Guys, IMO there are three key components to a successful restoration:
1. Do the work yourself all of it if you can even if it takes twice as long.
2. Keep the car for a long time. Classic cars do nothing but appreciate, expecially if you follow #3.
3. Do not build wild customs that fall out of style or have a face only its mother could love. A good example is Pure Gold. Excellent quality car. But the Gold???? No offence Catbert.
I have a number of classic cars and I truly belive that I would make money on each one if I were to sell them. Especailly the Ferrari as I have had this one the longest and it is my most rare car. If you can not follow the above rules then accept the car for what it is a TOY not a 401k plan.
Just my two Cents.
I'm not trying to make money on my restorations, I just don't like throwing 3-5 years and $30k into a car that's worth $10-15 when done.
I think there is a balance to prudence and enjoyment. That is why I said I would never do say another MGB.
If your going to put that much time and money into a car, make it count.
I think there is a balance to prudence and enjoyment. That is why I said I would never do say another MGB.
If your going to put that much time and money into a car, make it count.
I'm upside down on my Pantera by 10 or 15K and at times I do feel that little monkey on my back, but when I drive it (just about every single day), it all goes away and I really do enjoy that car. Here's hoping for a mild jump in the Pantera market, I'll profit w/the priceless enjoyment and perhaps break even monetarily 
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You have to factor in the money you saved wrenching and driving instead of golf and green fees! Work those numbers in and it looks a whole lot better.
quote:Originally posted by comp2:
I'm not trying to make money on my restorations, I just don't like throwing 3-5 years and $30k into a car that's worth $10-15 when done.
I think there is a balance to prudence and enjoyment. That is why I said I would never do say another MGB.
If your going to put that much time and money into a car, make it count.
Comp2
I personally believe your above statement to be very true. My wife and I have a mutual agreement that works very well. I can spend what ever I want, when ever I want, on what ever car I want as long as I don't lose money. Be wise about what you buy, what it is going to cost finished and a realistic value when done.
I often kid saying that I make about as much money working on my cars as if I were washing dishes in some restaurant. (you know this forum really needs spell check
)quote:Originally posted by Quickitty:
(you know this forum really needs spell check
Me? You know I could build a roket ship; I just strugle spel'n it!
My problem is that I know HOW to spell. I just type faster than I should. Spell Check would be great. A little off topic.
My 76 Cobra II is a $8,000 car so instead of a full restoration I used recycled parts from the other two mustangs. Things like engines / trans etc. The bottom line I agree one should spend commensurate with its value.
My 76 Cobra II is a $8,000 car so instead of a full restoration I used recycled parts from the other two mustangs. Things like engines / trans etc. The bottom line I agree one should spend commensurate with its value.
I will never loose money on my Pantera as I don't ever plan on selling it. The next owner of my car will be my son!
I called and emailed the seller yesterday to no avail. Maybe a deal has been made??
Restoration and upgrading of one's Pantera is based on two criteria - longevity and enjoyment.
The longer you own it and the more you enjoy it, the more you will spend on it.
I have owned mine for 25 years. Just factor in a few bucks on upgrades every year and the total will eventually become quite large.
As for enjoyment, there isn't another car I have ever wished for. I enjoy every minute with my cat - behind the wheel, staring at it in the garage, or lovingly caring for it over something like 25,000 back-breaking, knuckle-ripping hours so far.
But the best part is that, like most Pantera owners, I fell in love with this car the first time I saw it. Actually owning it was thrill enough for me. I was in no rush to spend money and I did my restoration slowly and methodically and I learned as I went along. I was able to do it in stages, based on what I thought would work for me and what available resources I had.
The end result (although it never really ends) is a very inexpensive super car. One that I could never have afforded to buy all at once.
I can trash all the F-cars, Porches and Lambos with ease. And I know I can take it to the corner store or on a 3,000 mile road trip, in luxurious comfort with no worries.
I will never sell mine. So 'investment' is a bad word to use around here. But one of you younger cat lovers will see it for sale here, one day, when I'm gone.
And as long as I don't die inside it,
someone will end up with a really great deal.
And I am sure they will love it like I do. And that is what this is all about. Isn't it?
The longer you own it and the more you enjoy it, the more you will spend on it.
I have owned mine for 25 years. Just factor in a few bucks on upgrades every year and the total will eventually become quite large.
As for enjoyment, there isn't another car I have ever wished for. I enjoy every minute with my cat - behind the wheel, staring at it in the garage, or lovingly caring for it over something like 25,000 back-breaking, knuckle-ripping hours so far.
