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Help out a Newbie!

G Guest
Hi there people. I am writing to see if I can get some opinions from some experienced Pantera owners. Let me start by saying that when I was 7 my mom's cousin showed up at a family outing with a 71 Pantera he had just purchased second hand. I remember the short ride I got on that day. To make the story short, the car was owned by him until the early 80's when it was stolen & recovered. The car was then sold to my uncle & has been in his barn ever since. The car had the steering column damaged, some wiring messed up when it was stolen. The crooks then started to take the motor apart thinking it was seized. The car still has all the parts to the best of my knowledge however needs to be put back together obviously repairing what does not work.
I have not seen he car in 10 years. My uncle mentioned to me last night that it was time for him to clean his barn & knew that I have always dreamed of owning the car. He wants me to have first option to buy the car. At this point I have no idea how much he wants for it. I do however know that typically he thinks that other Panteras bring some good money so his must be worth plenty as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he will be asking a fair price for the car & not dreaming thinking it's worth is higher than it really is.

With this being said, what kind of money is a 71 Pantera in this condition worth? The body is good, some dings, paint is ok for a driver, motor not running (but all there), interior is orig. in pretty good condition.

What is this car worth in say good driving condition, not a show car?

Any opinions will be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to email me at twox48@allvantage.com
Thanks,
Tom
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cozcozMember
That's a pretty tough question considering you really don't know what your going to have to do or fix to make it run. Then there's are the numerous upgrades that will need to be done, specially wheels and tires. I would say 15,000.00 to 20,000.00 without seeing it. But that's nothing more than a guess.
lf-tp2511lf-tp2511Member
Tom,

Hmmm....

Barn = rust? stored over 20 years = rust? Is car in MA like you? = rust?

It would be best if you can get a Pantera owner to inspect this car with you. Closest POCA chapter is Jersey Panteras @ www.jerseypanteras.com Also, there is a very skilled Pantera vendor in Chelmsford, MA, Pat Mical. Contact him @www.detomasopantera.net

Ballpark price for what you described? $12K? $15K? It could be a great car - it could be your nightmare that slaps you silly and forever ruins your dream of owning a Pantera. The mechanics will need full overhall. ALL new rubber for tires/cooling/brakes/A/C. All fluids flushed and replaced. Rebuild calipers, inspect ZF for rust and ring gear bolt safety wiring, check all bearings,steering rack and rear stub axles. Electrical on these cars is a very weak link if still stock. But many have gone before you and the necessary fixes are documented and help is easily obtained on the web. Engine is the least of the problems.

I say though, these cars are the best. And the help from other owners is the best, too. Go for it. But keep your eyes wide open ;-)

Larry
T Twox48 (Guest)
Ok, I was thinking that it was worth somewhere in the $10K range but I'm not very familiar with Panteras. My experience has been with the 60's & 70's american cars. Now I have to decide if I'm willing to spend that up front then the work & $ ahead to get it driving. It definately would be a head turner which entices me. I know of a Pantera a couple town away & will try to contact the owner to see if he can offer me some help making a decision. When I have more time I'll be back! If I do not decide to buy it, I'll definately post & let you know so a true Pantera enthusists can have a chance at it!
Thanks,
Tom
KP Kevin Perry (Guest)
$10-$15K may or may not be a good price. Sounds reasonable based on your description of the car and IF all the parts are there.

Best bet is to contact Pat Mical www.patsauto.com . He has a shop in Chelmsford, Mass and may be willing to help if you give him some business.

Also, just bec a car is in Mass doesn't neccessarily mean rust, but since the car has been neglected, it will undoubtedly have some rust. You just don't want it in the terminal areas. Check the entire undercarriage and rear support frame carefully with ice pick in hand. Here's a few photos of what you DO NOT want to see: http://www.panteraplace.com/page57.htm

Good Luck,
Kevin
T Twox48 (Guest)
Larry,
I pretty much figured that the car will need a full overhaul due to the simple fact that it has not moved or run in over 20 years. I'm very sure that most all of the rubber components will be shot. As far as the rust, well it spent from 1971 till 1980 in southern California. Since 1980 it has been stored in a barn (wooden floor with a 4ft well ventilated crawl space so I can't see rust being a big problem. I'm sure the body should be relatively rust free. I'm sure some of the mechanical stuff may have some surface rust but the car has been kept dry so I'm not too afraid that I'll be getting a rust bucket.

So supposing I do purchase the car & do what's needed to get it to a safe driving condition say a #3 car. Whats a running 71 Pantera worth?
T Twox48 (Guest)
kevin, no luck with that link...
but as I just posted to Larry, I'm pretty confident that the car is relativly rust free. It's been stored in a very dry barn & has never seen snow.
I will try to contact Pat Mical tho. Chelmsford is not far away at all.

Thanks to all for the help because tho I'm not the huge Pantera fan some of you are, I don't want to pass on an opportunity to own one if the $ is right. It's not that I don't like them but more like I don't know much about them! I'm sure once I know more I'll be more attracted to them.
T Twox48 (Guest)
Kevin,
Thanks for the reference to call Pat Mical. I just got off the phone with him & it seems he's just the guy I need to talk with. He is close to home, seems very knowledgable & very willing to help. With some luck I'll have my own Pantera and be able to join the elite group of proud Pantera owners!!
cybomancybomanMember
Tom,

See if you can get a few digital pictures of it to post. That would help those of greater knowledge to give you a better ballpark figure. The only way for you to be sure of what your getting into is to have someone (like Pat Mical at http://www.patsauto.com/) inspect it in person with you. Even if you were to spend 10k on it now, it may take 20k or more (on top of the 10k) to make it roadworthy. With that in mind, it may make more sense to buy a Pantera for 25k that needs minor work and can be driven right away.

It is an awesome and very enjoyable car to own. For me, the 'head turning' factor is a very small part of my Pantera experience.

Good Luck!

Michael
T Twox48 (Guest)
Michael,
I will get to look at the car in the next week or so. Then I'll see what the asking price is. If it's something I can swing knowing that I will have to spend plenty more to get it road worthy then I will get Pat to look at it & give me his professional opinion. I still do not know if the seller is like most & thinks it's worth tons just because its a Pantera. You know what the Barrett Jackson auctions have done to the collector car market...
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