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I agree with most of what has been said, but I will add my two cents.

Panteras are, in most people's opinions, exotics. Part of the problem is that exotics are not popular right now. Its all about detroit iron, hemi cudas, z-28s, Shelbys, etc. Just look at B-J if you need proof. Sure they have the occasional exotic, but that's not where the hype is. If and when exotics come back into favor, the pantera will reap the benefit. A rising tide raises all ships.

Now, with that said, I will say that I do belive the day of the exotics is coming. Why? well, its a generational issue. You see, the baby boomers are driving detroit iron through the roof; reliving their childhoods if you will. I'm 37. To me, these muscle cars were just old junk when I was in high school. However, the Lamboghini Countach, the Porsche 930/911 Turbo and even Magnum's Ferrari were the cars I dreamed about owning. I think as wealth shifts from generation to generation you will see a shift in value.

Now to a few things I do not agree with. I don't think that modified Panteras are a problem simply because Panteras are expected to be modified. That was one of the reasons I wanted one. I didn't have to keep it original. Since a lot of exotics are hand built, what is original anyway. Many had running changes that aren't widely documented. The Ford engine is not at an issue. In fact it is a plus due to the ease of maintenance. There is an old saying: I can afford a Ferrari, but I can't afford to own a Ferrari. Not an issue with the Pantera.
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First of all if we want recognition we have to get out and drive the cars. Too many are sleeping in garages and scared to go on an outing with them. It's funny no one thinks about their daily driver breaking down or doing a couple of hundred miles with them, but when it comes to the Pantera too far,too this too that.

HEAR HEAR!!

I know of about 12 Panteras in the Fresno area, and I never see any of them on the road.

I, driving 150 miles, brought the ONLY Pantera at the PCNC Christmas Dinner. Wife Donna and I packed our bags and headed out. The rest of the members, some just minutes from the event, drove in their daily drivers.

Why, oh why? Confused Roll Eyes

Larry
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I, driving 150 miles, brought the ONLY Pantera at the PCNC Christmas Dinner... The rest of the members, some just minutes from the event, drove in their daily drivers.

Why, oh why? Confused Roll Eyes

Larry


Larry, I assume that was the Pantera Club of Northern Connecticut Dinner? One can only assume they were less willing to drive their Panteras in the snow than you were. Wink
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Originally posted by Joe6pack:
I'm 37. To me, these muscle cars were just old junk when I was in high school. However, the Lamboghini Countach, the Porsche 930/911 Turbo and even Magnum's Ferrari were the cars I dreamed about owning. I think as wealth shifts from generation to generation you will see a shift in value.


I'm 39 and agree. Heck, add the Testarossa and you have the list of cars I wanted during those impressionable years. I'll bet if my older brother didn't have a Pantera poster on his wall I would never have been interested in them.

My father builds race and hotrod motors, so I still like the 32 Fords etc, but when I started making money I bought a Pantera and a Porsche. The next car I buy may well be a Ferrari 360, or maybe a Pantera GT4 restomod?

R.
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Originally posted by rob6145:
First of all if we want recognition we have to get out and drive the cars. Too many are sleeping in garages and scared to go on an outing with them. If WE don't take them out to be noticed how can we expect others to desire something they never saw?


Sorry for all my sequential posts, but I keep reading things that resonate with me.

I drive my Pantera daily (we don't get much rain, and no snow here in Vegas) and I have patiently answered "what the heck is that?" questions from hundreds of people. Patiently waited for people to take pictures of it, patiently listened to people's stories about how they knew a guy back in the day that had one. Patiently explained that it is Italian, not a kit car, won't go over 200mph, only gets 8mpg, has 550hp, isn't stock, isn't uncomfortable, doesn't have vertical doors, runs 345 tires on 14" wide wheels, has the motor in the back, was imported for only a few years, is inexpensive to maintain, and anything else that reinforces the exictement people have that makes them walk across a parking lot and approach a stranger with questions. God bless them for loving cars like we do!

I am single handedly trying to convert the 1.8 million Vegas residents to Pantera believers. Maybe someday I will pull up next to another Pantera at a stop light.

R.
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Originally posted by DeTom:
That same thing happened to me at a stop light. I told the guy if he couldn't read the sign at this close of a range, he shouldn't be driving. Stop signs have smaller lettering.


I was getting gas and someone asked what kind of car it was. He was standing behind it and I said that it says so on the back of the car.

The guy read it, and says, "ok, it says detomaso Pantera". I said, "yes". Then he says, "yea, but what kind of a car is it?"

I think it is hopeless.

