Lowered floor pans?

Hello none of the panteras have dropped floorpans.People are installing them from pantera vendors .

I know none of the FORD Panteras were dropped, but I think the later factory production did have at least some with dropped pans.

Larry

quote:

Originally posted by Deloreans and De Tomasos:
Does anyone know when the floor pans were dropped on the Pantera? Being 6ft4 makes it kinda difficult when looking for a car. Thanks

I did mine. They aren't difficult or expensive to do. Buy the car you like then have the pans done.
Incidentally they really don't give you more leg room, they give you more head room. I'm 6'2, 220.
I still need room for my right knee under the steering wheel. It is a LeCarra 13" wheel also.
I really need an adjustable steering column.
I haven't solved that one yet.

[/QUOTE]
Incidentally they really don't give you more leg room, they give you more head room. I'm 6'2, 220. I still need room for my right knee under the steering wheel. It is a LeCarra 13" wheel also. I really need an adjustable steering column. I haven't solved that one yet.[/QUOTE]

On my GT5S Byar Bros extended all the foot pedals, so you may want to try that.

On my GT5S Byar Bros extended all the foot pedals, so you may want to try that.[/QUOTE]

I can see relocating the pedals deeper into the footwell, or moving them all to the lft some. I don't know what you mean by extending them.
It is really the location of the wheel. It needs to be at least an inch to the left. That isn't difficult to do but it would be offcenter from the instruments.
Detomaso must have been a little twisted up guy. Was he a hunchback or something?

quote:

Originally posted by Deloreans and De Tomasos:
Does anyone know when the floor pans were dropped on the Pantera? Being 6ft4 makes it kinda difficult when looking for a car. Thanks

D&DT, you're a big guy huh?

None of the Ford era cars had dropped floor pans. The deTomasos continued to use left over Ford era coaches (manufactured by Vignale) through 1976, through chassis number 7700 (approximate). So even the early Euro cars would not have dropped floor pans, unless the pans had been dropped by the owner.

When the supply of Vignale coaches was exhausted, deTomaso contracted with Carrozeria Maggiora to build coaches for them. This was during the years 1976 through 1977. Beginning with chassis number 9001. They were all GTS models. I've never read a report or seen any pictures of a Pantera with a Maggiora coach, I do not know if they had dropped floor pans, or the sharp edged rear wheels houses. Not too many Panteras were built with Maggiora coaches, I'm unsure of the count, but less than 100.

In 1978 deTomaso contracted Carrozeria Embo to build Pantera coaches, starting with chassis # 9101. These coaches had dropped floor pans & the sharp edged rear wheel houses. Embo coaches are available as GTS, GT5 and GT5-S models. These are the models that were gray marketed into the US during the '80s. As I am sure you are aware these models are valued in the US $10K to $20K more than a Ford era Pantrera.

So your chioices for Panteras with dropped floor pans boils down to a Ford era Pantera that has had its floor pans dropped by a previous owner, or a grey market GTS, GT5 or GT5-S with a chassis number greater than 9100.

your friend on the DTBB

quote:

Originally posted by thewop:
Hello none of the panteras have dropped floorpans.People are installing them from pantera vendors .

Hello,
DeTomaso installed dropped floorpans as original equipment, most likely beginning in the late 70's. My '85 has dropped floorpans stock. I *think* I've seen an '82 that had dropped floorpans stock, so I'm guessing late 70's.

Actually now that I think about it, I would imagine that the dropped floorpan-as-stock modification probably happened at the same time as DeTomaso began fabricating their panels (square wheel well vs. stamped). When they used up all the Ford-era panels and had to make everything from scratch anyway, it would have been a logical time for them to have cut in this change.

It sounds like the Ford chassis should be the more desireable ones to me.
Is Halls Big Red the only car with an electric sunroof?

On my 9138 the floor pans are dropped and it has the square box style rather then stamped chassi system. for myself at 5-8 .. now I can actually now I can see myself driving a Pantera longer then an hour. Without the dropped floor pans its not too comfortable.

Ron

quote:

The rear deck was made out of patchwork. The quality of the bodies varied from car to car on the level of Sambuca or Grappa the workers had intus or what reasons ever.

Roland funny you say this ?

I was joking with a friend observing the welds and its pretty clear there were two different people welding this car together on each side. One is perfect and the other a little patchy.

LOL

quote:

Originally posted by george pence :
Embo coaches are available as GTS, GT5 and GT5-S models. These are the models that were gray marketed into the US during the '80s. As I am sure you are aware these models are valued in the US $10K to $20K more than a Ford era Pantera.

Interesting info, George. I thought they were worth a bit more.

Josh

quote:

Originally posted by pantera874:
From #9001 up all Panteras where made from the same molds. DT owns the molds. First Maggiora used them and then EMBO. Maggiora used bad steel and too thin material in the chassis section. DT had a recall on those cars to strengt these sections on owners costs. All cars had dropped floorpans and thinner rockerpanels.

Roland thanks so much for filling in the gap in my knowledge regarding the Maggiora coaches.

thanks, your friend on the DTBB

quote:

Originally posted by JK:
...Interesting info, George. I thought they were worth a bit more...

If top condition Ford era Panteras are fetching $45K maybe even $50K in todays market, are there factory GTS, GT5 or GT5-S fetching more than $65K to $70K? Can't judge by asking price, only sale price.

your friend on the DTBB

Heck George, I am 6'4" tall and weigh 250 pounds. But my wife told me if I couldn't fit in the car I couldn't buy it. So I make myself fit. Sure I have ridden in roomier cars, but I have also driven cars even more cramped. Hell one time I even rode in a Lotus Europa. What a bunch of girlie men, bitchin about room in a Pantera. Compared to a Triumph GT6 like I used to own it is as roomy as a Cadalac. Now I threw my back out for a week after a 10 hour drive in it and I was in my twenties, but if I want to dtive an exotic car, and I have been made by God to be freakishly large, then by golly I should just take my lumps and not complain. If someone gave me an original GT40 you think I would turn it down cause I didn't fit?? Hell I would chop my feet off and just get used to the pain.
Screw the pain, I want to DRIVE!!!

You know this is what makes this group such a great place to be. Four pages of info from one small post like mine...thanks for all the help! I'm pretty much more inclined into loking for a mid eighties gt5s and yes I know I'll be looking for awhile but I'll be busy with some other hurdles involved with purchasing the car in the meantime.

quote:

Originally posted by george pence:

quote:

Originally posted by JK:
...Interesting info, George. I thought they were worth a bit more...

If top condition Ford era Panteras are fetching $45K maybe even $50K in todays market, are there factory GTS, GT5 or GT5-S fetching more than $65K to $70K? Can't judge by asking price, only sale price.

your friend on the DTBB

Thanks George. I always thought the difference between the two groups was more than $10K-20K. Probably not... Now that I think about it, your reasoning makes sense.

Josh

Delorean and DeTomaso ....... dont give up I found what I was looking for right in our back yard. They are out there believe me. Some thing came to mind ? Are all the cars accounted for ? has everyone registered on the registry ? Thats one of the easiest ways to tell ?

Ron

quote:

I'm pretty much more inclined into loking for a mid eighties gt5s

There was a yellow GT5S on the PI page a few months ago for around $50k. Never saw the "sold" sign on it. Did that car ever sell?

Also, there was the "last GT5S ever made at the factory" with 700km. They were asking 60k Euros. It never met its reserve on ebay, so it's probably available with some wiggle room on the price, although it's located in Europe...

I've seen the best cars are usually sold quietly. So, they're out there, waiting for you.

Josh

There is one for sale advertised on PI. It is located in Colorado.