What were the original headlights on an early Pantera?
Push Button
Chrome bumper
Pantera L
1974 GTS USA version
Did Euro cars have different lights?
Thanks in advance!
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My best guess: All Panteras that I know of got a 7" round headlight.
As for the type, it really depended on where the car's original destination country was. As an example, Ford specified U.S sealed-beam 45 watt headlights but they were not shipped that way from the factory- the dealer installed them upon arrival. Had the Pantera been delivered to the U.S. with headlights, Ford would have had to ship truckloads of U.S sealed beam bulbs to Italy and pay import duties on them. Then when the cars were exported to the U.S, Ford would have had to apply for a refund of the import tax covering the bulbs.
They actually got into this taxation scheme with the York AC compressor and Motorcraft alternators & carbs that were on U.S-bound Panteras. Every single alt, carb & AC compressor was serialized and duty paid when the engine assemblies were shipped to Italy, then checked against a list and a refund applied for when the cars left Italy.
Since most European countries have/had their own laws on some parts, especially safety equipment, I suspect the local concessionaire in whatever country the car was first sent to, installed their headlight bulbs too- probably replaceable bulb 60W halogens with separate reflector. Better headlights but illegal at the time in the U.S.
You can get some sense of how this worked by looking at the original Illustrated Parts List (orange cover). Germany for instance had different seats and seat belts required. Australian Panteras were required to have a certain percentage of the entire car to be "locally made", so Panteras in OZ have things on them we've never seen before- including Aussie-built 351-Cs. Euro & Far East Panteras had NO smog equipment, and the list goes on. This is also why it's an impossible task to find out what was 'stock' on a Pantera. Stock where? When? Smog laws had just started and the rules changed almost daily.
As for the type, it really depended on where the car's original destination country was. As an example, Ford specified U.S sealed-beam 45 watt headlights but they were not shipped that way from the factory- the dealer installed them upon arrival. Had the Pantera been delivered to the U.S. with headlights, Ford would have had to ship truckloads of U.S sealed beam bulbs to Italy and pay import duties on them. Then when the cars were exported to the U.S, Ford would have had to apply for a refund of the import tax covering the bulbs.
They actually got into this taxation scheme with the York AC compressor and Motorcraft alternators & carbs that were on U.S-bound Panteras. Every single alt, carb & AC compressor was serialized and duty paid when the engine assemblies were shipped to Italy, then checked against a list and a refund applied for when the cars left Italy.
Since most European countries have/had their own laws on some parts, especially safety equipment, I suspect the local concessionaire in whatever country the car was first sent to, installed their headlight bulbs too- probably replaceable bulb 60W halogens with separate reflector. Better headlights but illegal at the time in the U.S.
You can get some sense of how this worked by looking at the original Illustrated Parts List (orange cover). Germany for instance had different seats and seat belts required. Australian Panteras were required to have a certain percentage of the entire car to be "locally made", so Panteras in OZ have things on them we've never seen before- including Aussie-built 351-Cs. Euro & Far East Panteras had NO smog equipment, and the list goes on. This is also why it's an impossible task to find out what was 'stock' on a Pantera. Stock where? When? Smog laws had just started and the rules changed almost daily.
Thanks for that insight Jack, I didn't know that.
It's really cool that someone here knows this info, is willing to share, and that it has now been (hopefully) archived for the ages.
bosswrench posted:My best guess: All Panteras that I know of got a 7" round headlight.
Ford specified U.S sealed-beam 45 watt headlights but they were not shipped that way from the factory- the dealer installed them upon arrival.
the dull Orange glow
Thanks Jack, had no ideal about that crazy tax system! I have always wondered exactly what lights were 'stock' on early Panteras, too, but understand the question is probably moot.
That said, I'd be happy now determining simply what type of headlight was used on the earliest cars in Europe. My guess (after reading all relevant Wikipidea info a few times) is that production cars probably got H4s in Europe. Cars that came to the US would have been fitted here with standard sealed beams, since that was the only legal option. In either case the wiring harness was the same (see attached stock Pantera part; wires are 'Cavis' brand).
Apparently the removeable, 2-filament (high/low) H4 bulbs became available in 1971. The earlier H1s, H2s, and H3s were all single filament bulbs. I haven't determined what 'normal' 7" Euro headlights were prior to 1971 and the advent of the H4. Perhaps the 1970 prototype Pantera had US-type sealed beams??
In the 70s my Dad drove a euro spec 1965 Peugeot 505 with 'single' 7" lights - - so by no means was this an uncommon setup. Yes I should have paid more attention to lights back then
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