive about were for a 1959 Cadillac outer fender. Hope I havent hijacked this thread.
Jeff

The story goes that they were destroyed out of spite, thinking that Alejandro would not be capable of continuing to produce the Pantera.

If he was one thing, Mr. DeTomaso was resourceful and found a way.

I'm just repeating what I've read, but most of the Detomaso literature agrees on the matter... The Detomaso/Ford divorce wasn't pretty ;-)