But the best part is that, like most Pantera owners, I fell in love with this car the first time I saw it. Actually owning it was thrill enough for me. I was in no rush to spend money and I did my restoration slowly and methodically and I learned as I went along. I was able to do it in stages, based on what I thought would work for me and what available resources I had.
The end result (although it never really ends) is a very inexpensive super car. One that I could never have afforded to buy all at once.
I can trash all the F-cars, Porches and Lambos with ease. And I know I can take it to the corner store or on a 3,000 mile road trip, in luxurious comfort with no worries.
I will never sell mine. So 'investment' is a bad word to use around here. But one of you younger cat lovers will see it for sale here, one day, when I'm gone.
And as long as I don't die inside it,
someone will end up with a really great deal.And I am sure they will love it like I do. And that is what this is all about. Isn't it?
I think one thing that sums up how we all feel about our Pantera is PRIDE.
We all know that when we go out for a drive everyone is looking at us.
From the little girl peaking out of Mum & Dads SUV with a big grin on her face, “Daddy what’s that!”
To the young guy next to you at the traffic lights who says “Mate, what is it?
“It’s a Detomaso Pantera” you say.
He gives you that blank look.
You reply with “Its Italian”
“Oh yeah, great car man”.
And you go on your way knowing you have a pretty special, if not fairly rare car.
Everyone that sees it loves it & they look at you with Envy.
There is no doubt the Pantera is a Classic car.
It always will be & it will continue to appreciate in value where other so called modern supercars depreciate.
At least you can spend money on your Pantera knowing that although you may not get back what you have invested, the car will always be worth good money.
As opposed to people who spend heaps of dollars hotting up the family car that will never appreciate & never be desirable.
Let’s face it, all of us on this Forum have several things in common.
We love hot sports cars.
We have a passion for the exotic.
We like to be different
We are Hot rodders at heart.
We love tinkering & modifying our cars.
Many have commented that if we owned a Ferrari we could not make modifications without de-valuing the car.
With the Pantera we can keep modifying & modernizing & as long as the modifications are tasteful it will appreciate.
But monetary appreciation is not why we own our Pantera’s………..it’s PRIDE.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
We all know that when we go out for a drive everyone is looking at us.
From the little girl peaking out of Mum & Dads SUV with a big grin on her face, “Daddy what’s that!”
To the young guy next to you at the traffic lights who says “Mate, what is it?
“It’s a Detomaso Pantera” you say.
He gives you that blank look.
You reply with “Its Italian”
“Oh yeah, great car man”.
And you go on your way knowing you have a pretty special, if not fairly rare car.
Everyone that sees it loves it & they look at you with Envy.
There is no doubt the Pantera is a Classic car.
It always will be & it will continue to appreciate in value where other so called modern supercars depreciate.
At least you can spend money on your Pantera knowing that although you may not get back what you have invested, the car will always be worth good money.
As opposed to people who spend heaps of dollars hotting up the family car that will never appreciate & never be desirable.
Let’s face it, all of us on this Forum have several things in common.
We love hot sports cars.
We have a passion for the exotic.
We like to be different
We are Hot rodders at heart.
We love tinkering & modifying our cars.
Many have commented that if we owned a Ferrari we could not make modifications without de-valuing the car.
With the Pantera we can keep modifying & modernizing & as long as the modifications are tasteful it will appreciate.
But monetary appreciation is not why we own our Pantera’s………..it’s PRIDE.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
quote:Originally posted by Edge:
At least you can spend money on your Pantera knowing that although you may not get back what you have invested, the car will always be worth good money..
I watched a show where a Ferrari club went on a run but allowed other cars such as Porches and Vet's to go along with him. In the interview, the Ferrari coordinator said that normally they don't allow people to wear jeans on these runs but will allow it under these circumstances! And he was serious! I think Ferrari's are neat but I don't want one that bad!
According to the sellor the car sold for full asking price, he had deposit in hand and was waiting on final payment before pulling the adv.
Personally, I think the car will be parted out, just too much rot. from the rear uprights to the gaping hole from the where the hood grills were straight down to the ground. That car will take a LOT of time and money.
Best of luck to whoever bought it.
Now to get back to work on mine....
Personally, I think the car will be parted out, just too much rot. from the rear uprights to the gaping hole from the where the hood grills were straight down to the ground. That car will take a LOT of time and money.
Best of luck to whoever bought it.
