[DeTomaso] A/C Compressor for Pantera built in 1988

[Peter Havlik]

I am looking for an a/c compressor for my Pantera, which was built between April and June, 1988 with a Windsor engine. I believe the original compressor was sourced by De Tomaso from either Ford Europe or Australia, because the numbers on it were incomprehensible to all the Ford Canada parts guys I have talked to. When it failed, I managed to replace it with a 1988 Ford F-150 pickup compressor, which then duly failed too, subsequent to which NAPA managed to track down a rebuilt one that lasted all of 4 hours before seizing up (much to the amusement of Mike Drew, who was in the passenger seat at the time as I began screaming and crying like a little girl that my car was on fire when the smoke from the melting fan belt began pouring out of the engine compartment).

I am now told that 1988 Ford F-150 compressors are no longer available anywhere in the vee belt configuration that I require. Even the guys at Vintage Air could not help me.

Apparently Ford F-150s are such an exceedingly rare vehicle (watch for them at Pebble Beach any day now), that it is easier to find an abandoned Ferrari Enzo than a F-150 compressor.

Any help or advice with regard to the procurement of this part would be greatly appreciated.