MUST SELL MY PROJECT 72 PANTERA VIN# THPNMR02769 WITH A GT5 BODY

Wow! So sorry to hear this happened Shawn. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by garth66:
Wow! So sorry to hear this happened Shawn. Good luck!

thank you...this was my baby, i hope those guys at the shop will pay for what they did... the sad part is that they were recommended by the president of the pantera club ( of america or something..) he was their landlord and rumors has it that all my parts went on a red pantera they had at the shop and was sent to some show in Vegas !

Shawn, I am just sick for you. That is a sorry story on several levels, perhaps the worst being taking part of your dream.

Tell us, is insurance helping your recovery or compensating the loss? Any legal angles for the 'highly recommended' shop?

You can put a word to the Nevada/California region of 'that other club' on their website about your saga. There are WAY more Pantera-trained eyeballs on that side of the US. Can't hurt, could turn up some parts or alert the sellers thereof.

Anyway, hope this turns out.

Thank you all for the warm comments, the shop is out of business and the owners are nowhere to be found... Lawyers wanted way too much money to handle the case and though they believe I will win they are afraid there will be no one to collect from not to mention that an insurance co will only cover "errors and emissions" and not theft.
So I'm done !

what the heck, life must and will go on...

I wish there was a way to fix it without "taking another mortgage"...

Shaun

I realize that none of us could fully appreciate your loss without standing in your shoes. I am sorry to see your dream collapse.

To provide a point of clarity, I was President of POCA (Pantera Owners Club of America)from 2004 through 2008 and Mark Mcwhinney , who resides in California, from 2009 through today. I can assure you that I never had a dialogue with any owner recommending a shop in FLorida. In view of Mark's residence being 3000 miles away, I am extremely doubtful that he would have either.

Do you know the year the car with your pats may have been at the Vegas Fun Rally? Perhaps, we could help you determine the owner. Although, he probably paid for the parts from the shop not knowing they were stolen. Regardless, they would still belong to you.

quote:

Originally posted by shawn j:.......no one to collect from not to mention that an insurance co will only cover "errors and emissions" and not theft

Wow. Really? Not to add to your pain here but how could theft not be covered? That's the most basic of comp coverage. You may want to challenge that aspect if your policy.

All the best to you; you deserve some good luck.

Kelly

Shawn,
Would you have more pictures and a starting asking price? Vin number would be helpful also.

Where is the car now?

Thanks,
Angelo

I would kick someone ass so bad, no really! I'd break your arms (both) and when they started to get better, i'd break them again

Land lord should know a name = the first two broken arms

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT... I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL YOUR COMMENTS.

AS FOR THE SHOP, THE SHOP'S NAME WAS "UNIVERSAL COLLISION" IN JUPITER AND RAN BY TWO GUYS ONE NAME "ALEX" ( AMERICAN )AND THE OTHER WAS GERMAN ( CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME )... WE DID SOME INVESTIGATION AND FOUND THIS ALEX GUY WORKING FOR A BODY SHOP CALLED "THE IRISH MAN" IN JUPITER FL, HE CRIED THAT HE LOST EVERYTHING INCLUDING HIS WIFE, HOUSE... AND PROMISED TO LOCATE THE PARTS AND DO GOOD BLAH BLAH BLAH...
WE GAVE HIM A CHANCE AND THE NEXT DAY HE WAS GONE WITHOUT A TRACE.

