If you choose to do so...
You will enjoy the beauty of a timeless masterpiece,
But with that, you will encounter shit service from vendors, garbage overpriced parts and a lot of bullshit.
Will
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
quote:Originally posted by 4NHOTROD:
If you choose to do so...
You will enjoy the beauty of a timeless masterpiece,
But with that, you will encounter shit service from vendors, garbage overpriced parts and a lot of bullshit.
Will
I will not name any vendor, but I was sold a part that is no longer produced (for good reason) for a price that was double what I was told upon looking at the invoice. It is now a shelf ornament.
Now you've got me started, and I'm not that far along with my car.
As a counter to this, two vendors have been really good to me, with reasonable prices and great advice. I just talked to one of them today, and they asked how my car was coming along.
So much for the fun stuff. What's the bad part?
Whats the bad part?? Name one. 50% chance I ordered it and it was crap.
Ask a vendor to send you an invoice with prices after you've given your visa. Good luck
Nothing fits. Lies. Garbage quality.
50% chance you get junk when you order parts.
Ask a vendor to send you an invoice with prices after you've given your visa. Good luck
Nothing fits. Lies. Garbage quality.
50% chance you get junk when you order parts.
Interesting. I had no idea the whining and persecution had crossed the border. Don't we (merkins) have this wrapped up?
Son, the light doesn't turn red for you.
No doubt it seems we (motorheads) have an unusually high percentage of ____ heads that we contact on a daily basis, but it just ain't so.
My method?
Be VERY careful who you respect and where you trade. Don't be afraid to ask who gives good service. Ask good questions up front, the bastards will try to screw you anyway.
Care to share your experience?
Son, the light doesn't turn red for you.
No doubt it seems we (motorheads) have an unusually high percentage of ____ heads that we contact on a daily basis, but it just ain't so.
My method?
Be VERY careful who you respect and where you trade. Don't be afraid to ask who gives good service. Ask good questions up front, the bastards will try to screw you anyway.
Care to share your experience?
quote:Originally posted by 4NHOTROD:
Whats the bad part?? Name one. 50% chance I ordered it and it was crap.
Ask a vendor to send you an invoice with prices after you've given your visa. Good luck
Nothing fits. Lies. Garbage quality.
50% chance you get junk when you order parts.
At least being out here in CA you can visit them personally as shown below on an as needed basis. When Byars went to Temecula, it became too far for me, so I have recently been going to Tommy and he seems down to earth customer service. Once I find a good vendor, I hardly shop around. Too bad to hear of your experience, as it spoils any fun with these cars (it is struggle enough just doing mechanical work on any car, rather than just getting in and driving).
Attachments
Images (1)
I have bought a few parts that needed some mods to fit. But I have always been able to return parts for a full credit when needed. I have enjoyed every relationship with every vendor I have dealt with. Vendors each have their own areas of expertise along with some weird habits. As we all do.
I have been disappointed occasionally, but never ripped off.
This is life. And not exclusive to Pantera.
I am thankful the vendors are here to help us with our passion. None that I have met in the past 30 years are making millions off us. It's hard to understand why they still do it. And I bet their stories about us are even scarier than ours about them!
I have been disappointed occasionally, but never ripped off.
This is life. And not exclusive to Pantera.
I am thankful the vendors are here to help us with our passion. None that I have met in the past 30 years are making millions off us. It's hard to understand why they still do it. And I bet their stories about us are even scarier than ours about them!
Jan, that is a great way to get good service and to meet the local swat team... 
quote:I have bought a few parts that needed some mods to fit. But I have always been able to return parts for a full credit when needed. I have enjoyed every relationship with every vendor I have dealt with. Vendors each have their own areas of expertise along with some weird habits. As we all do.
I have been disappointed occasionally, but never ripped off.
This is life. And not exclusive to Pantera.
I am thankful the vendors are here to help us with our passion. None that I have met in the past 30 years are making millions off us. It's hard to understand why they still do it. And I bet their stories about us are even scarier than ours about them!
You have a short memory or it doesn't bother you to be hooped for thousands.
