[DeTomaso] Where is she now?

Thu Dec 3 14:50:37 EST 2009

So here in the old USofA, we shouldn't complain at all then!
:-)

Some of the 'modifications' you see driving down the streets here in
Houston make you shake your head in amazement/disgust...

On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 1:38 PM, Charles McCall <charlesmccall at gmail.com> wrote:
> May be of limited interest to the majority, but in Spain it can be quite
> difficult to modify your car. I sort of thought that Sweden had the same
> system?
>
> The first time a model is registered, it must first be "homologated". They
> do all kinds of testing like Thomas implied. Basically they make sure that
> the car is safe and conforms to all the local traffic laws. I'm told that
> this can be a million dollar process.
>
> All subsequent cars are compared to this version that was homologated. If
> you want to change something - even something as seemingly innocent as
> putting 16" rims on a car that came with 15", you need to at least partially
> homologate the car again. If you simply change rims, you will immediately
> fail the safety inspection. My old Audi had three tire sizes that had been
> approved for that car, and they verify that the tire size matches the
> technical sheet.
>
> Tire shops are prohibited by law from installing tires of a lower speed
> rating than what was on the car (I, um, have a friend, yeah, a friend who
> tried that...). I have friends who have raised 4x4s, and they need to
> completely change the suspension for their yearly safety inspections. And
> they have picked up a ticket or two for driving on the street with tires and
> suspension that don't match the technical sheet.
>
> I was terrified of the smog-meter because my engine isn't at all stock. But
> so far the "hey, cool car man!" factor wins over the "why are all the birds
> falling out of the sky behind you?" factor.
>
> Anyway, in Spain, and I believe in France, it can be very expensive and very
> difficult to modify your car, even for things as simple as changing rim size
> or tire width.
>
> Charles McCall
> 1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
> "Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"
> http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323
> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] En
> nombre de Tomas Gunnarsson
> Enviado el: jueves, 03 de diciembre de 2009 20:18
> Para: detomaso at realbig.com
> Asunto: Re: [DeTomaso] Where is she now?
>
> Thomas,
>
> Kerry's right, it used to be impossible to import e.g. a hot rodded Model A
> with a V8 and get it through the registration inspection. Importing a stock
> Model A and later have it registered with the V8 was fine. Importing modern
> "easy" cars from EU countries has also been a problem if the cars have been
> modified with big wheels, lowering kits etc. Big no-no at the first
> registration inspection regardless of approvals from the exporting country.
> I think I read something recently about some loosening up of the "anti-hot
> rod clause" but I didn't pay close attention so I'm not sure if it was an
> actual proposal, already in use or simply someones wishes.
>
> Tomas
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Thomas Tornblom" <Thomas.Tornblom at Hax.SE>
> To: "Kerry Maguire" <kmaguire at landrovermiramar.com>
> Cc: <detomaso at realbig.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 10:10 AM
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Where is she now?
>
>
>> Kerry Maguire skrev:
>>> Another factor is originality, the likes of Norway and Sweden I
> understand are extremely strict on what can pass their DOT inspection for
> import and registration, basically zero mods, completely original.
>>
>> I don't know about Norway, but in Sweden it used to be that you should
>> stay away from certain model years (1976 - ?). The problem was stricter
>> emission laws and perhaps also safety.
>>
>> These laws apply to year models, not the time at which the car was/is
>> imported, so there are almost no emission rules, except for CO that must
>> be below 4.5%, on cars older than 1976.
>>
>> There is no "originality" requirement, it is just that it has to be safe.
>>
>> Cars that are registered in any EU country can be imported to Sweden
>> without much trouble.
>>
>> I have a Swedish colleague that spent a college year in the US, and he
>> was given a 1980:s Lincoln Continental, which had never been offered in
>> Sweden. In order to import it to Sweden it had to pass very rigorous
>> approval tests, including more or less destructive brake tests. He
>> worked around the issue by shipping the car to the UK, where he "sold"
>> the car to a British friend before the car left the docks, and the
>> friend imported it to the UK. As the car was now approved in a EU
>> country, he could buy it back and import it to Sweden. This would have
>> been almost impossible before we joined the EU.
>>
>> If you are moving to Sweden, and have owned a car for more than one year
>> in another country, you can bring the car as "goods", and then all by
>> the most basic safety laws are waived. This is the way to import
>> specialty vehicles that would otherwise be very hard to get approved.
>>
>> I believe you will have to keep the car for about a year, after which
>> you are free to sell it to anyone.
>>
>> My 1984 GT5 came from Saudi Arabia, and the previous (Swedish) owner
>> bought the car in Saudi and had it there for a few years while he was
>> working there. When he imported the car it only had to adhere to the old
>> 4.5% CO emission laws. These cars may even have red tail lights, which
