PIM Platinum Bulletin Number 3

Nicely done!

VERY NICE!

The bulletin looks great. Also the write up on Chris's car is very impressive.

Thank you guys! If you would like to email me some photos and information on your cars, I would be happy to publish it in a future issue. With best regards, Dave

Dave,
I would like to save the PI bulletins. I can not seem to figure out how to down load the file to save it.
Thank you for the publication and support to this forum.
Jeff

To each his own, and you can't discuss taste, and all that. Here's my $0.02 anyway after reading the PIM bulletin.

First, one of the absolutely most beautiful cars I've ever seen is the silver prototype on the bottom of page 19, saw it in 3-D when we visited the factory in 2009. But PIM writes "Hopefully, the next Pantera to be built by DeTomaso Automobili will offer more appealing styling and performance." Hhhmmmm

Secondly, the featured Gr IV build. While I admire the craftmanship, I'm a bit puzzled as to why. I can understand the need to improve some things, especially with regards to reliability and speed (you can never get enough speed). But why convert narrow bodies into wide bodies, and I even read about someone doing the opposite, why not just buy the car you want and leave the grinder alone? Just MHO of course. Another small example is the instruments. What really defines the Pantera interior for me, is the beautiful chrome rimmed gauges, and especially the vertical layout of the 4 gauges, angled toward the driver. Pretty unique I think.

Any other views?

quote:

Originally posted by No Quarter:
Secondly, the featured Gr IV build. While I admire the craftmanship, I'm a bit puzzled as to why. I can understand the need to improve some things, especially with regards to reliability and speed (you can never get enough speed). But why convert narrow bodies into wide bodies, and I even read about someone doing the opposite, why not just buy the car you want and leave the grinder alone? Just MHO of course. Another small example is the instruments. What really defines the Pantera interior for me, is the beautiful chrome rimmed gauges, and especially the vertical layout of the 4 gauges, angled toward the driver. Pretty unique I think.

Any other views?

I think people do the conversions because real widebodies are nearly impossible to find, and oftentimes there aren't many conversions on the market. So, if you can't find what you want, and if you plan on doing a lot of work to a car anyway, you can do the conversion and build the car exactly the way you want it.

Just a theory. I bought a widebody conversion because I don't have the skills or patience to do, or wait for, a conversion to be done. I was also lucky to find one right here in Vegas. Most folks have to work a lot harder at buying a Pantera.

I also enjoyed receiving and reading the bulletin, very nice .
Cheers, Tim.

I agree with Mikael. For instance in a GT5-S conversion, there are some 30 FEET of careful TIG-welding necessary to attach the fenders to a completely stripped body, and once the bodywork is finally done, you have the small brakes, narrow wheels and early interior to replace. One conversion that I know, cost over $30,000 before it was on the road- not counting the cost of the Pantera to begin with. I've dealt with beautiful body conversions that were so poorly engineered under the fenders that it took months of fiddling (at $75/hr) to make the car safely driveable. Unless you own a body shop and business is slow, I don't advise conversions.

GREAT job Dave. I was out of town for the week, exhausted from the trip. Saw the PI bulletin in my inbox amongst 284 far less worthy emails.

Ahhh. Consumed with joy.

Thanks for that; greatly appreciate your effort and support.

quote:

Originally posted by Bosswrench: One conversion that I know, cost over $30,000 before it was on the road- not counting the cost of the Pantera to begin with.

Wow bossman, $30K seems pretty conservative considering prep, paint & all. All depends on what quality one shoots for I guess. I agree, great bulletin...nice to have stuff to read about. As far as the subject of conversions, everyone knows where I stand. All just a matter of personal taste. I lived with a stock body orange car for many years, then just got a little tired of it and wanted something looking more exotic. I think stock body is great though with it being original and I don't think I could cut up an original car.

quote:

Originally posted by DOES 200:
...and I don't think I could cut up an original car.

That is why I held out until I could get a car that someone else had already converted.

Great Dave.
Appreciate the effort.
Tom

quote:

Secondly, the featured Gr IV build. While I admire the craftmanship, I'm a bit puzzled as to why. I can understand the need to improve some things, especially with regards to reliability and speed (you can never get enough speed). But why convert narrow bodies into wide bodies, and I even read about someone doing the opposite, why not just buy the car you want and leave the grinder alone? Just MHO of course. Another small example is the instruments. What really defines the Pantera interior for me, is the beautiful chrome rimmed gauges, and especially the vertical layout of the 4 gauges, angled toward the driver. Pretty unique I think.

Any other views?

Very limited number of widebody cars out there for sale as Vegas stated.
I considered a few cars before I went ahead with my conversion. There was always something that I didn't like about the car. The color was wrong or the interior was white or the panels/wheels didn't "look" right. And I figured if I was going to spend ~$70k on a car, it better have the main things I wanted.
I recently received a comment about why I should've cut up a beater for a conversion instead of a perfectly good narrow body car. The reason for me was $$$$$. Buying a solid car with no mods for $30k and converting it will send you deep into a moneypit.
Or you can convert a car that already has a high HP motor, worked ZF, suspension, brakes, cooling, exhaust, cooling, electrical....etc purchased as a package at a reduced price.
Great thing a Pantera's is you can modify them without being looked down upon (so I've heard).
Will ( waiting for my car to return from paint)

Always great to get these Dave Adler pieces. Much appreciated. Keep them coming. More IS better!

