[DeTomaso] What is a low milage Pantera L worth?

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/11/12 17 07 46, detomasoregistry at gmail.com writes:


> 5971 was just added to the registry:
> 
> http://www.provamo.com/Members/Registry/RegistryImages/RTHPNNA05971/RTHPNNA
> 05971.asp
> 
> After you look at the pics, make your estimate of what you think the car 
> is worth,
> then click thru to the selling dealer for the sales price.
> 
> Is this reasonable, and a sign of the current market?
> 

Absolutely not.   But you can't blame them for trying.   This car has been 
perpetually for sale for many years now--perhaps even going from one dealer 
to the next?

The color seriously hurts the value of the car.   The low mileage certainly 
adds to the value of the car, for a collector.   One would also presume 
that with that low mileage came excellent condition, which adds to the value 
for anyone.   Having said that, remember the 107-mile Pantera that literally 
had rust holes in the body because the idiot first owner parked it outside 
under a tree for 30 years?   So although low mileage is normally an indicator 
of excellent condition, it's by no means a given, and even this car would 
need a thorough going-over to be sure.

Although personally I would never buy a Pantera painted this color, 
regardless of condition or price, I'd suggest that realistically it's probably a 
$45K car tops.   If it was red, yellow, blue, white, or either of the GTS 
paint schemes it would easily be worth $5K more.

Having said THAT, once you spent that money, you'd then start spending a 
lot more money if the car hadn't been maintained, which most cars with this 
kind of mileage haven't.   That means new hoses, belts, fluids, etc. at a 
minimum.   All the standard Pantera upgrades (cooling system etc.) probably need 
to be made too, and the motor will likely fail to impress, so 
intake/exchange changes would be in the forcast, maybe a new ignition system, and on and 
on and on....

Or, put another way, if you are anything but a collector, i.e. if you want 
to DRIVE your Pantera, for the same money you could buy a different car that 
was a MUCH better car.   This one really only has appeal to a 
museum/collector type of guy....

Mike