>> have been forbidden since the 1970:s.
>>
>> The special weight based tax we used to have on import cars is long
>> gone, and it is now fairly easy to import cars to Sweden. Ask Kjell
>> Jansson, who was the first to import a Pantera II (Si) and also a Guara
>> to Sweden. There are several Pantera II:s and Guaras in Sweden now,
>> thanks to the work done by him. He's even got one of the P-II:s he's
>> imported approved without cat converters. :-)
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Thomas
>>
>>>
>>> That explanation from Julian makes the most sense.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Kerry M. Maguire #5606
>>>
>>>
>>> I think you would be very surprised if someone documented how many
> Pantera's (and other classics) have left US soil in recent years. I'm sure
> that has slowed more recently with the global economy downturn.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Another factor to consider in cars advertised at higher prices overseas
> is the duty that many country's impose on such vehicles for them to enter.
> In some of the European Countries that can easily double the cost of the
> car.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Another factor is originality, the likes of Norway and Sweden I
> understand are extremely strict on what can pass their DOT inspection for
> imprt and registration, basically zero mods, completely original.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Julian
>>>
>>>> Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 13:19:01 -0700
>>>> From: kmaguire at landrovermiramar.com
> <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso>
>>>> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso>
>>>> Subject: [DeTomaso] Where is she now?
>>>>
>>>> The explanations are all very well and good but why is this car trying
> to bring so much money in Germany? There are plenty of nice cars on eBay not
> bringing decent bids.
>>>>
>>>> Why aren't those being bought up and shipped to Europe?
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Kerry M. Maguire #5606
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I suspect that Boyd's observation is correct. A $35000 car is laughably
> cheap in Euros and is well below market value. A $73000 car is 48.000 euros,
> which isn't out of the market for a well sorted out car.
>>>>
>>>> A lot of Europeans are nervous about buying a car on the other side of
> the ocean and don't know the costs or process. They may not speak the
> language, or may think it is prohibitively expensive to import. Before the
> economy took a dump I was half seriously thinking of buying late-model
> Corvettes in the US and importing them to Europe.
>>>>
>>>> Think about it if the Euro-dollar situation was reversed. A EUR35000 car
> would be $20.000, and a steal for Americans. Transportation would only
> account for $1000, and a solid Pantera would still be worth roughly $35000
> USD. But how many Americans would be willing to go shopping in Austria in
> German, or in Denmark, or whatever to buy a $20.000 Pantera? Those willing
> to do so could find some steals.
>>>>
>>>> So you buy a EUR35.000 euro car for $20.000 and put it up for sale for
> $35.000, which is local market value. The Europeans comment on how their
> EUR35000 car is now for sale for EUR55.000. That's kind of what is happening
> here, or at least to an extent.
>>>>
>>>> Charles McCall
>>>> 1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
>>>> "Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"
>>>> http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323
>>>>
>>>> -----Mensaje original-----
>>>> De: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
> <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso> [mailto:detomaso-bounces
> at realbig.com <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso> ] En
> nombre de boyd casey
>>>> Enviado el: miércoles, 02 de diciembre de 2009 6:04
>>>> Para: Kerry Maguire
>>>> CC: detomaso at realbig.com
> <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso>
>>>> Asunto: Re: [DeTomaso] Where is she now?
>>>>
>>>> One difference might be the Euro is at an all time high compared to the
>>>> dollar. Just like we think of things ia their price relative to dollars
> they
>>>> think in terms of the local currency. It dosen't explain a price more
> then
>>>> doubling. The Euro has gone from less then 1 to a dollar to 1.52 euros
> for 1
>>>> dollar. PI motor sports told me that they were haing their inventory of
>>>> parts being bought up by Germans? Who Knows?
>>>> Boyd
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 10:30 PM, Kerry Maguire <
>>>> kmaguire at landrovermiramar.com
> <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> What intrigues me is why the Germans fell in love with the car and why
> they
>>>>> think it is worth so much money.
>>>>>
>>>>> It was obviously priced right to sell, but why do they want so much for
> it?
>>>>>
>>>>> What I see is basically an unmolested car with some modern and
> necessary
>>>>> updates.
>>>>>
>>>>> Maybe that is what sells nowadays?
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Kerry M. Maguire #5606
>>>>> Since I have been asked several times to help with the answer for what
> has
>>>>> changed:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> She went from So Cal to Germany...
>>>>> And the price changed "slightly" from $34K to around $73K.
>>>>> Otherwise I see no major differences!
>>>>> Chuck
>>>>> Ah Location, Location, Location.
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>>
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