The engine number plate on my 1974 Pantera is looking tired and I am hoping to replace it. It seems that earlier Panteras had an aluminum plate in this location and at some point the factory changed to this style of plastic plate. Does anyone know if it is possible to get one? Also, In case you are wondering, this car is from Europe and never had an emissions plate.
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The description is correct but the photo is for a plate that goes in the front trunk below the VIN plate. I will check with Tara at Hall Pantera tomorrow to see if she has the engine number plate for the engine bay.
The engine number is in three places on the car. It is on the front VIN plate, the engine bay number plate, and the engine block.
Steve: For your reference, the tag on s/n 1744. Appears there are different styles of tag like most things on the P
I called Hall and Wilkinson and neither have this tag. I went ahead and drilled out the rivets, and took the tag to a local engraving shop. He is duplicating it but cannot do the reverse stamping of the engine number. He is making one with the engine number as white numbers in the black box and the other is just a plain black box. If it looks feasible with the tag he produces, I will send it to a service that does reverse stamping.
let me know where you find the reverse stamping as I called several metal stamping, engraving, etc. shops in San Diego and none could or would do it. A reverse die must be made and even then, many said thanks but no thanks. Steve Wilkinson reverse stamped a new door VIN tag for me but it is the wrong design for a 71. But that is all Steve has to sell and NOBODY has the correct 71 tag blank. thanks.
Wilkinson's reverse stamping service is my only hope for making this work. My engraver will be printing my engine number on one tag that he makes for me and it is only a place holder for the factory version. With luck the additional blank tag he makes will be able to accept a reverse stamp. If it succeeds then I will order a batch of the blanks and others can get a new stamped tag if they desire.
My local engraving shop finished my order today and I am pleased with the result. I ordered two plates: one with my engine number and one with a blank number. My plan was to send the blank out for reverse stamping but the plate with my engine number looks great. I can tell that they printed the plate and then engraved the engine number. The numbers have some depth to them. Thus, I do not plan on sending the blank out for stamping. He can make more plates. They are about $27 for a plate with your engine number. Let me know if you want one along with your engine number and I will put together a batch order for the engraving shop.
I asked him not to drill holes. My original was warped from factory because the holes did not line up. Drilling my own holes insures that the plate will sit flat.
They look great Steve. I do not need one, but they are perfect. Nicely done.
Well done, Steve. Thanks for stepping up.
John
Steve,
Thank you very much for offering this to the community. I will send you a PM.
If your guy is up to it there has been a big need for the door ID plate for years. Mike Mayberry has a later version but not correct for the Ford era cars. Also, the front trunk ID body plate that Hall has I think is metal. Again, another opportunity if your guy wants to produce them. Maybe Steve Wilkinson would want to stock them and offer to reverse imprint them.
I agree on the door plates. I have to say, I wan't happy with my door plate I got from Wilkenson - it delaminated within months of installation.
I would like one of those, especially in metal.
Thanks -
Rocky
Steve, Great job. I am interested in the plate for the engine bay. My Pantera did not come with any engine bay tags. I will check my engine number and get back to you. Was the engine bay engine tag the same for Europe and US cars? Thanks, Larry.
The engine tag is different for different cars. See the picture of my 71 tag above.
As for the VIN tag on the door, Steve only has the 72+ version. I looked high and low and nobody sells a 71 door tag. The problem with that tag is it is plastic and easily cracks. I bought a tag from Steve simply to have a tag on the car. I seriously doubt the market exists to make a large quantity of these. He has to send the tag out to have it reverse engraved which requires a reverse die which I also looked into having made and it did not seem viable. My tag from Steve is fine and I see no way how it would delaminate once riveted on.
ALSO, there is no VIN plate in the front trunk area above the brake master on a 71, and hence no motor number. People add that plate incorrectly.
@panterapatt posted:The engine tag is different for different cars. See the picture of my 71 tag above.
As for the VIN tag on the door, Steve only has the 72+ version. I looked high and low and nobody sells a 71 door tag. The problem with that tag is it is plastic and easily cracks. I bought a tag from Steve simply to have a tag on the car. I seriously doubt the market exists to make a large quantity of these. He has to send the tag out to have it reverse engraved which requires a reverse die which I also looked into having made and it did not seem viable. My tag from Steve is fine and I see no way how it would delaminate once riveted on.
I was not aware that Wilkinson has the door plates and can have them reverse engraved. Would you post a picture please?
I’m not near my car, so I can’t get a picture until mid-December, but I’ll tell you I was very disappointed…. About $100 down the toilet IMHO.
Here is Wilkinson's door plate. No problems after three years.
And here is an original earlier aluminum engine number plate.
Ditto: The tag Steve sold me
If the tags on your car are already gone, is there any way of finding out the original engine number to have these made?
One of the registries? ProvaMo or if you can find a copy of the old Bill VanEss one, or someone who has it?
Rocky
What is your serial number? Last 4 digits. I will look it up as I have the VanNess book as well. Maybe you will get lucky.
The car is 6243.
Thanks, I appreciate you looking.
Chuck's registry doesn't list a motor number.
Your car is not in the Bill VanEss registry at all
Is the engine number not stamped on the block? Lower left side below the head?
The car is covered for the winter now and put in the air on a 4 post. I have not found a number on the block before that stood out for me, but will try and check again. I know the motor was rebuilt and has different heads so I am not confident it is the original block.
@otis posted:If the tags on your car are already gone, is there any way of finding out the original engine number to have these made?
Yes, if you still have engine that the car was born with, the engine number is stamped on driver side of the block just below the cylinder head. It is likely painted over. Here is an example.
