[DeTomaso] Fantastic fiberglass Pantera parts score

[Julian Kift]

>I got an excited phone call from Larry Stock last week. He just >got done buying two 18-wheeler loads of fiberglass molds for >Pantera parts.
 
I was at Larry' shop when the first truck arrived as the driver managed to squeeze on 5 four post lifts for our local group buy. There sure was a lot of molds and a couple of complete fiberglass bodies, one a GT5, but cast as a single piece with no hood cut outs etc. It would have to be a lift up funny car style or I suppose you could cut it in there with front and rear 'clamshells' for a tube frame racer! >A LOT of parts.
 
So much so that Larry's a bit overwhelmed I think (albeit very excited about the opportunity), but once he has a had a chance to sort through I'm sure it's going to be of real benefit to all. The small parts are going to be the ones in demand. >It turns out that the fellow who makes all the 'carbon fiber' >parts for Wilkinson and PI is actually located in Reno, just a few >blocks from Larry's shop, so now he will be using Larry's molds to >make Larry's parts too. The guy makes everything one at a >time, with no volume discount. In fact, Larry told me the guy's >technique is to simply make a part and keep it inside the mold; >then when the owner of the mold calls up and requests it, he >pops the mold open, ships the part right away to the vendor, >and then makes a new part at his leisure, waiting for the next >order. If you have time when in town get Larry to take you to meet this guy (Pete Morley). He's a Kiwi and doing some great stuff, a lot of it for the tuner and ricer market. At the time I went over he was working on a Chevy truck for John Harrah (Harrah's Casino's). It was a brand new truck they stripped down to recreate a (road going) replica Baja race truck from scratch, complete with tube frame. Needless to say there wasn't much recognizable from the donor vehicle. Pete is also a distributor for Racetech seats who have a great name in the southern hemisphere. They are some of the most comfortable race seats I've sat in, not cheap but then quality rarely is, see them at www.racetechseats.com 
 
I spoke to Pete about the possibility of him laying up true CF (not CF overlay) decklid's as well and he was more than willing to accomodate. Now he will have access to any number of molds to work from and as you say is well set up to produce single or custom parts to order through Larry. >Les Gray and I are planning on going up there to inspect the >molds, and I'll be doing a feature on Les (who was one of the >dudes behind the Long & Newman project) in the next few >weeks.
 
Give me a heads up when you are going to be in town and I'll buy lunch if I'm around.
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