I want a Pantera! Am I nuts?

[Steve Firebird]

I have been looking around this winter for cars and somehow I got thinking about a Pantera. I saw one sell on one of the auction shows. It sold for under 40K and it looked pretty nice. I have been checking specs and cars for sale on the internet. It looks like a heck of a car for the money. I think I am going to try to unload a few of my toys and start looking for a nice 71-72 Pantera this fall. They are less than 3300lbs run a Ford 351C and a 5 speed with coil overs , R & P steering and 4 wheel disc brakes. Very nice ones (restored) sell for 40-60K and I see a fixer up listed for 15K for sale. It looks like you can pick up a solid driver for 30K. Modifications don't seem to hurt the value much if done well.
I may have a hard time selling my toys with the economy the way it is but I am in no rush.
Anyone here have any experiance with them?

[Steve Firebird]

check out the You tube vid VS a ferrari
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8RJLPlWEsI

[David Sloan]

You just missed a 72 for 10k
We sold it for a customer a month or so ago!
Kind of wish i could have keep it .

[Steve Firebird]

You just missed a 72 for 10k
We sold it for a customer a month or so ago!
Kind of wish i could have keep it . 10K WOW! Do you have any pictures of it? Keep me in mind for thr next one that comes up please.

[EFI69Cam]

No you are not crazy.

[CamaroLance]

Crazy??? No way! I've always wanted one of those. I too would love to see pictures of what a 10k pantera consists of!

[fast Ed]

Neat car, just watch out for rust in the front structure, they didn't like North American road salt. Or ocean air salt on the boat over from Europe apparently.

I've seen them with DOHC 4.6 Cobra mod motor swapped in, turbos on the Cleveland, a 351W style EFI converted on the 351C, all kinds of neat stuff ...


cheers
Ed N.

[Pagani]

Check this out
http://hem.passagen.se/hemipanter/
:drive: :drive: :revto9k: :drool: :drool: :drool:

[Steve Firebird]

There is a place not to far from me that does a lot of work on Panteras and sells them. They do the 4.6 swap and other HP stuff as well. I am going to try and get over to take a look a one sometime soon.

[EFI69Cam]

Check out these guys http://www.panteraperformance.com/

One of the top Pantera shops in the country.

[Moose]

My formula would tap 126 in the 1/4.. run high 10's. Guy done the street from me cracked my ass from a roll.. I was stunned how fast that thing is.

I would buy one!

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

man you just missed it.. the one David was talking about i saw and for the price he sold it for i was interested myself..

[70 Chevelle]

That car was soo ahead of it's time. look at other supercars of the era they all look outdated. The Pantera is one of the sexiest cars ever built.

[parsonsj]

Hell no, you're not nuts. Panteras are cool. They've got some problems that need to be addressed, like any car of that era. The neat thing about them is that mods are encouraged by most owners. You won't find much of a chalk mark crowd among Pantera dudes.

jp

[novanutcase]

One of my buddies dad has a pantera with a 650hp chevy motor in it. That thing pulls for DAYS!!!!!!

John

[Steve Firebird]

I am going to try to sell my 96 & 97 Trans Am this spring and keep an eye out for one. It looks like I just missed a deal from David. I am sure eventually there will be others. I just have to stay patient and educate my self so when a deal comes around I know it. I found a few web sites with inspection lists and buying tips on them all ready. I am going to join the National Pantera Club and try to find a local one as well. It would be great to find one with a super body that needed some mechanical TLC. Wish me luck and if any of you see one that’s a deal let me know.

[parsonsj]

Steve,

If you like Panteras, you should look at this offering from Factory Five: http://www.factoryfive.com/gtmhome.html

jp

[Steve Firebird]

Hell no, you're not nuts. Panteras are cool. They've got some problems that need to be addressed, like any car of that era. The neat thing about them is that mods are encouraged by most owners. You won't find much of a chalk mark crowd among Pantera dudes.

jp
That’s one of the things I got excited about when I started reading up on them. They say modifying them does not hurt the value. I think about all the money I spent on my 68 Firebird. I am sure even with the upgrades I did a stock Pantera would walk away from me in everything but a ¼ mile. With a few modifications it would show up my 68 in the ¼ as well. I could see a 351 putting out some pretty good horse power or one of the modern 302 or 4.6 fuel injected engines in the car doing well.

[Steve Firebird]

There are several on eBay right now. Here is one with out a title. In WI it is impossible to get a replacement title without the last registered owner signing the form. I guess guys have used the Broadway title company but that still seems a little sketchy to me. I bought a project car from a friend last summer that lost the title and it took a lot of time to track down the last registered owner and get it straightened out. The lady was pretty upset that it was still in her name and was getting ready to move out of the country. A few more months I would have been SOL. Steve
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=160212105090&rd=1

[69Pony]

You should do a search on Dan Jones and Pantera. He is THE expert. The reason why I know is I have a 351C in my Mach1 and take part in a lot of forums he posts in.

For a 351C / Pantera engine builder check out Mark McKeown at www.mmeracing.com. He does alot of Pantera engines.