Don't want to sidetrack this post but to answer No Quarter, here's my 2 cents.

I totally respect the automotive purist that prefers the totally stock Pantera. All original, from the blue air cleaner to the 8" wheels, to the unreliable overheated fussy Italian American hybrid it was. 

But if you're ok with high performance mods to go fast, then why stop there?  

Well I may be biased - wait, I am biased. Because the Pantera is rhe only car that ever did it for me. And even today I still have no envy for any million dollar supercar. That might change if I ever have trouble passing or keeping up with one, but that's another story.

So, bias aside, the Pantera is different. Unlike all other supercars from the day (Muira, BB 512, Countach, etc) it still looks modern on the road today. Which is why our cats still gather so much attention.

So why not make the rest of the car act just as modern? It fits. And it makes sense.  

Here's why: 

We actually "drive" these cars - hard and regularly (unlike the other museum supercars of the era). And we take them on long trips. So why would anyone be against doing what we need to do to make them better? 

Performance aside, my enjoyment of these awesome cars has increased dramatically since I added the safety, comfort and convenience mods too.

Gauges that you can't see? That are too dark to read at night? That give bad information? Uncomfortable seats? Hot cockpits? Windows that don't work? Lights that don't illuminate a dark road? Stressing over rising gauges in traffic? No place for your phone or camera or wallet? A radio you can't hear? 

Once my car was mechanically done I finally got rid of all the things that prevented me from enjoying every minute inside the cat. And now I've more than doubled my pleasure. 

A fast, reliable supercar. With GPS and rear view camera. Cool AC. Controls I can adjust without looking for them. Awesome sound system. Yes, after 5 hrs on the highway even the Cleveland symphony gets boring. Steel side impact support. Rollbar. Chassis stiffeners. My wife worries a lot less. 

And when she calls to check up on me, even though I can't hear the phone, I can see her call coming in on the screen in front of me. And I can answer without even lifting. No more fumbling for a cell phone at speed.  

Now if I could just find a nice place for a cupholder...

quote:

Originally posted by David B:
Now if I could just find a nice place for a cupholder...

Problem solved. Improves crash safety too!

Mark

Funny dude!

Anyhow, I just ordered this. I'm thinking of installing it on the left side panel in the driver's footwell, or in the glove box. I'll ksee what works.

Ultimate Cupholders was a great find. With great customer service by a guy who cares - and loves Panteras!

quote:

Originally posted by David B:
Funny dude!

Anyhow, I just ordered this. I'm thinking of installing it on the left side panel in the driver's footwell, or in the glove box. I'll ksee what works.

Ultimate Cupholders was a great find. With great customer service by a guy who cares - and loves Panteras!

I have that exact cupholder in my Pantera, Viper (inside the ridiculously small console cubby) and in my boat. They work great. Very clever design. On the Pantera, I mounted a small base of wood in the rear console area, covered in elk grain vinyl, attached the cupholder atop that.

quote:

Originally posted by A Hudson:
I have that exact cupholder in my Pantera, Viper (inside the ridiculously small console cubby) and in my boat. They work great. Very clever design. On the Pantera, I mounted a small base of wood in the rear console area, covered in elk grain vinyl, attached the cupholder atop that.

Do you have a picture you can share with us? Thanks.

Michael

Hey Adams,
Do you keep your “Grey Poupon” in the cup holder?
And is there is still room for your Bud Light?
Did the cup holder interfere with your Corvette seats?
I also noticed that you did not mention if your cup holder works in “F” cars?

Jeff
“Friend" of Adams Hudson (The man caught between 2 worlds)

quote:

Originally posted by Pantera 4134:
Hey Adams,
Do you keep your “Grey Poupon” in the cup holder?
And is there is still room for your Bud Light?
Did the cup holder interfere with your Corvette seats?
I also noticed that you did not mention if your cup holder works in “F” cars?

Jeff
“Friend" of Adams Hudson (The man caught between 2 worlds)

So many questions. I'll try to answer in order -

1. Yes, doesn't everybody?
2. No, there's never room for Bud Light. I prefer beer.
3. No, you're the only thing that interferes with my DeTomaso heritage-derivative-continuation-Pantera seats that used to be in a Vette somewhere.
4. Not mentioned because if you even THINK about putting screw holes in an Fcar, at any time, anywhere, concours police jump out and deduct 'points' for something and fart in your owner's manual. All very humiliating.

I'll try to take a photo of the cupholder installed; should've thought of that.

There's a chance we've veered off topic! Or perhaps Dave wants to do a piece in Bulletin Number 4 on cupholders.