Ever bought wheels for a GT5 that needed 2" spacers when they arrived? ($$$)
Ever bought glass that didn't fit?
Ever sent your car to the other side of the US, spent thousands on upgrades only to receive it to have many things not working? .........
Not a big deal, I guess. That's life (for you, not me)
Return parts? At who's cost for shipping and brokerage?? I've taken $80 carpet "kits" and thrown them in the trash.Not worth the shipping to return.I have a Boxer wing somewhere that is junk.
I've received headers that need additional welding because of holes. Headers that need mods to allow the bolts to enter.
I received a ~$200 part that ended up costing me $400 because they didn't ship it as discussed.
Window felt/trim that doesn't even come close to fitting.
There are many more. People tell me I have bad luck. They laugh at my stories about parts/orders. Bull$hit. It's not just me. It happens to everyone. People just choose to be quiet.
I guess for some, $80 or $200 is nothing. Whats the big deal. Chump change.I work too hard for my money.
Most people don't want to say much. " Oh well, what can you do?" I thought that was just a Canadian thing. They walk away. Too afraid of being blackballed.
I rarely make a fuss because returning parts worth even several hundred dollars will cost almost as much in return fees.
I recently bought early "original-fit" bumper gaskets that are total crap. Twice as large as the originals, matte instead of glossy, soft instead of hard. $70 plus for trim I can buy locally for $12
I received an "stamp-able" VIN plate to replace my damaged original plastic one (D/S door) and it's made from rigid 3/32 lexan. Almost three times the thickness of the originals and IMPOSSIBLE to stamp. Junk.
I could go on about cheap Chinese (I assume) plastic castings that look and are finished like they were cast from a damaged, worn-out part in the first place. and other "close-enough" replacement/reproduction parts of poor quality.
Add to that the (often) weeks/months of delays, the invoicing issues Will raises and you have all the indicators that MANY of the vendors are tired, bored and have lost interest. I completely understand, but I sure hope that some new, fresh and enthusiastic guys get into the business because one day soon we're all going to wake up and find all the vendors have retired and closed up shop — probably in the same month.
So, yeah, we Canadians can whine with the best of the west.
Mark
I recently bought early "original-fit" bumper gaskets that are total crap. Twice as large as the originals, matte instead of glossy, soft instead of hard. $70 plus for trim I can buy locally for $12
I received an "stamp-able" VIN plate to replace my damaged original plastic one (D/S door) and it's made from rigid 3/32 lexan. Almost three times the thickness of the originals and IMPOSSIBLE to stamp. Junk.
I could go on about cheap Chinese (I assume) plastic castings that look and are finished like they were cast from a damaged, worn-out part in the first place. and other "close-enough" replacement/reproduction parts of poor quality.
Add to that the (often) weeks/months of delays, the invoicing issues Will raises and you have all the indicators that MANY of the vendors are tired, bored and have lost interest. I completely understand, but I sure hope that some new, fresh and enthusiastic guys get into the business because one day soon we're all going to wake up and find all the vendors have retired and closed up shop — probably in the same month.
So, yeah, we Canadians can whine with the best of the west.
Mark
My personal horror story: Ordered several hundred worth of parts from vendor "X". Receive the parts and find that the price was a couple of hundred over what the price was on their website. I called and voiced my concern and was told next time to call for a price quote. Which I did. Ordered another couple of hundred dollars worth of parts and find an additional hundred dollars on the price. When I called them about it his reply was "Well, you can send the parts back!" I called an expletive and have not ordered parts there since.
And I'm like you, 4NHOTROD. a couple of hundred bucks does not come easy to me either. Especially lately.
And I'm like you, 4NHOTROD. a couple of hundred bucks does not come easy to me either. Especially lately.
quote:but I sure hope that some new, fresh and enthusiastic guys get into the business because one day soon we're all going to wake up and find all the vendors have retired and closed up shop — probably in the same month.
I am currently working to expand my offerings from my current offerings of mostly aftermarket parts, to both aftermarket and original equipment parts. Anyone that does business with me will know the final price BEFORE I ship. I take all quality issues seriously and will stop shipping certain parts if the quality is not there.
