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Pantera #1447 - the search is over, the waiting begins

G Guest

Some might recall that I started looking for a Pantera in the US a couple of months ago. Seen some really nice examples a bit out my league or with details I did not like. In the end I arrived by coincidence at Jim Cozzolino's place. He took his time going out of his way to look at a Pantera. After a couple of Pantera samples I decided to go with a more or less project car but with good mechanicals. So we found THPNLE01447 at Littleton Colorado.

It will not be wild when finished, but completely overhauled and with modern improvements (Wilwoods, better cooling, coil overs, new wheels…). On the outside I am trying to go for the clean and understated look that leaves all of the lines undisturbed.

I am hopeful work will start soon at Coz’ workshop so I can have it in Belgium in time for the Modena trip.

Again a big thanks to David, Mark, Husker, Accobra and Erik for general support and advice.

Michel

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Last edited by George P
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markcharltonmarkcharltonOld enough to know better and still young enough not to care. My '71 Pantera

Congratulations Michel!

I am glad you finally found "your" car. I'm sure that Jim will do a great job for you. If not, let me know and I'll send a team of Canadian Spies to haul him up north for some "treatments". Wink

But seriously, the car looks just like mine did when I first got her.

I am looking forward to following the progress and I hope that you and Jim will keep us all up-to-date with pictures and details.

Oh, and yeah, great colour! Big Grin



Mark

ItalianDay1

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ea3528ea3528Member
Bravo Michel! applause

After all of your research, I am sure that #1447 has found an excellent home. Can't wait to see pix of the progress along the way ...

I have to agree with my Canadian brethren: you simply cannot go wrong with a white cat. All the money you would have spent on paint touch-ups can now be diverted to the power train!!!
V Vereeken (Guest)
quote:
Originally posted by Joules5:
quote:
Your car is looking good! AND its the RIGHT color!


But the last photo is it going off to the paintshop.....no saying it's coming back that color.


Right on. I do like white but when stripping we discovered that it was original yellow...so guess what...

Michel
V Vereeken (Guest)
quote:
Originally posted by garth66:
quote:
Right on. I do like white but when stripping we discovered that it was original yellow...so guess what...

Eccellente! Just as God and Alejandro intended...


Exactly. That is why it will be painted "Yellow Ofcourse". It is just taking a bit longer then expected. I am looking forward to that drive from Jims place to the east coast.

Michel
V Vereeken (Guest)

01447 is dead. Yes you are reading that correctly. The soda blasting revealed terminal rust -funny enough only on the last 20% of the car at the inside back. Jim and myself have decided that she is not a worthy restoration candidate.
And this is good news for the Pantera world. The car has oddly enough all body panels/ glass and other hard to come by elements intact. They are sand or bead blasted and in some cases primed. All the stuff is disassembled and sometimes cleaned and at the workshop of Jim Cozzolino in Peoria Arizona. A perfect ZF and functional Cleveland is in there as well as well as Campagnolo's.
Drop me a mail at michel.vereeken@skynet.be and we will send you a detailed list of available parts at fair prices. Watch this space for the new project.

Michel

Terminus

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cozcozMember

The condition of the car that could not be seen until it was stripped and what had been done motor wise.

A previous owner covered up all the damage with body filler and paint in area's that would have been very hard if not impossible to find without the car being stripped first.

But as Michel stated, I am currently going through all the parts on the car, cleaning them up, getting them in working order and we will have many of the parts for sale.

You can also contact me to see what is available.

Last edited by George P
57545754If you're not kickin' up dust, you're collectin' it!
Michel,
This is indeed a sad day, so many of us were following the restoration work with great anticipation for how the car would turn out. Frowner
It's disappointing to see all of the work on this one come to an end, so, unless there is someone out there who wants to buy everything and make the effort to restore it, parting it out seems like the best option.
If there's a silver lining, I've noticed that lately there seem to have been a number of very good looking cars show up at excellent prices, but you need to move fast as the best deals seem to go very quickly. And as you've seen, there's always someone on this forum willing to go out and help with an inspection.
Last edited by 5754
V Vereeken (Guest)
Yes a total bummer. Never had that and I have been around older cars for quite some time...these things happen I guess. Anyway; my Pantera dream is slowed down but not burried. I think 1447 can mean a lot to other Pantera owners.

