Gray Market Pantera - Bumper Conversion Question

In the registry it is noted as a 'Lusso' or L model by Claude Dubois, so I wonder if it didn't leave the factory with the L bumpers as it also has the US side markers, so perhaps a US car pulled off the line to meet a Euro customer order? I would expect by 1974 the Euro cars were using the black bumperettes rather than chrome.

Can you inspect inside the front fenders and see if previous bumperettes holes are filled or welded up?

I just now checked and there are four holes for mounting the chrome bumpers.  And it definitely has the large cutouts for the bumper shocks.   I have an email message to Claude Dubois asking if the car was delivered to his distributorship with the rubber bumper or chrome bumpers.  I showed the car to Wilkinson yesterday and he thought the car likely came out of the factory with chrome bumpers.

Did the Ford imports have four small holes along with the large cutout for the bumper shock?

Claude already wrote back:

all the  Pantera  we  delivered  (excepted  some units  sold in the  USA  in the  80ies)  had those  nice little  chrome bumpers , instead  of the ugly  US  rubber  bumpers.

If you don't feel like doing body work (or in the interim) there's a small set of 2.5" PIAA lights that just about fit perfectly in the bumper shock holes. You can also get some red led brake light options or reflectors for the back.

The “L” bumper also required some smaller holes in the body for some smaller diameter fasteners used on the “L” bumpers....

Is it possible the small holes you see are for those fasteners?

Rocky

I took the bumper off of the car and it looks like it has four original holes for the small chrome bumpers along with a new large hole for the bumper shock.  There is also a new small hole for the low, outside stud on the rubber bumper.

My chrome bumpers had only 2 holes.

I am also kind of surprised they were not small black bumpers. Did bumper color (chrome or black) correspond with window trim? I can't find the pictures, but I also saw a car converted from big to small that used the large holes to place a set of small toe hooks. I am unsure how they were attached on the inside, but it was done well on the visual side.

Good point.  I do not have the bumpers yet and was thinking they need four holes.

It looks like lower pair of holes will be used.  The other three small holes are for the lugs on the rubber bumper.

"Did bumper color (chrome or black) correspond with window trim?"

Claude Dubois confirmed that car came with chrome bumpers.

@rocky posted:

The “L” bumper also required some smaller holes in the body for some smaller diameter fasteners used on the “L” bumpers....

like these . . .

GunnerZ shop, is talking about using "plugs" that will be leaded in so a seam will show AND they can be knocked out if want to go back to the baby buggie bumper.

thanks for your pick as I fowarded to shop so he can see the locations for the chrome.

Also if you are considering using the original chrome bumpers that the Pre-L uses they include the lower marker light which is different from what you show.

I plan to put it back to the factory European setup for Lusso, just the way the car was originally delivered.  Thus the current flashers and mounts will be retained.

Here it is with a chrome bumper temporarily installed.

Bodywork to fill the holes for the big bumper is complete

Looks great. I eventually want to do the same to my red 74 as well. How much of the front area did you have to get repainted?

Also, do you have chrome bumpers in the rear as well?

The entire front has new paint.  The painter was able to "cut" at the corners and avoid painting the fenders.

The rear is also done.  Here is a photo.  He cut the paint at the sheetmetal crease at the bottom of bumper.

Did you have the exhaust tilted up too? I'm driving mine around with the rear bumper off right now, and it's bugging me that the exhaust is just coming straight out so may do that now.

If it's not to forward of me to ask, could you PM me how much your shop charged you for both? I'm in the process of pricing out the costs around me.

The exhaust is Wilkinson's Pantera GTS headers and mufflers in stainless.  He offers them with the tips straight or tilted up.  I bought the straight tips earlier this year.  Fortunately, Steve has a process where he can tilt up the straight tips and we did that with mine.  On a previous Pantera, I tilted them up myself by partially cutting the tips with an angle grinder, bending them up, and then a muffler shop welded them.  However, Wilkinson process is much better than what I did (the tips are bent but not cut) but he is only setup to do this on his tailpipes.

Regarding cost, I did as much work as possible myself.  My painter did the bodywork at my place for $750.  This included welding with my welder.  I got the bumpers from Wilkinson.  The fronts are NOS (new, old stock) and the rears are nicely done replicas.  Please check with Steve for pricing.

Is it the photo angle or do the the rears protrude to the side of the car?

I think Harrington make a great reproduction stainless bumper, not cheap though, available direct or greatly marked up from Mr. Fiat.

@joules posted:

Is it the photo angle or do the the rears protrude to the side of the car?

I think it's both.  They are protruding a little more than the bumpers on the adjacent white Pantera.  The angle of the photo also exaggerates it somewhat.  But this is not their final resting place and I will try to get a better fit once the rubber trim is trained to stay in place.