Ever bought wheels for a GT5 that needed 2" spacers when they arrived?
Yeah. It was a matter of taste. The spacers cost $100 and the vendor sent the rest of the stuff at his expense along with all the installation hardware and tools.
Ever bought glass that didn't fit?
Right on that one… but I was so immersed in bigger problems I forgot all about it and forgot to return the glass to them for the full credit. Stupid me.
Ever sent your car to the other side of the US, spent thousands on upgrades only to receive it to have many things not working?
Yep. After many trips to oversee the extensive work being done, I totally messed up and didn’t take the last trip for a final check before putting it on the trailer. My mistake and one I won’t make again.
Honestly, I have seen it all in the past almost 30 years of Pantera ownership. I got my ’73 Pantera in 1983 and my ’82 GT5 in 1987. I have been dealing with vendors ever since.
And so I have learned how to prepare for the least amount of problems and don’t rely on “…oh, don’t worry it will fit” and ignore the “leave it to me, you’ll love it” comments.
When I buy parts I call the vendor and ask them to take a pic of it placed against a tape measure in specific ways. If need be, I send them a pic of exactly how I want them to show me the part measurements in their pics. That way I know the exact dimensions and where all the holes and brackets are. Most vendors are happy to help. Those that aren’t don’t get the order.
If a part is a big ticket item, I check with others who bought this item and have a local Pantera owner visit the vendor and give me more input.
As for returns, I sent a box with a new alternator, starter motor and steering rack from Montreal to CA for $70. No FedEx next day delivery is required for returns. Many times I have gotten parts that I decided I didn’t need and was credited before I even returned them. Small parts I often get for free, tossed into a friend’s order. If retuning a cheap part is a hassle, the vendors often just tell me to hold on to it and still give me the credit.
When I ask I always get invoices (faxed, or emailed in advance) so that I can prepare proper or phoney customs docs when needed. When in the US I can ship parts I acquire as personal goods for next to nothing.
If you want me to name names, here’s what I have from 30 years of experience. After breaking down constantly and fed up with the maniac local speed shops and exotic wheeler dealers, I sent both my cars to CA.
PI sold my ’73 for a great price and I got back more than I had in it. Hall fixed my GT5 for less than we had agreed and I showed up, got in it and drove it 1,000 miles across the dessert. It has not broken down since and although I have made many mods since then I have not had to replace any of those original upgrades except for the odd part that wore out.
Tommy at Extreme did a bunch more upgrades for ½ what I expected it would cost, while on my way to Monterey. Years later, when my AC shut down in 120 degree heat in the Rockies, I called Tommy and he quickly walked me thru how to find the AC pressure switch and fix the problem – which was just a blown fan fuse that caused an overheated AC and the pressure switch had shut it down, doing it’s job perfectly.
Once the car was perfect, mechanically, I went to CA and cruised back and forth from Wilkinson, to PI, to Extreme, and Hall. I picked everyone’s brains and spent a lot of time before making my decisions.
Steve was awesome and sold me just what I needed. He always took the time to discuss anything I was considering. PI gave me some fantastic ideas and saved me a fortune on all the work I did. Jerry and Dave sent me to their suppliers, where I was able to save a bundle getting the custom interior that I had designed. And none of them had any problems with me working with the other.
Through all of this, I can attribute most of the problems I have encountered during Pantera ownership to my own technical shortcomings or communication breakdowns. I could have avoided most of them by taking more time to be sure of what I wanted, spending more time doing the proper research and giving the vendors better direction.
And here’s another thing to think about. Why should buying parts online from Pantera vendors be any different from other online purchasing? I buy stuff online all the time. The shit is never what it is supposed to be. Their billing and shipping is as bad as the (lack of) customer service they purport to offer. Amazon? Ebay? PayPal? Forget it!
I don’t see any of us going out and investing huge $ to stock all the stuff that we might need some time in the future. And why is that? Because it can’t be a very fulfilling or profitable business, unless you’re already sitting on a vast inventory. We’re lucky to have the resources we do. And thanks to all the new vendors popping up with cool components.
