[DeTomaso] rebuilt title value

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/25/10 12 16 40, JDeRyke at aol.com writes:


> 
> Dealers in some states did fab up a front bracket but the factory didn't 
> include such, so most Panteras didn't have one.
> 

Every Pantera came from the factory with a front plate bracket, and they 
are also listed in both the De Tomaso and the Ford parts books:

http://www.panterasbywilkinson.com/webpages/catalog/extra/ill34_04.html?prod
_id=22002a

Apparently there were three different models available.   Most Euro 
Panteras seem to have the front plates mounted in the center of the grille, down 
low, while the US brackets were either affixed to the underside of the right 
Pre-L bumperettes (if you look you'll see the right-side bumperettes all have 
two holes in the bottom for the bracket) or the right underside of the 
one-piece L bumper.   Looking at the photos of the Pre-L versus L bracket, the 
differences are quite apparent in the mounting scheme.

Having said all that, with the bracket removed, there's no indication to 
anything but an expert eye that there is any provision for a front plate 
anywhere, and thus it would be possible to argue that it's impossible to fit one. 
  For a long time, California's motor vehicle code had a provision that 
said that if a car wasn't originally equipped with a front plate, it didn't 
have to run one, and several PCNC members were able to do the Jedi Mind Trick 
on police officers invoking that clause.   Unfortunately that loophole was 
removed from the motor vehicle code in the early 1990s. :<(

Mike