new member intro

Welcome! We are of course biased here towards the Pantera. I have a friend who just sold his Viper. His complaint was the heat from the floorboards and exhaust which he claims was unbearable. I love everything about the Pantera, exotic looks and American muscle. Old school, I'm still able to work on them unlike the computer driven new cars. Takes me back to the "old days" every time I go for a drive. Did I mention the attention the car gets?

Steven,

Welcome aboard!

The Pantera is a purchase you make with your heart, not your head. Its a passion. I don't believe there is a logical argument for ownership. Its an Italian mistress. Each time I'm behind the wheel, my Pantera makes love to me. A Viper will never do that. At least not for me.

Cowboy from Hell

One more thought...



cowboy from hell

Welcome!

I know a couple of folks that have sold their Panteras and opted for a Viper. I'm sure they're still going through withdrawal symptoms. Personally, I would've done what MacMan did. He purchased a first gen Viper BUT kept his Pantera! You can contact him through his website: http://augerresources.com/ashtonsgarage/

we went through this exact decision making process 10 months ago, we had ours narrowed down to 3 choices, the third was a lotus elise.

if you want to work on the car yourself, i do not think there is a real choice, NO ON-BOARD COMPUTERS!!!!

also, don't forget they are like a trophy wife or mistress, everyone tells you how beautiful they are and how lucky you are, but noone knows the bitch they really are!!

nazgul

Here is something logical to think about. If you buy a new car that costs about the same as what the Pantera costs, ten years from now your new car will be half of what you paid for it. The Pantera will be close to double.

quote:

I am now debating between a Pantera and a used Viper - I know, apples and oranges.

I have always thought the two cars were conceptual cousins separated by a couple of decades.

Now, realize my experience with Vipers consists of looking at them, but both cars are high horsepower, a bit unrefined, not for the masses and carry a bad-boy image.

That said, BUY A PANTERA!

Unless you are in a huge rush, you should start educating yourself and reading all the archives at the two forums listed in my signature below AND also reading all the information at Pantera Place and BanzaiRunnerPantera.

Most every problem these cars can present has already been experienced, and solved, by someone else. And likewise, most upgrades and improvements have already been accomplished by others. If you read all this info, you will know what you like/dislike and be able to buy YOUR car accordingly.

But if you ARE in a huge rush, I fear you will not wind up buying the car you truly want. These cars have a way of giving you The Fever once you start looking at them, enticing you with their Siren Song of "buy me---NOW".

The Vegas gathering is in April, followed - hopefully, if it isn't canceled - by the Monterey, CA Concorso in August. You also have the Pocono event closer to you, June?

Any of these event are great learning schools. I went to two Vegas ('01 and '02) events and Concorso 2002 gathering ideas, advice and knowledge in my 18 month search for 2511. Lots of folks thought I was just a tire-kicker, but no one has thought I didn't wind up buying a top notch car. I easily could have bought earlier candidates, but I fought off the Siren Song until MY car came to me.

Almost without exception, all of us here and at the POCA forum are more than willing to offer advice, join you in inspecting cars, or even inspect one close to us and send you a report. We LOVE these cars, and want your purchase to be done wisely and with full knowledge of what you are getting. You may still have many weekends spent dialing-in this item, or upgrading that item, or wondering WTF is wrong this time...

But once you hit a rural twisty turnie piece of blacktop early in the morning, and start running up/down those gears and hear that Cleveland symphony sing out from behind you, you will KNOW you are the owner of the most seductive, most rewarding exotic car anyone can possess.

Welcome to the De Tomaso Family.

Remember, every day brings you closer to finding YOUR Pantera.

Larry

Wow Larry! What a literary gift. That almost brought a tear to my eye.

quote:

...all of us here and at the POCA forum are more than willing to offer advice, join you in inspecting cars, or even inspect one close to us and send you a report.

To echo what Larry said, the Pantera community (it's really a family) is a GREAT resource. This was perhaps the most unexpected surprise when I began looking for (and once I bought) my car. This crazy bunch of Pantera enthusiasts whom I call my friends make Pantera ownership worth it alone. People spent countless hours educating me and showing me what to look for and what to avoid. And now I've done a number of inspections to help others be successful in their quest for the right car.

