Numbers Matching?

quote:

Do Pantera's have VIN numbers to match motor to chassis?
How can we determine if the original motor is in the car?

Hey Will,
The engine serial number is not part of the VIN, but there is a plate in the engine bay ("A" in the attached image) that has the engine number engraved on it, which matches the block number ("B") The plate is a small aluminum rectangle with the number above the words "SERIE PARTI MECCANICHE" followed by the english words "Mechanical Parts No.

I don't know if the plate is in that exact spot on all cars, but that's where mine was when I got the car.

Closeup of the plate ...

Closeup of the block number (poor image quality, but it also says "04751") ...

a few years back we were in Rigaud for fall colour tour. We had 2 cars that had very close VINs and the engines also had the same ratio
(DavidB and DenisM)

So I can only assume that a car with a close VIN would get you that answer if the plate is missing on your car.

Will,

The plate under the front hood MOTORE No 07175 matches the engine stamping. Seems in the later years .. mine being a 1979 the location of the Engine # was moved to the Chassis Plate.

The Engine stamping with a 351 / in front of the motor #.

how important is it to have the original engine. I just purchased a 1974 L, with a newer 351. But the original engine block was included in the sale. I either can sell the block back to the dealer or try and find some place to store it. Any opinions on why I should keep it?

I would say if the car is "investment Quality" original paint, and near show room, then it would be important to have matching numbers. Especially if you gave strong money for the car.
Generally, for some reason, pantera buyers/owners do not seem to mind as much if things are not factory original.
Other cars such as Classic corvettes take a strong hit in value if they are not matching numbers, not so much on panteras.

The engine number on a Pantera is just hand stamped on the rear of the block with varying degrees of quality. Unfortunately there is no correlation or record to actual Ford engine number that I know of. That IMO makes it pretty easy to ensure a numbers matching Pantera especially with reproduction front and engine plates being available. This maybe part of the reason that numbers matching doesn't hold as much weight as with other marques.

Julian

Traditionally FORD didn't VIN their motors with the exception of what seems to be Cars that are to be shipped out of or into the USA. I own 4 Fords of which 3 have VIN numbers on the block which appears in the VIN ... Detomaso seems to be the only Marqure which the Engine# doesn't match the VIN but does appear on the Chassis Plate.

To re stamp a Chassis plate or Block isn't as simple as it may seem. First the obvious it's illegal and all issue that would go along with doing that and second to match the exact FONT is definitely going to be nearly impossible .. if we are talking about an exact duplication.

Ron

quote:

Originally posted by Raiden:
how important is it to have the original engine. I just purchased a 1974 L, with a newer 351. But the original engine block was included in the sale. I either can sell the block back to the dealer or try and find some place to store it. Any opinions on why I should keep it?

Hi Raiden

As everyone has stated number matching is really only good for investment cars, we drive ours and like to upgrade for the fun factor. Mine is matching numbers but if the baby bottle (NOS) blows something up, in goes a new engine

Just for s&gI live 2 hours north of you

Hi Joe,

I will be picking my car up from Marino Performance Motors (in West Palm Beach) at lunch time today. I saw the Pantera when it first came out in 1971, at the Lincoln Mecury dealership across from my highschool. My father said no way he was going to buy that car for me, said something about me killing myself. Now at 57, I am hoping his prophesy doesnt come true. If anything, death will occur when my wife sees and hears this car later today.

quote:

Originally posted by Raiden:
Hi Joe,

I will be picking my car up from Marino Performance Motors (in West Palm Beach) at lunch time today. I saw the Pantera when it first came out in 1971, at the Lincoln Mecury dealership across from my highschool. My father said no way he was going to buy that car for me, said something about me killing myself. Now at 57, I am hoping his prophesy doesnt come true. If anything, death will occur when my wife sees and hears this car later today.

You need to be your own person and be you for you.

Parents, wives, teachers all have this major disappointment in you when you express what you like and want.

I stopped living for everyone else years ago.

I could give a flying fig what others think at this point.

I have found that it never is a good perspective. It is always disappointment. It's a "you could be so much better than this!" thing for some reason. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has experience that?

I ran into someone I went to high school with at a red light. His expression was, "is that real...where did you get that?"

It was a negative reaction. It was a "what is a person like you doing with something like that?" thing.

I said, "no, it is an inflatable balloon I got at 'Toys are us".

I once went to pick up a date in my Shelby GT350, and she said, and I quote, "I'm not getting in that thing".

In retrospect, probably saved me a lot of grief.

In any case, welcome to Pantera ownership. I think you will find that even within uniqueness, you are in a unique group? ...and I mean that positively. They're a good group.

Life is short...enjoy.

You are absolutely right. Wife still loves me (new kitchen will do that). Everyone who has seen it in the last few days has nothing but positive things to say. One friend who saw it immediately said "Wow a Pantera, I have seen one in years" I bought it strictly for me. My daily driver is a Smart fortwo (with an aftermarket turbo) so I think I can honestly say that any negative comments will roll off my back.

I bought my car from my ex wife's boss when I got served I asked him , we are friends what is this going to do ... he said we are friends and she is an employee. My current wife called the car the beloved Pantera she knows where my heart is. She has told all her friends that she will never make me choose, because she knows what I will pick.( so she thinks I would pick the car, I would not pick the car, but the second after it is gone I will be looking for a gr4 or 5) Anyway lets get together when we both
Have time