Some eye candy...

http://www.panteraplace.com/images/PP%20Shop%201.jpg

[barraza]

There are several on eBay right now. Here is one with out a title. In WI it is impossible to get a replacement title without the last registered owner signing the form. I guess guys have used the Broadway title company but that still seems a little sketchy to me. I bought a project car from a friend last summer that lost the title and it took a lot of time to track down the last registered owner and get it straightened out. The lady was pretty upset that it was still in her name and was getting ready to move out of the country. A few more months I would have been SOL. Steve
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=160212105090&rd=1
I have always loved Pantera's, and almost bought one years ago. I never found what I was looking for in one, but I did learn a few things. They were unloved basically because they were terrible cars, beautiful but not up to the standards of the day. They had a multitude of problems that most hot rodders wouldn't find insurmountable, but that doomed it against it's main competition, the Corvette. While not a stellar performer, the vette was well sorted and dependable, and had a dealer network that recognized and was able to fix any difficulties. When looking at used ones, the modify everything mentality that Pantera's have can be a curse. All sorts of idiots over the years have done some really questionable changes. As with most cars, you are probably better off getting a complete and good condition vehicle as a starting point. The one you linked to on Ebay is an avoid at all costs type, not complete, no engine, no way to tell whats missing if you have never seen it, and going to end up costing more than a complete one. Don't think 70's Ford resto costs, think 70's italian car resto costs. They were made in europe for a lot more years, but got relatively expensive and never sold in large numbers.

[Steve Firebird]

I have always loved Pantera's, and almost bought one years ago. I never found what I was looking for in one, but I did learn a few things. They were unloved basically because they were terrible cars, beautiful but not up to the standards of the day. They had a multitude of problems that most hot rodders wouldn't find insurmountable, but that doomed it against it's main competition, the Corvette. While not a stellar performer, the vette was well sorted and dependable, and had a dealer network that recognized and was able to fix any difficulties. When looking at used ones, the modify everything mentality that Pantera's have can be a curse. All sorts of idiots over the years have done some really questionable changes. As with most cars, you are probably better off getting a complete and good condition vehicle as a starting point. The one you linked to on Ebay is an avoid at all costs type, not complete, no engine, no way to tell whats missing if you have never seen it, and going to end up costing more than a complete one. Don't think 70's Ford resto costs, think 70's italian car resto costs. They were made in europe for a lot more years, but got relatively expensive and never sold in large numbers.
I hear ya. I think that car would make a good parts car or track car. I will be looking for a nice solid car that is complete and go from there. The cost of a nice finished one vs. a fixer upper looks to be about 30-40K so I would have to do a lot of figuring to see what would be the best. Personally it looks like if I can find a clean body with a solid transaxle and have the car complete that will be most of the battle. I am pretty comfortable turning wrenches and doing the wiring and interior stuff. I have a lift and a fairly well equipped shop to do the work in. The mechanical part of the car looks pretty straight forward but I may be fooling myself. Body work is what scares me. Thanks for the comments. Who knows I may look into it more and chicken out.

[Steve Firebird]

Hey everyone I went to look at a couple Panteras today and visited with the owner of the dealership about the cars he had and Panteras in general. I guess I am little let down. It was like seeing the girl you had a crush on in high school years later and she is not as great as you remember. Don’t get me wrong they are neat cars but they did not take my breath away like I remember when I was younger. I guess I need to think on it a little more and see is what out there. He also had a lot of comments about staying away from anything that was not painstakingly restored and well documented as to condition and care. That throws me into a higher price category than I am willing to get into right now. I am not giving up I think I need a little more education and I need try and find some to see, hear and drive this summer. The driving part would be cool :drive1: even riding in one would be enough for a start

[JohnLClark]

When he was working for Chrysler in the 80's, Carroll Shelby put a 440 wedge in a Pantera with twin turbos. I read about the car in Hot Rod. The article said the car was putting out about 800 horsepower with the boost turned up. Sadly, the car was demolished after he left Chrysler.

[deuce_454]

not nuts at all... if you up the power you will need to change the transaxle, it is prety weak, and was originally designed for the european light truck "bedford" so much over 450 Hp will detonate it... i think they are cool cars, and with some nice paint and forgelines it would be killer

[68Formula]

They built them for a much longer period in Europe than Ford imported them. And you can easily import cars up to 1983 without much problem. So assuming they improved over time, you could find a late 70s to early 80s model. Then again, they may have stayed unchanged.

[barno68]

Steve,

If you like Panteras, you should look at this offering from Factory Five: http://www.factoryfive.com/gtmhome.html

jp

Hey John, I saw you over on the ffcobra.com forum, are you thinking about building a GTM? They are great looking cars, I just a bit scared off by the finished cost.

Brent

[Steve Firebird]

I started looking around at some kit cars as well. There ar some cool ones out there. Some The GT40 kits look pretty nice and a Datona Coupe is also one I have always liked.

[Steve Chryssos]

Panteras are based on monocoque chassis. Chassis structure was weak to start with. You see a lot of them flipped over at open road races. Add 40 years of wear and rust and you will find that these cars make for risky purchases. Also if you are taller than about 5 foot 10, you might not like the ergos. Be careful. Only buy one with a mint, reinforced structure. Gorgeous cars, but.....

[parsonsj]

Hey John, [...] are you thinking about building a GTM? Sure am. I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame. I just need to sell the Nova first.

jp

[XLexusTech]

Love them I worked on a twin turo one that was owned by a New yourk State tropper. All I can say is it was awesome!