Pantera #4230 - Can you tell I'm obsessed?

So it´s about opinions, not about absolute truth? Sounds fun, these are my opinions. Mostly this Pantera looks quite nice, I do like especially about those no-chrome-just-black details all around the car. No bumper -look is great in the rear, but in the front it just looks like something is missing. Without bumpers front is just so weird... Like a face without nose or something like that. I would still vote for having those small bumpers all around. Two-tone but without the dark lower sections also appears weird to me. Is that the reason why it looks kind of tall, atleast to my eyes? Does it also still have those American market -spacers left? I do like the fact, that the front and rear trunk have been left into that rough original style condition, that´s definitely positive. And I do like black & wide steel wheel look a lot, but those are not steel wheels. They seem to be Campagnolos with black paint.

Zero miles? As in never driven, ever??? Stress cracks "because the car doesn't have many control joints"? What exactly is a control joint? I agree with KIMMOSCH about the front. It looks like a bull nose shark. The angles are all wrong. Blacked out bumpers would work fine. Like the side markers although I would've deleted them. The paint scheme works well but the rocker panels need to be blacked out. Tjaarda has actually addressed this in discussions of his design. Unless this car has been on a rotisserie and stripped to bare metal, has bullet proof engine and ZF and top notch suspension mods the price seems high IMHO.

Hmm, yes, I think you're right about the Campis. But I must admit (sacralege?) that I like it better than the old oxidized magnesium, or the new polished alloy, looks. IMO, the only thing cool about the Campis are that they are original, making them black is the only way I'd ever keep them on my car. (No offense to anyone who loves them on their own car).

About just deleting the side markers...I've been wondering. I think that the original rectangles look so out of place on the subtle curves of a Pantera. Sort of a square peg in a round hole. Wouldn't the car look so much better without any disruption to the form?

Is it legal though, to remove them completely? How old does a car have to be before removing DOT regulated components if legit? Same question for the bumpers (L-type, and others)?

Yes, this car would look great with the black bumperettes!

Ride height? Maybe it's sitting high, or maybe the tires are just a bit to small for the car. Someone saving a little money perhaps. Learning about the American ride-height spacers was very interesting to me. Again, what's the legality of removing them? (not that anyone would ever know to hassle you about it)

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I think you're right about the Campis. But I must admit (sacralege?) that I like it better than the old oxidized magnesium, or the new polished alloy, looks. IMO, the only thing cool about the Campis are that they are original, making them black is the only way I'd ever keep them on my car. (No offense to anyone who loves them on their own car).

Those Campy wheels may as well be an inexpensive set of steel wheels, because that's what they look like when painted black like this - lose all the detail. Its like spray painting your wife's 10-carat diamond wedding ring black - covers all the beauty of the cut and design. I prefer the original argent silver on my Campys.

Looks like a nice car, but agree with others about the nose, price, and degree of restoration and modification needed to justify such a price. Still, it's a Pantera, so it looks bitchen none the less!

Over-priced, or not, it's out of my range.

But I do appreciate the feedback on value from list-members. It makes me realize that, with patience, I can and will find a car in my price range that is worth owning. And in the meantime, it keeps me from panicing about letting good ones get away.

quote:

Originally posted by Rev. Benajmin M. Root IV:
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About just deleting the side markers...I've been wondering. I think that the original rectangles look so out of place on the subtle curves of a Pantera. Sort of a square peg in a round hole. Wouldn't the car look so much better without any disruption to the form?

Is it legal though, to remove them completely? How old does a car have to be before removing DOT regulated components if legit? Same question for the bumpers (L-type, and others)?...

My car has the side markers deleted. Looks nice I think. I don't know about regulations, but if your state has safety inspections, then the equipment that is installed has to work. If it isn't there, how could they know it is supposed to be there? In CA, we don't have safety inspections on any year of car.

Yea, that looks great!

Does it make you want to shave your door handles too? Obviously, that's getting pretty custom, with wireless latch gizmos and such.

I see that you deleted the Ghia badge too. Did you keep any badging on the car?

Hey Dave 2811
That Cat looks smooooth well done

quote:

Originally posted by Rev. Benajmin M. Root IV:
Yea, that looks great!

