I feel for you old guys with your Panteras. And can totally relate!
I'm a lot older than most of you! And now on my 3rd Pantera. I've spent over 40 years loving and working on these cars - and killing my back, neck, knees, shoulders and hands in the process. But there is a workaround.
Every time I had a maintenance job or a repair to make, I made sure that the next time I had to do this it would be easier. It's a little hard to keep them stock this way, but at least every subsequent repair - if needed - would be a lot easier to get to. Relocating parts and/or replacing them with more modern ones, made the life of an old guy and his Pantera lot easier. Even adjusting your glasses or taking them on or off so you see properly when upside down under the dash, or under the car, becomes more of a challenge as you age. Build a few custom tools that make reaching those impossible bolts easier.
Do some research before you start on a project. Get good advice, readily available here on this board, so you can fix each issue once only and the same problems never return.
When I finally finished modifying 9203 I could get in anytime, fire it up with the first turn of the key and head out for a 6 hr ride without worry. I could sit in traffic on the hottest days, with no overheating, comfortable inside with cool AC. The car ran effortlessly and reliably ever time. It never broke down. Ever.
Although those speeding tickets get to be a pain.
I too was tempted to make life easier. I tried Porsches, Lambos, Mercedes, F Cars, Jags, Astons and Vettes - pretty much all the supertype cars that I could afford. But none of them gave me the thrill that the Pantera does. And I would never be able to fix or improve any of them myself without a electronics degree and a testing lab in my garage. So I went back and started over on 3271 to build a newer version of the Pantera. Having spent 6 years on this build, knowing what I know now I probably should have done something else.
But then again, life is all about challenges. And the more difficult they are the more rewarding the journey. Even with all the frustration and disappointment.
So all you old guys out there - there is an alternative. Work out to stay in shape and take Advil. And DRIVE YOUR PANTERA a lot!
The harder you put your foot down, the younger you get.