THE CAR WAS NOT INSURED YET AS IT WAS GOING THROUGH THE RESTORATION PROCESS, THE SHOP WAS INSURED AND AS I MENTIONED THE INSURANCE CO ONLY COVERS "ERRORS AND EMISSIONS" AND NOT THEFT.
THE LANDLORD WAS SOME PANTERA CLUB PRESIDENT FOR SURE, HOWEVER THERE ARE SO MANY PANTERA CLUBS I CAN'T REMEMBER THE ACTUAL NAME, (I WILL TRY TO FIND OUT MORE DETAILS, IT WAS ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO WHEN I LAST SPOKE TO HIM ) HE RECOMMENDED THIS SHOP AND THEY WERE WORKING ON SOME HOT RODS, TWO FERRARI'S AND TWO PANTERAS WHEN I CAME TO VISIT THEM. THEY LOOKED LIKE ANY LEGIT SHOP AND I TRUSTED THEM.
AS FOR PICTURES, I WAS TRYING TO POST SOME BUT WITHOUT MUCH LUCK, JUST WON'T UPLOAD (UNLESS I'M DOING SOMETHING WRONG...)
I'M GETTING A LOT OF INTEREST ON THE CAR AND THE OFFERS ARE COMING IN ANYWHERE FROM $10.000 TO $16.000
I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE RIGHT BUYER TO CLOSE THE DEAL... IF INTERESTED, I CAN EMAIL MORE PICTURES.
I WILL POST THE VIN# AS SOON AS I GET A CHANCE, THE CAR IS LOCATED AT A STORAGE YARD IN JUPITER FLORIDA JUST DOWN THE BLOCK FROM WHERE THE BODY SHOP WAS( THEY ACTUALLY DUMPED IT THERE AND THAT'S HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT ! THEY LEFT MY NAME AND PHONE # AND THE YARD CALLED ME TO PAY THE STORAGE BILL... CAN YOU GRASP THAT ???!!!)

ANYWAY,THIS IS GETTING ME UPSET...

ON A LIGHTER NOTE... THE PERSON THAT BUY'S MY CAR HAS TO LET ME SEE IT WHEN FINISHED AND TAKE IT ONE LAP AROUND THE BLOCK !!! LOL...

WISHING ALL A GREAT WEEKEND

still trying to upload pictures... just figured out the problem, the pictures (size) are too big and needs to be minimized !
I'll tackle that hopefully on Sunday and post more pictures.

What a tragedy, and totally unfair, lets hope it all works out for the best. Good Luck.

Shawn,

You coul use Photobucket or some other web-based photo storage site. You don't have to re-size pictures then.

I'm sorry to hear about your car. I think you're in the right price range.

I'M JUST EXPLORING THE PANTERA COMMUNITY AND READING ALL POSTS AND STORIES AND I REALLY ENVY ALL THE GUYS WHO CAN JUST GET INTO THEIR CARS AND ENJOY THEM... IT MAKES ME WANT TO KEEP MY CAR !!! IF I DON'T SALE IT FOR SOME REASON, IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN HELP ME SOURCE ALL THE PARTS I NEED TO PUT MY BABY BACK TOGETHER AGAIN ???
I KNOW THE PARTS ARE NOT CHEAP ON THIS CAR ESPECIALLY THE ZF TRANS-AXLE BUT WITH SOME HELP FROM MEMBERS AND INSIDE SOURCES I MIGHT SUCCEED...
I NEED:
1)ALL GLASS.
2)FULL INTERIOR.( I'VE SEEN SOME CARS WITH CUSTOM INTERIOR SO THAT WILL BE GREAT)
3)ALL HARNESS/WIRING.
4)ZF TRANS.
5)WIPERS.
6)PROBABLY TIRES.
7)MUFFLERS.
I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE LITTLE THINGS I'M MISSING AND NOT AWARE OF AT THIS TIME BUT THOSE ARE THE MAJOR PARTS.
ANY HELP EVEN TECHNICAL WILL BE GREATLY AND TRULY APPRECIATED...

Shawn,

I have a project car, and it isn't what most owners recommend, but it allows me to do what I want and I have tons of fun doing it. It doesn't have to cost more, but it can be much more expensive than purchasing a car already modified. If you want to keep what you have, I think it will be expensive.

With all due respect, most of the items you list can be found or purchased in aftermarket form (except for the glass you're missing). In fact, although I have most of those items already, I won't be using them since I would rather go with aftermarket items, save a few items such as seats (for now my '74 seats are flawless and seem to be fine), etc.