Now to get back to work on mine....
quote:Originally posted by comp2:
I watched a show where a Ferrari club went on a run but allowed other cars such as Porches and Vet's to go along with him. In the interview, the Ferrari coordinator said that normally they don't allow people to wear jeans on these runs but will allow it under these circumstances! And he was serious! I think Ferrari's are neat but I don't want one that bad!
That group MAY have been heading to a lunch spot that didn't allow jeans. Either that, or he's a ding-dong.
F-car guys, Porsche, Jag, Pantera... we're all car folks. Jeans allowed.
COMP2 - Is that a Buick/Rover 215 aluminum block in your MGB? If so, I have lusted for an MGB/GT V8 for years. Too bad no LHD! Great looking car.
Far as Pantera values, to me it seems they are creeping up. Fans who laud the many, many attributes can only help the cars in time.
I'm a little upside down in mine. But as soon as I fire it up, I don't care.
I don't think there is much of an original car in these:
Jerry said if he did it again he would start with an old Nascar and just make the required modifications to fit the Pantera. I have an old Nascar in storage we can start with:
Jerry said if he did it again he would start with an old Nascar and just make the required modifications to fit the Pantera. I have an old Nascar in storage we can start with:
quote:Originally posted by A Hudson:
That group MAY have been heading to a lunch spot that didn't allow jeans. Either that, or he's a ding-dong.
F-car guys, Porsche, Jag, Pantera... we're all car folks. Jeans allowed.
COMP2 - Is that a Buick/Rover 215 aluminum block in your MGB? If so, I have lusted for an MGB/GT V8 for years. Too bad no LHD! Great looking car.
The Ferrari guy was over the top!
The MG conversion is a GM 3.4l V6 with Holley FI. It's a pretty common conversion. Converted weight is almost identical to the MG engine. Conversion is a near drop in. I also have coil over front conversion, rear coil over mix to fix the MG leaf spring issues, 4 wheel disk brake, large front brake conversion, Panhard rd, electronic heater controls (no more cables), 1999 Toyota Window regulators, and a dozen other things.
BTW, it was a RHD when I bought it. Problem was it was born as a LHD and everyone ask why convert it. It really seemed kind of silly if it was not born that way. I just put it back to the way it was during the build. RHD is not hard to drive. Only issue I had was left hand turns at busy intersections where you could not see the oncoming car. When I was in Cayman, they drive on the left hand side of the road. About half of the cars are RHD and half LHD. When asking one of our drivers why she had a LHD car she said she doesn't like the RHD cars (in Cayman) because the cars seem so close. Of course you know her space judgment on the other opposite side of the car is never as good!:
That MG is cool, really nice job. It brings a nice smile just looking at it....
quote:Originally posted by PLT-1:
That MG is cool, really nice job. It brings a nice smile just looking at it....
Thanks, it's a nice car to drive; not crazy but nice. Keeps up in any traffic and it a turn the key and go kind of car.
Our Space City Houston Chapter has done many drives with the Ferrari club and local Lambo folks. The jeans remark would be uncharacteristic. For the most part, they are car guys with more disposable income.
Last summer the Ferrari Club did a local drive and stopped for lunch at a restaurant that was to reserve parking space for them. Unfortunately, they didn't set aside enough spaces and the local security cop guided a few of the cars into handicap spots. Well as you can imagine, while the group was inside eating, someone called the local TV crews and they were down at the restaurant in a heartbeat promoting class warfare. Truely embarassing for the owners and Ferrari Club. Played repeated on the evening news. Glad I missed that event!!
Last summer the Ferrari Club did a local drive and stopped for lunch at a restaurant that was to reserve parking space for them. Unfortunately, they didn't set aside enough spaces and the local security cop guided a few of the cars into handicap spots. Well as you can imagine, while the group was inside eating, someone called the local TV crews and they were down at the restaurant in a heartbeat promoting class warfare. Truely embarassing for the owners and Ferrari Club. Played repeated on the evening news. Glad I missed that event!!
Well I guess I can tell my cars story in bumper sticker format.
When I was married to the first wife her boss had the car I own now. I told him years before if he wanted to sell the car I wanted first dibs. Over the years her boss and I became friends and when the divorce happened, I asked him how this will effect our friendship... he said it did not.
