[DeTomaso] Tjaarda Pantera sold for $100,000
MikeLDrew at aol.com
MikeLDrew at aol.com
Tue Oct 21 23:38:18 EDT 2008
In a message dated 10/21/08 20 20 28, pantdino at aol.com writes:
> This is what I was thinking. And it puts paid to the notion that all
> Panteras should have original Campys or look-alike wheels, in my opinion. If Tom
> chose other wheels for his car, doesn't it follow that he thought they looked
> better on the car?? I think if he really loved the TJ Design wheels that much
> he would have gotten himself a set when they were available.?
>
Dude. Tom Tjaarda doesn't own a Pantera. He never did. This was not
"his" Pantera, Barrett-Jackson razzmatazz notwithstanding.
He has a business that is involved with design projects etc., and he has
teamed up with a company called HST International, which has a small manufacturing
company in Mexico, and a small design firm in California. (The HST facility
in Mexico is building the Shelby CSX 4000 series continuation Cobras for
Shelby, among other things).
He sketched some ideas for a new front and rear end on a Pantera. HST
bought a Pantera a few months before Monterey, they fabbed up the prototype pieces,
stuck 'em on, and there you go.
By the time this whole project started, the Tjaarda Design wheels were long
gone (although I think PI Motorsports had them built by Boyd Coddington, so I
see no reason why they couldn't make another set if necessary). HST
International is also the manufacturer of GT Legend Wheels, which is why they appeared
on this car--whether they suited it or not.
I don't know if this was just a project designed to keep Tom's name in the
public eye, or what. HST International makes Tjaarda Design body kits for
Mustangs, and it stands to reason that they could put these Pantera pieces into
production quite easily, but he told me they had no intention of doing so.
Interestingly, Tom had so little personal experience with 'his' Pantera that
he couldn't remember how to get the decklid open! At Concorso Italiano,
Larry Stock watched him open the door to get out of the car, and reach down to the
B-pillar to pull up on the lever to open the decklid (because of course
that's where he originally designed it). He was rather perplexed to find it
missing! Larry then had to remind him that most Panteras were equipped with a
pushbutton decklid release at the back of the car, and they both had a good laugh
over it.
Mike
**************
New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination.
Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out
(http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002)
More information about the DeTomaso
mailing list