Anyhow, after years and years of aggravation and Pantera headaches what am getting into? I am building another one. How crazy am I after all these years? Crazy! The rest of my life should be as challenging, interesting and rewarding.
Is this glass half full? Or half empty?
Yeah. It was a matter of taste. The spacers cost $100 and the vendor sent the rest of the stuff at his expense along with all the installation hardware and tools.
Ever bought glass that didn't fit?
Right on that one… but I was so immersed in bigger problems I forgot all about it and forgot to return the glass to them for the full credit. Stupid me.
Ever sent your car to the other side of the US, spent thousands on upgrades only to receive it to have many things not working?
Yep. After many trips to oversee the extensive work being done, I totally messed up and didn’t take the last trip for a final check before putting it on the trailer. My mistake and one I won’t make again.
Honestly, I have seen it all in the past almost 30 years of Pantera ownership. I got my ’73 Pantera in 1983 and my ’82 GT5 in 1987. I have been dealing with vendors ever since.
And so I have learned how to prepare for the least amount of problems and don’t rely on “…oh, don’t worry it will fit” and ignore the “leave it to me, you’ll love it” comments.
When I buy parts I call the vendor and ask them to take a pic of it placed against a tape measure in specific ways. If need be, I send them a pic of exactly how I want them to show me the part measurements in their pics. That way I know the exact dimensions and where all the holes and brackets are. Most vendors are happy to help. Those that aren’t don’t get the order.
If a part is a big ticket item, I check with others who bought this item and have a local Pantera owner visit the vendor and give me more input.
As for returns, I sent a box with a new alternator, starter motor and steering rack from Montreal to CA for $70. No FedEx next day delivery is required for returns. Many times I have gotten parts that I decided I didn’t need and was credited before I even returned them. Small parts I often get for free, tossed into a friend’s order. If retuning a cheap part is a hassle, the vendors often just tell me to hold on to it and still give me the credit.
When I ask I always get invoices (faxed, or emailed in advance) so that I can prepare proper or phoney customs docs when needed. When in the US I can ship parts I acquire as personal goods for next to nothing.
If you want me to name names, here’s what I have from 30 years of experience. After breaking down constantly and fed up with the maniac local speed shops and exotic wheeler dealers, I sent both my cars to CA.
PI sold my ’73 for a great price and I got back more than I had in it. Hall fixed my GT5 for less than we had agreed and I showed up, got in it and drove it 1,000 miles across the dessert. It has not broken down since and although I have made many mods since then I have not had to replace any of those original upgrades except for the odd part that wore out.
Tommy at Extreme did a bunch more upgrades for ½ what I expected it would cost, while on my way to Monterey. Years later, when my AC shut down in 120 degree heat in the Rockies, I called Tommy and he quickly walked me thru how to find the AC pressure switch and fix the problem – which was just a blown fan fuse that caused an overheated AC and the pressure switch had shut it down, doing it’s job perfectly.
Once the car was perfect, mechanically, I went to CA and cruised back and forth from Wilkinson, to PI, to Extreme, and Hall. I picked everyone’s brains and spent a lot of time before making my decisions.
Steve was awesome and sold me just what I needed. He always took the time to discuss anything I was considering. PI gave me some fantastic ideas and saved me a fortune on all the work I did. Jerry and Dave sent me to their suppliers, where I was able to save a bundle getting the custom interior that I had designed. And none of them had any problems with me working with the other.
Through all of this, I can attribute most of the problems I have encountered during Pantera ownership to my own technical shortcomings or communication breakdowns. I could have avoided most of them by taking more time to be sure of what I wanted, spending more time doing the proper research and giving the vendors better direction.
And here’s another thing to think about. Why should buying parts online from Pantera vendors be any different from other online purchasing? I buy stuff online all the time. The shit is never what it is supposed to be. Their billing and shipping is as bad as the (lack of) customer service they purport to offer. Amazon? Ebay? PayPal? Forget it!
I don’t see any of us going out and investing huge $ to stock all the stuff that we might need some time in the future. And why is that? Because it can’t be a very fulfilling or profitable business, unless you’re already sitting on a vast inventory. We’re lucky to have the resources we do. And thanks to all the new vendors popping up with cool components.
