I would like to introduce myself. My name is Stephan and living in Yardley, PA. Being the proud owner of a 1972 Pantera, #4164 which I acquired in December 2023. The car was accidentally found on craigslist while looking for something completely different. Located in upstate NY, the previous owner acquired the car in 2000, disassembled the car and was planning on fully restoring it before he became very ill and had to abandon the project. Being an aviation engineer he was meticulous in planning out the project and acquired all parts needed for the restoration before the disassembly. I received boxes and boxes of new De Tomaso and aftermarket parts covering all rubber, clips, knobs, switches, gaskets, bushings, joints, new 17” Campy clones with Michelin, stainless exhaust, new steering rack, new ceramic coated headers, new radiator, stainless tubing, new windshield, AC front installation kit, too much to list… all receipts, binders with technical info, brochures, memorabilia, Marti Report, a rebuilt matching number engine including dyno pull sheets and a rebuilt and polished transaxle done by RBT with tall gearing. The Pantera collected dust since 2001 before the owner decided to sell it. Coming originally from the West coast, the car had survived in a decent state but will undergo a full restoration which has already started, replacing the typical metal components such as front valance and rocker panels to prevent any work to be done over the many years to come I am planning on keeping it. Also sheet metal is harder and harder to find, so I do it now. #4164 is scheduled to receive an Acid dip in June to remove all rust, paint, undercoat and to reveal all **** done to the car by the previous owners.
Stay tuned.
). Currently finishing the valance welds and trimming in the outer edges to make them look like factory. Also massaging the fitment of the chrome surround of the front grille and bumperettes before dropping parts off at the plating company in the near future. All new parts welded in have drain holes in the highest and lowest areas to assure that the acid gets out and can be neutralized, later new paint and preservatives will go in. Hopping over to removing the outer rocker panels next. Let's find out what is lurking behind those panels. I am expecting the usual suspects.
, they are fitting perfectly now, the flanges making now full contact with the metal and any stress was removed from the fiberglass to prevent cracking in the long run. I made sure that the material thickness is uniform on the flanges, and everything is marked for cutting. In the pictures you can see the original mounting pattern used on the " Candy Group 4", which I did not use.
