Pantera #1006 - Help

The registry says it's the 6th built.

Hi Eric,
Let us say welcome!!
Any chance of posting a photo of this rare gem?
Where in Florida are you, Seems we have lots of pantera people here in the sunshine state.

Eric,

Contact me via admin@DeTomasoRegistry.org and I can help you out.

You should update the registry. To connect it to your e-mail address/account all you need to do is to send a photo of the foot box VIN stamp...
The stamp is located on the top of the foot box (behind the brake booster). Some times it is covered with carpet.

It should be THPNLK01006, if it is the 6th car.
The leading "DE TOMASO 874 *" is not part of the VIN.
The block number/stamp is the sequential number assigned to blocks/engines, stamped by DeTomaso.

It would not surprise me to learn that after two cars were 'consumed' by the barrier crash test, the engines were pulled and installed into the next car on the assembly line... That is how car 1006 might have received engine 00004.

I can provide you some more details regarding production, if you would like. Again, contact me directly.

Best Regards,

Chuck Melton

thank you everyone I got 11 calls from putting my phone number on AND I FOUND OUT ALL I NEED TO KNOW THANKS AGAIN IT SEEMS TO BE I HAVE THE EARLIEST KNOWN PANTERA THANKS AGAIN

This straight from Mike Drew. He knows your car. ........ I'd be willing to bet big bucks that it's actually #1006. That car was
the earliest known Pantera in the world with a very well-known history, and
was sold to an owner in Florida, where the car in question is now being
advertised for sale. It's listed in the De Tomaso registry; the last time this
car came up in conversation I detailed its history, as follows:

"The car was the sixth car built. It was one of the cars used for safety
testing by Ogden Labs. It was supposed to be a barrier test car, but obviously
that didn't happen. Instead it was sent back to Italy and sold by De
Tomaso. All the original paperwork is with the car. It was sold to a sports car
dealership in Modena. First owner was Sinsi Franco who lived in Palermo,
Sicily. Reportedly he was involved with the Mafia, and in 1979 he was
assassinated while climbing into the car.

The car was sold in an estate sale in 1982 to a US Army Colonel who was
stationed in Germany (last name Williams). He later sold it to Gregg Lynn, who
shipped it to the USA in 1984, where it was restored. He then sold it to
Jack Houpe in 1989. A few years later, Jack sold it to Bill Borello in Houston.
Bill did another complete restoration, before selling it to somebody
unknown in Florida in the early to mid 1990s.

It has numerous features not seen on any but the very first Panteras,
including a two-piece front grille. Like most Euro pushbuttons, it has two
headlight switches (the one to the left of the steering wheel raises and lowers
the buckets and the other one just turns the lights on and off). It has an
inside deck lid release (in the left door sill), De Tomaso emblem on the dash.
It also has a bunch of later Pantera stuff on it, probably a legacy of the
restoration. It has later seats, a different steering wheel etc."

Mike
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And Jack Houpe says... that he bought it from Bill Borrello and then Jack sold it in Florida.

So chronology needs some tweaking.

needs some tweaking what are you talking about ?

my dad is who he sold it to in florida boca raton i remember i was there

im buying car from my dad repainting it because paint is old and rough then im putting it up for sale still runs perfect 33 thousand kilometers my dad stored it in airconditioned garage its extremely clean i might keep it also dont know i love the car

Eric,

I hope you decide to keep the car.

If I may offer some unsolicited advice, please consider resisting the temptation to modify or upgrade the car in any way (if it has not yet been altered). Such an early car (the earliest?) would almost certainly have MUCH higher value (both financially and historically) as a concourse, original car. If it is original paint and that can't be saved, at least go the same color. Have any worn original components replaced with NOS parts or rebuild them. I love modified Panteras, but there are some that should be kept as original as possible and yours is one of those cars.

Good luck with the car and we are here to help if you need.