Anyhow, after years and years of aggravation and Pantera headaches what am getting into? I am building another one. How crazy am I after all these years? Crazy! The rest of my life should be as challenging, interesting and rewarding.
Is this glass half full? Or half empty?
Attachments
Images (1)
quote:
Looks full to me and thanks for sharing your perspective!!!!!
Will ,
I agree 100% ... thats why i took a break and swapped over to my Boss 302 Restoration ... I agree the parts in Pantera world fit like shit .. every one of them ... the vendors change the conversation and go straight to the credit card ... try restoring any other vehicle and you will see parts that fit .. vendors that really know the product ... so far the only thing on my B2 resto that hasn't fit perfect, was a speedo cable and NPD is sending a new one... no need to return the old one ... I took a break from the bulls$%& in Pantera world.
Dave you just have the patience of a saint ... and your focus is there my friend, to ask all the right questions ... I have restored Mustangs, Corvettes, model A's & T's and Pantera world sits by itself and they blame it on .. not one car being the same ... God bless you my friend ... but you would spend a lot less time with all the research if were any other marque.
Ron
Ron
I agree 100% ... thats why i took a break and swapped over to my Boss 302 Restoration ... I agree the parts in Pantera world fit like shit .. every one of them ... the vendors change the conversation and go straight to the credit card ... try restoring any other vehicle and you will see parts that fit .. vendors that really know the product ... so far the only thing on my B2 resto that hasn't fit perfect, was a speedo cable and NPD is sending a new one... no need to return the old one ... I took a break from the bulls$%& in Pantera world.
Dave you just have the patience of a saint ... and your focus is there my friend, to ask all the right questions ... I have restored Mustangs, Corvettes, model A's & T's and Pantera world sits by itself and they blame it on .. not one car being the same ... God bless you my friend ... but you would spend a lot less time with all the research if were any other marque.
Ron
Ron
I hear what your saying.
At least half of the parts I have purchased from “Pantera part retailers” either don’t fit, would never actually work or the quality is so bad they belong in the rubbish bin.
Retractable seat belts supposedly designed for the Pantera that simply do not & can not work, (will not self adjust because the “click in”clasp locks to the belt & will not slide, simply manufactured using the wrong parts).
Carbon parts that have so much depth of clear coat that they have turned yellow.
Mirrors that have obviously been crudely chopped & ground from another model car, but sold as parts suitable for a Pantera.
Pedal rubbers that don’t fit unless you grind the corners off your pedals.
Rear axles that are so far oversize there is no way a bearing will press on, not even with using a heat shrink fit.
Windscreen rubbers that are way too small in section to actually fit the body or the glass.
Rear “Detomaso” & “Pantera” scripts that don’t fit the original body holes, totally different to the originals.
Then told there is only one type of script…….right, so what are the originals on my Pantera then?
Or simply just sending an email to the vendor asking only for a freight quote on parts to Australia, only to find that they have sent the parts & billed my credit card that they have kept on file!! No return email with a price, just bill my card & send the parts without authorization to do so.
There have been times when I have received a part, emailed back a complaint that it does not fit……….no reply.
Email again………no reply, in fact, email several times, no reply.
So I send the parts back with a note saying if they do not reimburse the funds to my credit card account I will call the Bank & put in an “unauthorized transaction”
I then get an email reply saying that there’s no need to be rude & I did not need to take such extreme action.
Really? How about replying to my emails?
Being in Australia it’s not so easy to return these parts to the USA without huge cost.
I rarely purchase parts now from Pantera retailers, preferring to make the part myself if possible, or modify something else to fit.
Regards,
Tony.
At least half of the parts I have purchased from “Pantera part retailers” either don’t fit, would never actually work or the quality is so bad they belong in the rubbish bin.
Retractable seat belts supposedly designed for the Pantera that simply do not & can not work, (will not self adjust because the “click in”clasp locks to the belt & will not slide, simply manufactured using the wrong parts).
Carbon parts that have so much depth of clear coat that they have turned yellow.
