What cars are most sought after?

Greg, Definatly your going to want an early chrome bumpered car! But I thought you got a car? Now if for some reason, someone dissagrees with me.......please post a pic and explain why...

Bill
If ever I was going to get run over by a car, I think i'd like to be your car.
If the last thing I was going to see was your front end, at least die happy....
Dennis

The absolute most valuable will be the real, actual race cars. There were about five of them. Next be cars that were prototypes and car show cars. Then would be rare group cars and other real odd ball cars. After that it would be GT5S and GT5 and GTS cars. Then Pushbuttons, and from there it gets real debatable aboyt L and pre L. The most valuable car will be 100 percent factyory original with zero miles on the odometer that had been kept in a hermidacaly sealed dark romm. The least valuable would be a rusty fender in the junk yard. Everything else is inbetween those two extremes.

quote:

Originally posted by PanteraSeeker:
...Im looking for some general advise. In looking for my car I have often wondered what are the most coveted cars? ...

Hmmm, controversial subject. My observations:

the Gp 4 race cars, in fact, any documented factory race car, draws the highest prices. After that, its the factory GT5 & GT5-S models that draw the second highest prices. Quite often, a Pantera enthusiast's SECOND Pantera, will be a GT5 or GT5-S.

Nobody has brought an Si into the US yet. If I had the bucks, that's what I would do. I believe the Si is valued higher than the GT5 & GT5-S in Europe.

After those considerations, opinions vary between Pre-L verses L. The value of the car will be based more on condition or mileage. A lot of people don't like the L bumpers, so they prefer the pre-L for that reason. My advice would be to buy an L, and remove the bumpers if you don't like them. Because the later cars have fewer gremlins, in general.

Being 100% stock doesn't seem to raise the value any, compared to a car that has a few, desirable modifications. The acceptable mods are the upgraded cooling system, gas shocks, brakes, alternator, rotary a/c compressor, high torque starter, relay mod for headlight & fan wiring. 17" wheels, especially Campy clones, and seats are mods that are desired by some buyers, but not desired by others. The cars that are wildly modified are harder to sell, they do sell, but fewer buyers are looking for that kind of car. The sale price of the wildly modified cars is generally appreciably higher, as the owner is trying to recoupe the money spent on the car, but the cars true value is perhaps no more than that of a good GT5 or GT5-S.

Pantera sales are brisk right now, which has driven the value of the cars up. Half of them are being shipped to Europe guys!

your friend on the DTBB

quote:

My advice would be to buy an L, and remove the bumpers if you don't like them. Because the later cars have fewer gremlins, in general.

Also, many folks prefer the single pod dash layout of the laters cars over the dual hump-style pods on the earlier cars.
Some early car owners end up converting to a single pod dash.

Lots of choices Pantera Seeker.
Good luck.

Josh

quote:

Greg, Definatly your going to want an early chrome bumpered car! But I thought you got a car?

lpb, I thought i had one too. but the seller backed out(ebay). It was a 78 car out of Las Vegas. so I am still looking. One of the frustrating things is all the outdated listing on the web. You would think they would eventually disappear but I am finding listing from the mid to late 90s. Did we even have the web then? So anyway still looking…

Greg

I know the car you speak of...I emailed him, he let his son buy it. I had aspirations of flying to Vegas, picking up the car, participate in the Fun Rally and sell it before I returned. Pretty lofty hugh? I am following about 4 on Ebay now. What kind of budget do you have? I have been keeping up with Ebay Pantera sale for a couple of years. Lately I'm seeing a lot go "Reserve not met" I'll bet after tha sale ends you could go in and make an offer. Save your searches!

Yep.. me too there are two black and to red right now that i'm watching as well. and one that ended earlier today or last night that i think was down in you area (white and blue.

also this one in CA
http://www.cars-on-line.com/16836.html

I think it has potential.

Are you in the market for another one?

Greg

quote:

What kind of budget do you have? I have been keeping up with Ebay

30-50k I know that is quite a range but it seems so are the cars right now.

Or 10-20k for a basket case.

Greg

I just keep an eye out for a deal. That black 72 with flares seems priced ok, if you like the flared look. I like the wide body GT5 or GTS like Downunder's and Coz's car better. They are later model. We don't have emission checks in SC. So we can get away with more. HE,HE,HE. How about there near Indy?

Nope no smoke check here. Only if you live up in 3 counties by Chicago. But not in Indy

Greg,

I can possibly put you into a car if I know what you want. Give me a call if you like at 419-874-0505 or note at kre1@adelphia.net Hope I can help.

Kirk Evans --- AmeriSport ---

quote:

Originally posted by PanteraSeeker:

quote:

What kind of budget do you have? I have been keeping up with Ebay

30-50k I know that is quite a range but it seems so are the cars right now.

Or 10-20k for a basket case.

Greg

What cars are the most sought after? The one you seek, Pantera Seeker.