A young woman approached the car at a show with "a pupurpose".

She came an looked at the engine and looked in the interior and then looked at me and said "so what's the big deal, it's a Camaro".

I said nothing. I probably couldn't have spoken at that moment anyway. I take these things too personally.

It never worked out for me as a babe magnet either. Ladies would say something to the effect of, "is that what we are going in? I'm not getting in that thing!"

I guess NY women expect a limo on a date, I don't know?
Guys take it easy with the movie stuff....I'm still not an owner!! In all seriousness a balls-out Pantera would be something great to see in a "Good" movie. I think I know what I'm talking about here when I say movies can also be bad for a car. Its gotta be a high speed action packed sorta thing with a great gritty type of hero. It may not be memorable otherwise, or do much for the Marque.
Nobody flame me here but I dont think Panteras will ever rival "some" of the other guys cars in price due to the Ford connection. Great for the gear heads maybe not so good for the purists. Ultimately though, not everyone views the Pantera as a blue-blood which in reality may have made it possible for alot of present day owners to even acquire their cars, no??
Me personally I think the Pantera is the "baddest car on the planet". Much more visceral than most other Italians. On the other hand, a Ghibli is a Ghibli. In my opinion the cars at Barrett Jackson for the most part represent American culture so its hard for me to believe that an exotic would due that great there. Besides am I wrong in thinking that all the super rare exotics with their racing history, provenance ,what have you, trade hands privately??? A lot of these cars were sold here, even exclusively but they are not "our" cars and not intertwined so much in our culture. Just my worthless 2 pennies
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It never worked out for me as a babe magnet either. Ladies would say something to the effect of, "is that what we are going in? I'm not getting in that thing!"


Strippers like my car, so chicks must at least think it is expensive. Bwahaahaaa!

Several people have taken a stab at what I paid for it (I never say) and they all come in very high, although I think my widebody looks more expensive than the stock cars because it looks more exotic...flame suit on. Smiler

R.
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"is that what we are going in? I'm not getting in that thing!"

No dear, that is what I ride in, you take the cattle car on platform B and I will meet you there. So long sweaty, er, I mean sweetie.

"DeTomaso?? Is that the pizza joint down the street?? Sweet delivery vans they have."
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I'm with Detom, all you have to see is this car predominantly featured in a TV show or movie & the popularity will rise causing the price to go up due to increased demand.
Look what happened to the Ferrari 308 because it was shown on Magnum PI.

Not to be a party-pooper, there was a great looking Mangusta in the very popular movie Kill Bill several years ago. Prices did not skyrocket.
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Originally posted by jeff6559:
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I'm with Detom, all you have to see is this car predominantly featured in a TV show or movie & the popularity will rise causing the price to go up due to increased demand.
Look what happened to the Ferrari 308 because it was shown on Magnum PI.

Not to be a party-pooper, there was a great looking Mangusta in the very popular movie Kill Bill several years ago. Prices did not skyrocket.


I saw that movie unfortunately and I would say that it had as much effect on anyone as a bear do-doing in the woods.
We're talking about a car staring in a movie like gone in 60 seconds.
Even a pimp car got noticed in that one.
Dang, we all knew this subject would be lengthy...maybe will reach 1,000 posts and blow up the website? My neighbor is going to get a new vette, and we all can be assured where that will be in 5 years when everyone is trading them in for newer models. But for us we are a picture in time, no more new models to choose from, just timeless style and powa that makes the neighborhood piss their pants when we fire them up at 6 am! And besides, da women like them, so why worry about da price. Whenever I cruise the coast, at least 50% of the time women flip their tops up...don't know what that’s about, but priceless nonetheless!

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I definitely bought mine to drive.

I don't have collector plates on it, which would be a lot cheaper, because of the restrictions on when and where you can drive it.

And I love driving it. Just before Christmas, I took it to my my wife's work Christmas party at the Ocean Pointe Resort here in downtown Victoria. Unfortunately there was no opportunity for a grand entrance, as we took it into the underground parking, but I'm sure it was noticed. The way home was another story.

We headed home around 11:30pm, taking the Johnson Street bridge into Old Town, and had to stop for a red light at Government Street. As it rumbled at the red light, a group of about a half dozen twenty-somethings noticed, and started jumping up and down, cheering and whistling. They kept this up for the whole duration of the red light.

In my wing collar and black bow tie I smiled at them and signed thumbs up, gave the wheels and tires a few rotations (easy on the wet pavement), and slowly drove away in first gear to their cheers.

Just doing my part to show the colors. Smiler

Man, I love driving this car!
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