Mark

thank you i appreciate i will need help with questions once i get it

eric,

Of all people I should not talk as I have modified car, but I can sure appreciate the first ones out of the oven so to speak. If I had that car, I too would be extremely sympathetic to the earliness of the car. The value in it lies in the specialness of being early. There are only so many that are early -- so if you can keep it like it was; it will be worth more; no question. Modify it and it will not be worth as much.

Good words to live by -- but then again, I should talk......

Mark

only thing not original is paint could someone tell me what it is worth your opinion please

I am not trying to be a wise guy, but it does depend on a few factors. If all the boxes are ticked, the car will be worth more. First, do you have any original paperwork when the car was purchased? This only helps and can add a lot to the value. Second, is there any rust on the car? If the answer is yes, this will also affect value. Thirdly, how original is the car (i.e. has the wiring been cobbled, what is the condition of the paint, what is the condition of the interior, are all of the original components still with the car or are there numerous "changes" for the "better", has the car been in an accident and not properly repaired?).

So yes, there are a lot of factors that affect value on an original early car. If the condition is spectacular on each of these counts, I would not hesitate that the car would be worth north of $80,000 -- but there is a caveat. If any one of the "boxes" that I wrote about are not there, it will take the value down; sometimes at an exponential function to some potential purchasers. If you are fortunate enough to have all of the boxes ticked; you have great fortune.

I know that not everyone will agree with what I have written -- but I am sure there is at least one wallet out there that would pay this for a car that I have described, and with being the earliest into the USA, that surely helps. But remember, it is only original once. Once that restoration starts, all bets are off.

Best of luck with your car -- truely; I wish you the best.

Mark

wiring perfect orig untouched//// zero rust// interior a 9 3/4 to a 10/// all orig componants 100 percent orig but paint is not runs perfect couldnt ask for it to run anybetter my dad did nothing to it in 20 years but wax and drve for ten minutes once everyfew months it has original everything 33 thousand kilometers stiil has the two peice grill special stering wheel detomaso tag on dash on passengerside rear latch located drivers door jam two switches work perfect for pop up lights needs a tune up and complete paint job i put car on lift extremely clean all bumbers doorhandles glass everything from day one orig im bringing it this week to get painted some recrome and tune up then i need some input where to sell if i decide to sell where is best place to advertise it books auctions thanks for your advise much appreciated oh i have original title its much smaller like a registration all books i have to

zero changes no modifacations at all

eric,

Do you have any paperwork when the car was originally purchased? If not, do you or your dad know the people that maybe did purchase the car? Possible to get that paperwork if at all possible from them if you do not have it already. I would look through the paperwork and see if you have the original bill of sale, order sheet, window sticker, or warranty card. Any of these things would be great to have with the car.

Sounds like you have a solid car and if you can locate some paperwork I would say your dad's car is a strong one. Being the first always brings more $$$ -- just ask Carol Shelby. The only problem is, the Pantera is not in that same realm as Shelby's cars; but who knows, someday they might be and the car may really take off in value. I know that your car would have a better chance to take off as it is so early than my 74.

If you are able to obtain the car, enjoy it; but don't change it as that will be a detriment to the value. If you've ever watched Antiques Roadshow they always like original finishes over "redone" ones. There is a reason for this, as they are truly, only original once. Original, kept up cars are coming into vogue and I think that this will be the new big money cars of the future if our economy does not melt down.

Again, best of luck with the car. Sounds like a nice one.

Mark

I agree with DeMopuar. I wouldn't do a thing to it. No paint, no rechrome. A true survivor. The fact that it is the first, and all original, right down to the paint, will pay off in dividends. You might try e-bay with a high reserve to get a feel for offers. Hemmings is also a good place to advertise. Unfortunately now is not the best time to be selling.

the paint is the only thing that is not orig when bought 20 years ago the paint wasnt orig so painting it shouldnt matter the paint now has some bubbles i am probably going to keep for a year and just enjoy it it looks unique i have been wanting the car for 20 years ever sice my dad bought it and now i finally have it can someone tell me why 33,500 kilometers why kilometers