My car came home Friday

Pictures are posted in my photo forum on this site, I will try to post one or two here. Suggestions for center caps for the wheels would be appreciated.

Right side formerly dented right front fender

I need to increase my insurance coverage, guesses as to what the car might be worth in its present condition would be helpful.

Must be great to have it back. How is the weather in Minnesota this time of year? Will you be able to drive it much?

R.

Congrats!! I know how great it is to have your baby back home, and actually get to enjoy driving it.

We get 50s to 80s depending on the day. I am going to try to drive it this month. There might be a few days in November as well. I haven't driven it much yet but I am looking forward to doing so.

Your car loks fantastic. I know far too well how it is to 'wait, and wait, and wait...' but then it's worth it.

What's with the body shop losing badges? Same here. Keep us posted on the progress, and keep th photos coming.

Thanks Hudson. I thought of you when I noticed my front badge was missing, somewhere someone has a complete set with my nose badge and your "Power by Ford" - I'll be watching for it on eBay. Looking at your avatar I am noticing that my car looks too high. Do you have adjustable shocks or just have the spacers removed? I want to lower my car but frankly am not interested in the expense of new shocks/springs right now. Still recovering from sticker shock on the bodywork.

Found it! http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1510042044/m/8690080004

quote:

Originally posted by 72red:
Thanks Hudson. I thought of you when I noticed my front badge was missing, somewhere someone has a complete set with my nose badge and your "Power by Ford" - I'll be watching for it on eBay. Looking at your avatar I am noticing that my car looks too high. Do you have adjustable shocks or just have the spacers removed? I want to lower my car but frankly am not interested in the expense of new shocks/springs right now. Still recovering from sticker shock on the bodywork.

Yes, somewhere, someone is building a 'new' Pantera one part at a time, scarfed from bodyshops. It's a conspiracy!


I had my spacers removed, have a fully adjustable Pat Mical suspension set up except for shocks. My fender lips are right atop my 10" rear wheels. So my car is at Euro ride height, 3/4" AT LEAST below the US height.

I've never rubbed the tires on the body, and this car doesn't (or hasn't yet) scraped on anything. I asked Pat about this repeatedly and he assured me no probs in that area - and has been right. I used to be able to break my front end 'pushing' at will. Now, if I try to do it, it DOESN'T push, at least till I'm going to fast for rational driving. A big improvement.

Out of morbid curiosity, what was your bodyshop bill? Mine ran a hair under $5k.

25K. They gave me 5k off - for a total of 20K. I would have been better off driving it to your shop from Minnesota for the money. I figure the paint and body work is actually about 15K. Everything was completely re-chromed. The front trunk was redone including custom carpet. New headliner. Carb rebuild. Air conditioning repaired and converted to the new stuff. It was still too much but people love the paint. I couldn't get anyone to touch it for under 12k - just for the body- and nobody would give me a firm estimate. I asked a few people I trusted about the projected cost and they felt it was reasonable based on what was being done. 5k - was that a bare-metal glass-out job or no?

The people I worked with were very nice and very good. They were probably much more particular than I am and probably agonized about details that I don't care about, and I paid for it. Once they got into it though the car was in pieces in the shop and in primer, I was kind of at their mercy at that point. They delivered a premium result and I paid a premium price - I'm kind of tight and probably wouldn't have chosen for it to come out that way, I consider it my gift to Pantera posterity - this car will be around for a long time whether I am the owner or not. The whole ordeal kind of wore me out really.

I completely understand the 'worn out' part! Me too. And let me be clear - mine was ONLY body and paint. I bought every scrap of weatherstripping, decals, trim, polishing, rechroming... ANY replacement part was over and above, outa my pocket.

My AC, headliner, and all that jazz was done previously. Yours was like a mini restoration, mine limited to paint and body. All my glass and trim came off except windshield which was 'roped'. I don't think I have anywhere near your job to be honest, but am nonetheless satisfied. Spent most of yesterday pulling trunk carpet, retrimming under there, etc etc. Would love to see your 'new' trunk too!