About 2 months later he told me he wanted to sell the car which has sit in his a/c & heated garage without running for 15 years. He told me I could take it, work on it, and pay him, when I could... as long as he kept the title. While my ugly divorce ran it's course I reworked the Pantera it was my salvation!! I stayed out of trouble and had fun. The divorce was final and I bought and retitled the car. Since then I have completed the car over the last 10 years and yes I did 80% of the work myself. Including the price of the car, and all the work, if I sold it for fair market value I would still be ahead. It is the only car I have restored that would be on the plus side... The car will never go up for sale... The enjoyment and pleasure I get from driving it can never be duplicated by another car. I just worry about the people hangging out of their cars to take pictutes of my car The pantera is the best hotrod / supercar in the world largely due to the people that own them, and support them. Thank you all. PS My new wife calls the Pantera ... The Beloved Pantera and loves the car.
When I was married to the first wife her boss had the car I own now. I told him years before if he wanted to sell the car I wanted first dibs. Over the years her boss and I became friends and when the divorce happened, I asked him how this will effect our friendship... he said it did not.
About 2 months later he told me he wanted to sell the car which has sit in his a/c & heated garage without running for 15 years. He told me I could take it, work on it, and pay him, when I could... as long as he kept the title. While my ugly divorce ran it's course I reworked the Pantera it was my salvation!! I stayed out of trouble and had fun. The divorce was final and I bought and retitled the car. Since then I have completed the car over the last 10 years and yes I did 80% of the work myself. Including the price of the car, and all the work, if I sold it for fair market value I would still be ahead. It is the only car I have restored that would be on the plus side... The car will never go up for sale... The enjoyment and pleasure I get from driving it can never be duplicated by another car. I just worry about the people hangging out of their cars to take pictutes of my car
The pantera is the best hotrod / supercar in the world largely due to the people that own them, and support them. Thank you all. PS My new wife calls the Pantera ... The Beloved Pantera and loves the car.
Best of luck to restoring the subject GT5-S. Sports Car & Market (I am a SCM'er after all) would call this car a fright pig, and for good reason. Too much time and sheet metal would have to be stitched back in -- really, I can imagine what this thing would look like after sandblasting. Probably not much sheet metal would be left without holes. Then there is paint, interior, mechanicals. If you want to donate all of your time to such an endeavor, that's great. But even without cash out of pocket for a DIY, there is still a value to one's time and most people do not like working for nothing, at all. Then of course there is the cost of parts, plating, etc... This thing is scary as scary goes.
These cars are presently not valued as 30's cars. Now if someone wanted to hang onto this car and see what the future would bring -- that is an interesting discussion. Probably better to invest that dough in anything other than this though. Pretty long shot if there ever was one. I say right now at present, with so many other good cars to get into immediately, my wallet would say that buying better makes a lot of sense.
Nightmarish, scary, wow -- really bad.......
I really do like these cars though. I love the underdog -- that is why I also like Mopars, Jaguars, and of course, Triumph.
These cars are presently not valued as 30's cars. Now if someone wanted to hang onto this car and see what the future would bring -- that is an interesting discussion. Probably better to invest that dough in anything other than this though. Pretty long shot if there ever was one. I say right now at present, with so many other good cars to get into immediately, my wallet would say that buying better makes a lot of sense.
Nightmarish, scary, wow -- really bad.......
I really do like these cars though. I love the underdog -- that is why I also like Mopars, Jaguars, and of course, Triumph.
comp 2-the problem is too much chrome!!!!!!!!!!! MGs NEVER came with that much. You OVER restored the car. It's beautiful BTW you did an awesome job seriously but.......I love that car but could not pay you for what you have in it.
Monday at 2:45pm I just fired up a 1968 Mustang coupe that has taken me, my son, my daugther, and my wife 10 years to "restore" at a cost of a 2.5" file folder full of reciepts but the sound of that 351W ingniting made it all worth it. I'm not a rich man money wise but both my kids know the value of an automobile, how to maintain one, and my wife was just as happy as i was when i blipped 300hp through 2.5' cherry bombs. Now that I have a killer antique auto is just the cherry on the ice cream.
I'm sorry but if you're into cars for any other reason than the shear viceral joy of hearing and feeling the mechanical hum of gears and sound then you just don't get it!!
Investment...get serious!!!!
Monday at 2:45pm I just fired up a 1968 Mustang coupe that has taken me, my son, my daugther, and my wife 10 years to "restore" at a cost of a 2.5" file folder full of reciepts but the sound of that 351W ingniting made it all worth it. I'm not a rich man money wise but both my kids know the value of an automobile, how to maintain one, and my wife was just as happy as i was when i blipped 300hp through 2.5' cherry bombs. Now that I have a killer antique auto is just the cherry on the ice cream.
I'm sorry but if you're into cars for any other reason than the shear viceral joy of hearing and feeling the mechanical hum of gears and sound then you just don't get it!!
Investment...get serious!!!!