And as a part of this "family" I've found that I have friends in just about any city I've had to travel to for work in the last few years. I've posted to the forums and/or opened my POCA directory and I've always been extended a warm invitation and had the chance to get to know some really great people and their cars. And today, a new owner from Sweden who just bought a car in Hollister, CA is coming over for lunch.

Be sure to post inquiries about any cars you're interested in. You'd be surprised (rather, impressed) by how much history on a particular car can be uncovered in one afternoon of emails flying back and forth. And don't be afraid to ask for help - if someone's available, they will. Also, as you narrow down your preferences, let us know what you're looking for. Members often learn of cars for sale (or that will be for sale) long before they're every advertised. For that matter, many cars change hands without ever being advertised. So jump in with both feet.

Welcome to the family, and good luck in your search!

Holy cow, what a nice welcome, thanks. Great advice and it is really no different than the approach I took to buying the 442. 12 years ago I had a '70 Wildcat that was at the point it needed to be redone and I felt it wasn't worth it because it wasn't my dream car. I started looking at Pantera's and 442s, took me 6 months to realize at that point I'd have more opportunities to enjoy a 5 seater than a two seater (even today) and I bought the 442 after 6- 8 months of looking.

Seems half the fun is the research and the search. Being 100% Italian and owning all American cars (I know 2 of 'em built up north) The Pantera fits the bill perfectly. I also think as expensive as they are, they are still cheaper than they should be and most likely will be increasing in value - no matter I have always wanted one. I guess I should sit back be patient and learn while I search - I am certainly in no hurry - though they are probably better in the snow than my Marauder

Saying all of this is there typical years I should be looking at or is that personal preference too?

quote:

Saying all of this, are there typical years I should be looking at or is that personal preference too?

Looking at Panteras by year of build is somewhat worthless, as most have been modified.

There are subtle differences in the early cars versus the later L models, but you need to really look at what the car is NOW, rather than what it started out as.

Pushbutton, flat deck, chrome bumpers, eyebrow Euro bumpers on an L, L model bumpers, stock body, GRP 4 flared body, GT5 body, GT5S body, GTS spoiler, GT5 spoiler, delta Wing spoiler, sugar scoop spoiler, one-pod dash, two-pod dash, stock Cleveland or Windsor or modular, carbed or turboed....etc, etc, etc

That is why reading, visiting events and asking questions is SO important in learning what style YOU want, and THEN you can search it out.

Or you could just buy the first one you find and start enjoying it right now. But if the bug to modify to your taste bites you, then you would have been better off money-wise in learning just what your taste is beforehand. Always cheaper to buy something that a previous owner has spent the big $$$ on.

I found a car with under 5000 miles on a full bare-metal restoration that cost around $45-$50K, plus another $20K in earlier upgrades for $42K. But it took a year and a half.

We're here to help.

Larry

quote:

Originally posted by Cowboy from Hell:
Steven,

Its an Italian mistress. Each time I'm behind the wheel, my Pantera makes love to me.

Cowboy from Hell

Nice thought...wear a rubber.

Dude, have you read the Pantera story on the forum home page? The cowboy from hell wrote this:

Cooling system improvements, electronic ignitions, 17 inch "Campagnolo Clone" wheels, modern gas filled shock absorbers, charging system and air conditioning system upgrades, GTS exhaust systems, aftermarket steering wheels and improved seating are modifications that are universally sought by the discerning Pantera shopper.

I think the wanker left a few things out, but that's a pretty good list. Paint jobs and body work are the most expensive thing to have done, so if you can find a Pantera that has had a bare metal resto & paint job in the color you like, you are bucks ahead. Don't even worry about the motor, once you buy a car, just call the dudes at MME and buy their 540 horsepower 408 Cleveland crate motor, that's a no brainer dude. An improved cooling system is a must have. The stock seats bite, since it sounds like you want to drive your car, plan on better seats, or buy a car that already has them. 17 inch wheels are old school, and the stock 15 inch wheels blow. Some 20 inch rear wheels and 18 inch front wheels like the wheels on the cowboy from hell's car are slammin'. There are some threads with recommendations for suspension modifications in the chassis forum.

A Pantera with a 540 horsepower motor and 20 inch rear wheels/18 inch front wheels, now thats spaghetti with BALLS.

Have fun shopping for your Pantera.

Reaper