Mirrors that have obviously been crudely chopped & ground from another model car, but sold as parts suitable for a Pantera.
Pedal rubbers that don’t fit unless you grind the corners off your pedals.
Rear axles that are so far oversize there is no way a bearing will press on, not even with using a heat shrink fit.
Windscreen rubbers that are way too small in section to actually fit the body or the glass.
Rear “Detomaso” & “Pantera” scripts that don’t fit the original body holes, totally different to the originals.
Then told there is only one type of script…….right, so what are the originals on my Pantera then?
Or simply just sending an email to the vendor asking only for a freight quote on parts to Australia, only to find that they have sent the parts & billed my credit card that they have kept on file!! No return email with a price, just bill my card & send the parts without authorization to do so.
There have been times when I have received a part, emailed back a complaint that it does not fit……….no reply.
Email again………no reply, in fact, email several times, no reply.
So I send the parts back with a note saying if they do not reimburse the funds to my credit card account I will call the Bank & put in an “unauthorized transaction”
I then get an email reply saying that there’s no need to be rude & I did not need to take such extreme action.
Really? How about replying to my emails?
Being in Australia it’s not so easy to return these parts to the USA without huge cost.
I rarely purchase parts now from Pantera retailers, preferring to make the part myself if possible, or modify something else to fit.
Regards,
Tony.
I really like calling several of the vendors and just troll for opinions. I must drive them crazy since I don't purchase everything they suggest.
I must say, I purchased a decklid latch assembly a little while ago from a vendor, and it was perfect.
A good friend told me that many aftermarket "upgrade" parts (not just Pantera stuff) don't fit well. They complain about that as well.
I must say, I purchased a decklid latch assembly a little while ago from a vendor, and it was perfect.
A good friend told me that many aftermarket "upgrade" parts (not just Pantera stuff) don't fit well. They complain about that as well.
quote:A good friend told me that many aftermarket "upgrade" parts (not just Pantera stuff) don't fit well. They complain about that as well.
Corey is right. People complain about the fit or Camaro parts and Firebird parts from time to time. Some people expect that 100% of reproduction parts be as good as the originals. That would be nice but is not realistic.
It is however, a lot easier to put up the money to get a Camaro part reproduced when you know it will sell 20,000 pieces compared to a Pantera part that you may or may not get your money back.
I paid quite a bit of money to create a mold of original seat foam around 4 years ago. Still waiting to get my money back. It will eventually pay for itself and start making money but it may take a few more years.
Some of these stories are unbelievable that the vendor in question is still in business. Why buy from someone that treats you that way. I do however, take exception that ALL vendors treat their customers that way.
I have purchased from most of the Vendors across the US and have found some issues like what has been described here. Those vendors don't get my business. I have heard some horror stories about a vendor making China knock offs for some pretty important parts that turned out to be junk parts. I wont buy from such vendors. BUT, there are still good vendors out there, I am happy to say... IN MY OPINION...
Z06, your right.
Its wrong to lump all Pantera part retailers into the same category as they are certainly not all this way.
At the same time it’s not right to name who is responsible for the bad experiences as its possible for there to be a genuine mistake that was a one off occurrence.
As a seller myself of performance automotive components I do understand the issues & do realize you cannot always keep 100% of your customers happy.
But you must try.
I have received some outstanding quality parts at a very good price from certain Pantera retailers.
And I will continue to deal with those good suppliers if they have the part required.
For a few of the Pantera parts suppliers there does seem to be issues with their professionalism & their approach to marketing parts that are suitable for a Pantera.
Pantera owners are I think a fussy breed, & they have a right to be, they do care about their cars & many of us have a lot of money invested.
Retailers do need to appreciate this fact & make sure they maintain good quality standards for components they deem to be & market to be Pantera worthy.
regards,
Tony.
Its wrong to lump all Pantera part retailers into the same category as they are certainly not all this way.
At the same time it’s not right to name who is responsible for the bad experiences as its possible for there to be a genuine mistake that was a one off occurrence.
As a seller myself of performance automotive components I do understand the issues & do realize you cannot always keep 100% of your customers happy.
But you must try.