Most vendors sell a complete interior kit. Some even sell carbon fiber stuff. I know what I like, and it involves almost total carbon fiber. Some people replace all the gauges anyway, so no worries there. Interior trim, well, can be more difficult to find. I think I was lucky. Most parts can be found easily.

Wiring can be done using newer hot-rod wiring harnesses or ISIS consolidated wiring, and I think that's desirable over a 35-year-old harness.

A ZF is not hard to find if you can afford to spend the money. RBT will sell a new one for around $12k, completely upgraded, but Lloyd w/RBT said that rebuilds are much, much less (but not as good). I think one of the vendors had one or two last I checked.

Wipers aren't used much if you don't drive in the rain, which most Pantera owners avoid like a nasty disease. If you want them, I think you could find them.

Tires are no big deal- just go down to the local tire shop or ask a vendor for wheels and tires.

Mufflers are easily purchased thru a vendor, or even custom-made by a competent local muffler shop.

How about AC? Radiator and coolant tubes? HVAC plenum? Shifter and linkage?

I'm not trying to insult your intelligence and there are tons of people who know much more than me, but I think you could keep what you have if you're willing to spend the money and time to obtain parts. I hope this helps.
Corey

Shawn,

As Corey says everything you need is available either used oem or aftermarket, yoru list isn't actually that long or cpomplex. If you so choose you could have a great car at the end of this, think of it as a blank canvas.

I do have a spare ZF for sale;
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/...0045562/m/1101021206

Good luck,
Julian

Shawn,
This forum and its members are a wealth of information and help. If you decide to keep and rebuild the car use them!

You might want to ask George to move this post to one of the other forums if you decide to keep the car. You would get more interaction there.

As an aside, if your car is the one that was stored at Jupiter hitch off orange, I've seen that car and was actually quite depressed on how it was being stored, wide open to the weather without even glass. Hope the rust was addressed before the repaint.

Myself and a few other Pantera owners locally would be more than happy to offer advice and direction on a rebuild, heck mine started as just an a/c compressor change, it is now totally stripped to a shell!

Good luck on which ever path you choose.

Angelo

### JUST ADDED THE VIN# TO THE HEADER...

THANK YOU ALL ! YOU ARE AND HAVE BEEN OF GREAT HELP !

*** I'm adding some info as i feel i need to correct some details i previously wrote,
the shop that took me for a ride was UNIVERSAL COLLISION located at 134 fern street Jupiter Florida 33458, the owners were Alex and another guy i can't remember his name ( German)
the landlord is Mr JOHN M ZUCCARELLI III and he is the regional executive of the SCCA (sport car club of America) in FLORIDA...
i will try and contact him tomorrow, maybe he can help... if anyone has info that can be helpful i will appreciate it.

OK,
I NOW HAVE ABOUT 6 SERIOUS PARTIES INTERESTED IN THE CAR AND WILL POST IF ITS SOLD,
I STILL WISH I COULD KEEP IT BUT IT SOUNDS AS IF IT WILL COST MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD TO SPEND AT THIS TIME IN ORDER TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER...
IF I DO DECIDE TO KEEP IT, I WILL DEFIANTLY CONTACT YOU JULIAN FOR THE ZF AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHERS WHO PROVIDED ALL THE USEFUL INFO .
***PS.
I ALSO HAD AN ORIGINAL AND AS I UNDERSTAND EXTREMELY RARE (HARD PLASTIC COVER AND BLUE COLOR) PANTERA WORK SHOP MANUALS THAT I HANDED OVER TO THE SHOP WHEN THEY FIXED MY CAR... THEY WERE THE ACTUAL BOOKS USED AT THE FACTORY! MAYBE THEY WILL END UP IN SOMEONE'S HAND AND CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE THIEVES.
WHEN I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE CAR THE SELLER TOLD ME THERE WAS A WHOLE STORY BEHIND THOSE BOOKS AND HOW THEY CAME FROM A PERSON THAT WORKED FOR DE TOMASO FACTORY OR SOMETHING WHILE THEY WERE IN BUSINESS...

quote:

Originally posted by JTpantera:
Shaun

I realize that none of us could fully appreciate your loss without standing in your shoes. I am sorry to see your dream collapse.