Does it make you want to shave your door handles too? Obviously, that's getting pretty custom, with wireless latch gizmos and such.

I see that you deleted the Ghia badge too. Did you keep any badging on the car?

Not shaving anything else on the car. Gotta leave a little landing patch.

The rear badging is still there.

I am drawn to the car. I enjoy all aspects of it look. Love to have it in my garage.

For me the no bumper look is great.
It’s a no bullshit bare bones “race” look, like the GR4.
The shark thing in my opinion is a great look, its aggressive..
Small bumpers are OK, but the big full length “Pantera L” bumpers I think are hideous & detract from the original Pantera lines.
Minimal side markers or no side markers also give that “clean” pure look.
Full blackened wheels to me is just too much, no contrast.
Maybe black spokes & polished outer rims would be better.
I’ve always liked that tall tyre profile “70’s” look.
I think that makes the Pantera, combined with really wide rubber look tough.
Not keen on the painted door handles, keeping with the “blacked out” look would have been more appropriate.

It’s a smart looking car, but it is over-priced for today’s market.

But hey, everyone here likes something different & that’s what gives our cars that personalised touch.

Regards,
Tony.

Yea, Tony,

It sounds like we pretty much agree with Pantera styling.

I definitely like no-bumpers more than L-bumpers, and would remove those pointy rubber things from any car of mine ASAP.

Though since I'm ultimately after a black car, I'm am called to the chrome bumperettes (front and back). Fully blacked-out looks too much like comic-book japo-tuner to me. So, I have been loving the black spokes with deep polished dishes like you mention. I'd even keep the chrome window trim for the retro euro look.

As for tall tires...mark my words, they are gonna come back into fashion any day! The giant chrome wagon-wheel thing has gone on too far, for too long. (Actually I'd don't mind it..there is something cool about an old car with racy modern wheels.) And I suppose that in performance situations, low-profile is important. But for the guys building show cars, especially anything with a hint of retro sensibility, watch for taller rubber in the future.
Remember when the low-riders had those mini wheels and tires...in giant wheel wells (they looked like everyone was driving around on their spares). Then the whole thing switched to giant wheels.
Fashion does that, a few souls braving mockery to set the new trend...in 18 months everyone thinks the new way is the only way...be it pant legs, or hairdos, or car wheels. So, my prediction is tall retro rubber, especially with some white walls (on the right cars...Chrysler 300s), and steel rims.

Blah blah blah about fashion. I guess that's what you get from a designer like me (hey, I can draw a wrench). And one who doesn't yet have a Pantera...it's all fantasy. (The women in my dreams are perfect too.)

PS, no offense to anyone with cars styled in any way that I criticized above. Just talking about my own prefs. The cool thing is that each gets their own. Especially with fashion switching, and coming back around, so rapidly...everything is fair. And as a designer, I like more styles than I could ever afford to have. Right now, I'd be happy with a faded, primer blotched, old stickered, ugly wheeled, beast with a loud rusted muffler (but only the muffler). ;-)

I'm obsessed too. I'm happy to sit in my shop and stare at my car. As for the eBay car, seems pricey. I like the no bumper look, but I would have hidden the turn signals in the grill on the front - really makes the car look predatory. Looks good in back, the muffler tips must have the correct angle for the no bumper look to work and these are good. The white walls with black wheels don't do it for me - somehow it clashes. For what it's worth my car has the little bumpers front and rear and all my trim is still bright - I like the "retro" look for a 40 year old car. Where in Oregon are you? I'm outside of Medford.

No Kidding! I'm in Ashland. My next move was to try to find someone near-by to take me for a ride. I never guessed there'd be someone in the Rogue Valley with one (I've never seen you on the road).

So...How'd you like to get together? I'll buy lunch, or beers (after the ride). We can go for a spin (I'm happy to just be a passenger at this point, until you decide you trust me and like me). No pressure, of course. Just an idea.
But I'd love to even be able to really check one of these machines out, see how I fit, etc.

I'm swamped with work for two more weeks, then some free time. And, of course, we'd want the weather to be worthy of bringing out that beautiful ride of yours.

Let me know.
Ben

Ha! Small universe. I'll send you a message with my phone number and we can figure some Pantera geek time.

THX!

offer them the 26k they paid for it 2 weeks ago. see what they say.