[DeTomaso] Aqua Green '71 Pantera For Sale in the Seattle Area

MikeLDrew at aol.com MikeLDrew at aol.com
Sun Jun 27 00:49:38 EDT 2010


In a message dated 6/26/10 19 56 51, jb841 at cox.net writes:


> The Ford parts book also shows that warranty plates that were attached to
> the foot box started in 1972 "From Ser.  4269", which is the beginning of 
> the
> L model.
> 
>>>It says that, but it ain't true.   Those dataplates were used from day 
one.   The book might be referring to the BSN, but even that statement isn't 
accurate.

The Body Service Number started shortly before #4269.   The lowest VIN in 
the registry with a BSN is #4003, which has BSN 50037.   Interestingly, but 
not surprisingly, the lowest BSN in the registry is 50006, which appears on 
VIN #4028.   Remember, the VINS were stamped in the bodies sequentially in 
Turin, then they were trucked to Modena, mixed all together, and then randomly 
sent down the line where they received their BSNs.   So while there is a 
broad correlation (you typically won't find a very high VIN with a very low 
BSN), when you get down to the nitty gritty, they seem to be plus or minus 50 
numbers or so.

I just tonight realized that use of the aluminum engine number plate in the 
front trunk petered out in 1973.   None of the 1974 models in the registry 
have the plate; neither do the later 1973 cars, but the earlier ones do.   
Does anybody here have an original '74 (Chuck Engles?) with that aluminum 
plate?   I know Chuck owns #7171 and #7191 (that itself scares me, why do I 
remember such things?) and I'm pretty certain his don't have the plate.

The Ford book is very confusing.   On page 6 it shows the 'warranty plate' 
which is mounted in the driver's side doorjamb, and claims they were only 
put there in '71 and '72 but we all know they were there for the duration 
(remember Asa Jay had his blow apart a few weeks ago?).   Then on Page 7 it 
shows what it purports to be the 'warranty plate' and says it's mounted in the 
front trunk from #4269, but what it actually shows is the much larger front 
trunk aluminum dataplate (with the bottom cut off) which seems to have been 
used from the start until mid-'73?
> 
> >Someone correct me if I am wrong, but this is also when the motor number
> was first displayed on a plate.
> 

>>>Totally not true.   My '72 Pre-L #3960 has motor number 02884 stamped on 
the front tag.   Stephane Bergeron's early Euro pushbutton has motor number 
00897 similarly.   All Panteras I've ever seen that had their original 
front trunk dataplates had the engine number stamped on it.   

That number is normally replicated on a second tag which is affixed inside 
the engine compartment.   Did that tag start from day one, or was it phased 
in at some point?   My car doesn't have one now; if it ever had one, it 
disappeared somewhere along the way...not that it matters because my car is now 
on at least its third engine block....

Mike



More information about the DeTomaso mailing list