To provide a point of clarity, I was President of POCA (Pantera Owners Club of America)from 2004 through 2008 and Mark Mcwhinney , who resides in California, from 2009 through today. I can assure you that I never had a dialogue with any owner recommending a shop in FLorida. In view of Mark's residence being 3000 miles away, I am extremely doubtful that he would have either.

Do you know the year the car with your pats may have been at the Vegas Fun Rally? Perhaps, we could help you determine the owner. Although, he probably paid for the parts from the shop not knowing they were stolen. Regardless, they would still belong to you.

hi, i apologize for mixing up the club names... the landlord is the Florida regional director of the SCCA and not the pantera club...
thanks
shawn

OMG! IF that is the same car as listed in Prova Mo, someone needs to be found and hung by the short ones! I would have layed money they were not the same car in such a short time span. groan.

As a side note, Theft is recoverable by insurance or the shop owner personally if the car was in a 'secure' enclosed shop space. The customer is entitled to the resonable expectation of security if it is secured.

Luck to you

quote:

Originally posted by ANGELO B:
OMG! IF that is the same car as listed in Prova Mo, someone needs to be found and hung by the short ones! I would have layed money they were not the same car in such a short time span. groan.



What is prova, mo ??? This is the first time I'm listing the car for sale... Did you see the same car for sell somewhere else ? Or I'm misunderstanding you ? The car is located in a secured storage yard in Florida and I'm paying storage...
Thanks
As a side note, Theft is recoverable by insurance or the shop owner personally if the car was in a 'secure' enclosed shop space. The customer is entitled to the resonable expectation of security if it is secured.

Luck to you

A DeTomaso registry where one can search a car by vin or other ways. Also a wealth of other information relating to these cars.

Your car was listed in the registry.

provamo web link

Shawn...don't get bullshitted again.. !

Info from the Provomo registry:
http://www.provamo.com/Members...y/SearchRegistry.asp

quote:

The Full VIN: THPNMR02769
The Model Year: 1972
The Model: Pantera
The Market: USA
The Build Date: 2/1/1972
Rear Plate Panel Size: Narrow
Deck lid Type: Flat
Drive Side: LHD
Rear Wing or Spoiler: None
The Engine Type: 351C
Reported Mileage: 28,500 Mi
Body Service Num:0
The short VIN: 2769
The Motor Number: 0
Does Block # Match: False
Transaxle Number: 0
The Original Color: Unknown
The Current Color: Black
The Interior Color: Black
The Condition: Modified - Driven
Front Wheel Diameter: 17
Rear Wheel Diameter: 17
Front Wheel Width: 9
Rear Wheel Width: 11
Front Tires: Pirelli P Zero 245/40
Rear Tires: Pirelli P Zero 335/35
State of Ownership: MI
Country of Ownership: USA

Pictures here: http://www.provamo.com/Members...769/RTHPNMR02769.asp


LOOKS LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CAR. I IMAGINE ONE OF THE VIN's IS WRONG.

I wish it never happened to you we need more Pantera people here in FL. Keep the faith stay with us.

First hunt the people down... also since they are in my area if I can help I will.

Second If you deside to keep the car and need some help putting it together let me know... I don't have much time and I have no extra parts but a heater control box, 2 rear tail lights, and a set of factory rims tires are ng, but...
A) I live north of Jupiter
B) I have friends with a car trailer
C) one of my best friends of 30 years helped me put my car together so I could ask him to help us when we did the repaint.
D) I have had my car for over 10 years and I have had the car "almost" completely apart by myself.