And call me crazy but I want Coz to start on a new project. I want to see the car butt naked before going further. Unless ofcourse the right Pantera with absolute stunning pedigree and a Kazillion restoration photo's from last month happens to trot over my left foot....at the right price.

Michel
deniscdeniscCaretaker of 8MA1244 '70 Euro Mangusta DRIVE THEM, THEY WERE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ONE, BUY A POSTER!
Michel, I think you are looking for 'La perle rare' (rare pearl - sound better in french) I know in theory the sum of the parts is more than the whole, but at the point you are now what is the additional % cost of repairing the rear part of the frame? Resto coast always exceed the original estimate. Seem to me a shame especially for an early car.

Denis
timsterentimsterenMember
Hi Michel,
that is an enormous dissapointment, I am really gutted on your behalf. I think a number of us were looking at cars at the same time you bought that one and as was mentioned earler have been following this restoration with great interest. I just managed to pick up my dream car a couple of weeks ago and am hoping I don't find anything like what you have discovered. I hope you find something fantastic to replace this one.
Cheers, Tim.
lf-tp2511lf-tp2511Member

This seems an appropriate time to again state what is obvious to most of us when looking at a Pantera for purchase:

DO A VERY COMPLETE, TIME CONSUMING INSPECTION - INSPECTION - INSPECTION

If you purchase a Pantera without getting it up on a lift and then spending at least fifteen minutes with a hammer and a center punch you are asking for trouble.

Yes, a hammer and a center punch. You are not going to tap around on a Pantera chassis with your pencil or your knuckles and find anything, especially if the seller is fraudulent and has tried to cover known defects. Bondo, paint and undercoating from Kragens can cover almost anything. But if you HIT THE BEJEZZUS out of frame sections, you'll find such camouflage.

On the other hand, the small impact point from a punch or awl will not leave any damage of any importance. Should the seller get bent out of shape, politely explain the real world - perhaps this example - and tell him YOU are not willing to repeat such a scenario.

Eastwood sells an overpriced magnet device that will give you some sort of an idea of paint/bondo thickness on painted areas:

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump...799&itemType=PRODUCT

Another type of this magnet unit is the Spot Rot. I couldn't find a current selling listing for this - I bought one back in 2001 - but here is info:

Larry

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dougmdougmMember
I think this scenario has terrified a good number of us. When the time comes to strip off the paint, what you thought was underneath is not there. On very rare occasions the seller is passing on a condition they knew nothing about, but the vast majority of times they know exactly what they are doing. I think people that do this should be criminally prosecuted! It puts a big black mark on the entire collector car hobby. Like everybody has said, keep your chin up. The "perfect" car for you is still out there.
Doug M
C comp2Member

What does dead mean? I see some badly rusted areas, but I have not seen a part on this car which could not be fabricated.

The issue is how much has to be fabricated, weather you are going to do the fabrication yourself, or have some one else do it, how much time and money you have. This is not to say this is the best choice but it also means not all is lost if you can or wish to tackle it.

I only saw the one photo but the frame and the uprights them self are not to hard to repair. The issue I am guessing is most of the car is this way.

Last edited by George P
C comp2Member
quote:
Originally posted by four walling:
nice work comp 2,

Your example of the fabrication possible should give everyone hope that nothing can be "pronounced dead" forever.


I know it's not everyone's cut of tee but I look around at the car and each individual piece looks like something we could all fabricate if we needed to. My problem with my car is some have done a poor job of repair and I am repairing repair jobs.
V Vereeken (Guest)

I am posting a number of after and before pictures for your enjoyment. We knew about the rust in front at radiator mount and suspected rust out back between headlights after inspection. We discounted that in our price.
Teh problem is in the inside wheel liners where it seems rust started between the inner and outer pannel.
Again, every else on this car is straight.
And yes I will take legal action against the seller for misrepresentation. Give him a sleepless night or two.

TermijalRot3

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