You surely have looked at a lot of cars here and elsewhere. Now buy one that YOU like. Don't think of buying a Pantera as aninvestment. You won't lose money on it. But it ain't real estate, stocks, bonds or futures. This car is for fun.

At Monterey last year I saw 76 Panteras. Each one unique. Every thing under the sun. Just like their owners. That is what's cool about these cars.

So get one ONLY YOU think is cool. One you will love looking at in your garage for years to come.

My two cents.

quote:

You surely have looked at a lot of cars here and elsewhere. Now buy one that YOU like. Don't think of buying a Pantera as aninvestment.

Good sound advise deeb. Thats why I haven't bought on yet. still looking for just the right one.

Greg

We could go around in circles for weeks on what the most "desireable" Pantera is. To me, the most desireable one is the one I actually get to own, drive, and enjoy.........but to each his own I guess.

I've been in love with the Pantera for about the last 25 years, but still don't really have the budget for it (kids do that). I've followed a few leads in the hopes of turning up one by chance, and found that a friend of my mother has one collecting dust in her garage. Will be talking to her in about a month to try and twist her arm, but I'm afraid her adult son may put the kabosh on any sale. Sorry for the new guy interruption....now back to lurking. And dreaming.

cjjtulsa .... dont get discouraged ... I have had this discussion on this site many times ... I state that they ( Pantera's ) are out there ... to be had ... for a reasonable price ... yes you can still find them in a garage covered in dust ... NEVER GIVE UP... good deals are out there .. just talk it up and mention the Pantera when ever possible and you will see people will tell there stories and one will show up when you least expect it..

Ron

cjjtulsa,
Someone else mentioned it...be sure and watch for unsold cars on ebay..
Many folks on this board have gone in and made an offer on a car that never met its ebay reserve.

Josh

quote:

Sorry for the new guy interruption....now back to lurking. And dreaming.

cjjtulsa,
No apology needed and no more lurking! As for dreaming… absolutely! That is what makes this car so special. Being a Pantera ethusiast doesn't require ownership just enthusiasm. So say with us and be active.

Greg

Pushbuttons
Just because I have one!
I like the early look with the split bumpers or the late look with split bumbers.

The group 4 look has really grown on me to since I bought my first pantera in 2002

Thanks for the encouragement. I have a car I don't really want to sell, but could go towards a clean Pantera. The car that belongs to my mother's friend has been in my home town for years - my dad was a long-time Ford parts monkey, and actually hated the car - I guess it was a bear to locate parts for, even in the 70s. Laughs about it now, but said he used to cringe when the guy would thunder up to the dealership in it because he knew what he was in for. Not sure what an original car is worth - this one should be pretty much left alone, but I'm sure it will need some attention as any 30+ year old car would. I'll be keeping an eye out, and hopefully get to join those that own one. In the meantime, I'm trying to learn as much as I can. So what's a "pushbutton"?

quote:

Originally posted by cjjtulsa:
...So what's a "pushbutton"?...

Assembly of the earliest Panteras began a full year prior to the completion of the assembly line manufacturing facility at the deTomaso Automobili Fossalta plant. The Pantera was rushed from clay model to production in 6 or 7 months. These early Panteras borrowed the pushbutton door operating mechanism from the preceding deTomaso sports car, the Mangusta. Because the door operating mechanism is peculiar to these early models, they are referred to as pushbutton model Panteras. The pushbutton Panteras were fully assembled at the Vignale Carrozzeria in Torino (Turin) Italy by small teams of assemblers rather than on an assembly line. The first pushbutton Pantera was chassis #1001 and was built approx March 1970. The last pushbutton Pantera, based on chassis number rather than build date, is currently thought to be chassis # 1382, built in the spring of 1971. Total pushbutton production is therefore 382 units.

Shipments of Panteras began reaching the US in May of 1971. Approximately 96 pushbutton Panteras were among the first Panteras shipped to the US. The other 286 pushbutton Panteras were sold by the deTomasos in markets outside the US, predominantly in Europe.

quote:

Lately I'm seeing a lot go "Reserve not met" I'll bet after tha sale ends you could go in and make an offer. Save your searches!

Definitely talk to the seller BEFORE the sale is over and ask if they'd like to make an "out-of-auction" sale IF their reserve isn't met. In my case, I was the high bidder and the reserve wasn't met. By the time the seller and I had finished, I was able to knock $6K off of the reserve price and finally get my dream car at last!

Rick

quote:

Don't think of buying a Pantera as aninvestment. You won't lose money on it. But it ain't real estate, stocks, bonds or futures. This car is for fun.

At Monterey last year I saw 76 Panteras. Each one unique. Every thing under the sun. Just like their owners. That is what's cool about these cars.

David,
Excellent post.
Great reminder of why I purchased a Pantera in the first place.

Josh

quote:

Originally posted by Downunder:
Bill
If ever I was going to get run over by a car, I think i'd like to be your car.
If the last thing I was going to see was your front end, at least die happy....
Dennis

DU, did you notice the EMU push bar on LPB's?