Looking for alternatives to 'L' bumpers

Depends on how much work you want to do. These I believe use the existing holes from L bumper.

Amerisport split bumpers.

https://www.amerisportindustri...isport_split_bumpers

Otherwise there are the original bumperettes which come in 2 styles, rounded or squared ends. They require body work to fill the holes left behind when the L bumper is removed however. There is a company that manufactures them in stainless but I've heard there may be fitment issues.

Thanks for the link. I think I prefer the smaller bumperettes. All the holes have been welded closed and the car is in primer waiting for paint. We can drill whatever holes are needed.

Ah. Then you're set. Originals are a bit pricey and I've seen fewer and fewer for sale. PIM has them in carbon fiber. Pantera Parts Connection has them in fiberglass. He also lists some originals but I don't know if they're actually available. The aftermarket metal ones come in SS, painted black or raw but they're pricey, $1200 or so. And I've read they require manual fitment to get them right.

Not sure exactly which model of Pantera these bumpers are for but I got them from Don Byars @ Full Throttle Panteras in Southern California.

Thanks all!

David, The bumpers on your car are what I’m looking for. Does anyone know what year they are from or any other info about them?

I refer to that style of front bumper as the eyebrow style. They were installed on Panteras  sold in Europe but were meant to incorporate the turn signal pods on the rubber bumper cars.

it appears you have removed your front light pods along with filling the bumper holes. What are your plans to incorporate driving and signal lights ?

The impact bumper was not required in Europe but they didn’t want to have to fuss with two different stampings  for the front valance. Thus  the eyebrow bumpers mounted above the light pods  

I am not as familiar with the rear bumpers but I think they were  also the European approach for the L model cars. I’m quite sure more than one vendor offers these both  in fiberglass, I think finding them in metal is difficult.

Larry

Here is a bit more information.

http://www.panteraplace.com/page165.htm

As mentioned in the article there are several different iterations of the bumpers. Some wrap around on the end, some don't. Some are squared off where they meet the license plate surround, some are rounded. And, of course, like everything else DeTomaso, there is no rhyme or reason what particular style was installed by VIN.

I think I have a set of fiberglass ones. Let me know if you'd like some photos

Hi, you can order SS version of the eyebrow version  from this vendor in NL :

https://www.bumperworld.eu/brands/de-tomaso-112

I have installed the rear ones from them, good fit. For the front i purchased a nice C set from Larry Stock PPC. The total will set you back €950 but that is including 21% VAT. I believe for export this will be subtracted.

BTW, I also have a set of fiber glass, black.

J.

Thanks everyone for the info and links.

I'm assuming the small bumpers are more decorative than anything else. This may be a dumb question but has anyone who's car is equipped with the small steel bumpers been hit lightly? Do they offer any protection to the body or does the body just get pushed in beneath the bumper? Assuming black bumpers, might fiberglass bumpers be better at absorbing a light hit, sort of being sacrificial being easy to repair and repaint?

I'm probable over thinking it but that's were I am with my project.

Is there any advantage to steel over fiberglass?

larryw and Joep, Any photos will be much appreciated. Thanks!

Mike,

Methinks you are “over thinking “. 😁😉

if we were concerned about what happens in an accident we would just go to Office Depot and buy 40 rolls of bubble wrap.

Buy and install to obtain the look you are seeking. Worry about the ramifications when and if you need to worry.

Larry

Larry, You are probably right. My engineering brain is hard at work looking into the details. Maybe it's time to go and listen to some music.

With that system I think you probably feel the music more than you actually hear it.

👍👍

IMHO these are purely decorative. Steel, fiberglass, CF, whatever the body will take the brunt of the force and these will merely be sacrificial.

Feeling the music is what it’s all about. We build these speakers, and others, from the ground up including the drivers.

  Aren’t those from the Dominator line?

https://youtu.be/EAyJmIXcyMg

Similar but entirely different

I plan to use a set of stainless from these folks

https://groupharrington.com/pr...aso-pantera-bumpers/

taking them out of the box, I got the impression they are more like trim accents than bumpers. 

they are at the shop in Denver NC.

Larry,

"it appears you have removed your front light pods along with filling the bumper holes. What are your plans to incorporate driving and signal lights ?"

They were removed before I got the car. Are the pods factory welded on or screwed on? Were all US cars fitted with the pods? Sorry for all the questions. This is my first involvement with a Pantera. What learning curve, especially since I bought the car completely disassembled.

Not sure about the driving and signal lights yet. I need to sort out these details before the car gets painted. Headlights are stock with a quad bulb conversion.

Mike