[DeTomaso] California driver Pantera for sale--full review, and pantera value from a Norwegians point of view

[Douglas Kelm]

A lot of lurkers, wannabes and future Pantera owners read this forum and they need to heed the advice in Ken's second paragraph. Is it nearly always better to pay more upfront for a nice car than to try to resurrect a rusty one. It's a simple matter of economics and I know Mike Drew will concur with this statement. Unless you absolutely, positively, conclusively CANNOT find a car that is close to your liking and cost is no object for you, then restoring a Pantera can be a rewarding, though long and expensive, experience. I know Johnny Woods has gone this route, with stunning success, but if he were to be adequately compensated for his labor, his car would cost a fortune for the next owner. A cheap Pantera will likely turn out to be quite expensive, while an expensive Pantera could well turn out to be a bargain!

Doug (headed for my hole now) Kelm

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ken Green 
  To: Dagny Kristine Bakken ; 'Douglas Kelm' ; detomaso at realbig.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 5:13 PM
  Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] California driver Pantera for sale--full review, and pantera value from a Norwegians point of view


  The reality is that many California Panteras lived in beach communities for many years.  While there is salt on the road in the midwest which is a known and visible enemy of steel, the salt air near the ocean is not a visible threat or easily dealt with.  I moved from inland, maybe 20 miles from the ocean, to a couple miles from the ocean, and everything that could rust did rust in short order.

  Regarding Pantera prices, the range should be very large because it costs so much to make one right.  I'd bet you could spend $30K (paying a shop to do the work) on a ragged but running car to make it decent, and much more to make it nice.  So, a ragged warn driver is big $s away from a nice car and the prices should reflect that.  Why would anyone pay $35K for a car that will be worth $50K after then spend another $30K on it.  And if they spend $100K (at a vendor) it may be worth $60K?

  Ken