I have received some outstanding quality parts at a very good price from certain Pantera retailers.
And I will continue to deal with those good suppliers if they have the part required.
For a few of the Pantera parts suppliers there does seem to be issues with their professionalism & their approach to marketing parts that are suitable for a Pantera.
Pantera owners are I think a fussy breed, & they have a right to be, they do care about their cars & many of us have a lot of money invested.
Retailers do need to appreciate this fact & make sure they maintain good quality standards for components they deem to be & market to be Pantera worthy.
regards,
Tony.
quote:People complain about the fit or Camaro parts and Firebird parts from time to time
Speaking of Camaros, I restored my 68 SS to 99% original condition from 1988 to 1997. I know, I'm slow. But the point is that when I started out, buying parts primarily from Classic Industries, parts were indeed expensive, but also pretty good. But in the later part of that 10 year span, parts got cheaper, but also crappy. A lot of the parts I bought in the last 2-3 years, when I got them home and looked at them, I decided not to use them, and used the original part instead, warts and all. An example were my rear lights, chrome was not perfect, so I bought new from Classic Industries. Unfortunately they were just a tiny bit too small(!), the red and white plastic lenses wouldn't fit if I didn't remove some material. I still have my original rear lights.
Chinese? Don't know.
Pantera vendors in general are OK IMHO. Most give god service, at least on the phone, some take forever answering emails (which are a lot cheaper than calling from over here). The parts themselves, well, I've yet to receive a bolt-on part. I exaggerate, but most parts do require some filing or grinding or TLC to fit and work properly. But all in all, we should be happy the vendors exist, without them the Pantera ownership would be a totally different experience...
I have a 67' firebird and I had the same experience as Mikael... Half the parts I bought for my FB are in a box in my shed never to be used or returned. As far as my Pantera, it's really been 50/50. Since my car is a daily car I really don't worry about factory correct. I update to modern components to solve whatever issue comes up. It's easier, works better and becomes an off the shelf serviceable item after that.
It's good for me to hear all the stories (good and bad) as I'm fairly new to the Pantera hobby, although I've been into cars all my life. Thus far I've had some crap parts and some perfect stuff, but I will say the vendors have all worked with me to make it right (Or at least better). It would be great if stuff fit like late model Honda parts, but my particular car is 40 years old and has been messed with by other owners, their mechanics and the occasional chimpanzee. It's about what I expected in an imperfect world. I work hard for my money and I get frustrated when stuff is junk but I also don't want to end up like David and be forced to buy another car for lack of stuff to do... When my glass gets half empty, I grab the bottle. Cheers y'all.
quote:but I also don't want to end up like David and be forced to buy another car for lack of stuff to do
I honestly never thought I would a) end up with nothing to do on the cat or b) ever get this old!
It only took me 25 years to figure out how the stuff works (slow learner), make the money to afford it and finally finish it the way I wanted.
The next one should last me until they take my license away (for the 3rd time). Unfortunately it won't be for speeding but for being too old.
Hey! Maybe by then I'll be cranky enough to whine and moan about all the bad fitting parts and heavy shipping costs!
quote:Hey! Maybe by then I'll be cranky enough to whine and moan about all the bad fitting parts and heavy shipping costs!
OMG... LOL... This is the BEST line ever!!!!
quote:Originally posted by David B:
I have bought a few parts that needed some mods to fit. But I have always been able to return parts for a full credit when needed. I have enjoyed every relationship with every vendor I have dealt with. Vendors each have their own areas of expertise along with some weird habits. As we all do.
I have been disappointed occasionally, but never ripped off.
This is life. And not exclusive to Pantera.
I am thankful the vendors are here to help us with our passion. None that I have met in the past 30 years are making millions off us. It's hard to understand why they still do it. And I bet their stories about us are even scarier than ours about them!
the same feeling here ! glad some still "try" to make&sell those parts ...and even when they are not just "bolt on " as advertised , mostly they are a good start to improve/change/adapt...so one can be glad to have at least the core part
and sure not only Pantera ! Building my 928 i had the same puzzels with my official Porsche dealer ....as aftermarket vendors.