[DeTomaso] Detomaso Viewpoints?

[LS]

The steering wheel is one. The prototipo had the beautiful one piece racing seat which would've matched up with the Momo steering wheel perfectly.

If I remember correctly, didn't Ford also delete other features due to cost like lacquer paint and the use of leather inside?

The US press didn't find the stopping or handling all that impressive. While the cars here did have 900lb side mirrors installed which raised the center of gravity and increased the curb weight, Ford also had ride height increased with spacers which left Ing Dallara breaking every pencil near his drafting table. Also, where did the high dollar radial tires go that Dallara designed the car to use?

What about the vented brake rotors that the Euro spec cars had which apparently worked pretty well at triple digit speeds overseas?

I tear up when I read a Road and Track test call it unfinished or disappointing and then read a UK test call it a Bora basher and later a Countach killer.

I don't disagree that he Ford changes were made to keep the car affordable and better for daily use, like the cooling issues for low speed use in the USA. Do we care about those things though?

Interesting indeed...


On May 20, 2012, at 2:21, Garth Rodericks <garth_rodericks at yahoo.com> wrote:

> <<< Obviously, one cannot deny the influence that Ford had with the company, but their "contributions" have not all been good. 
> 
> I have always considered Detomaso to be that legendary Italian maker that briefly marketed a wonderful exotic here in the US, 
> sold through Lincoln Mercury dealers. I often try to ignore the changes that Ford made when the Pantera was brought 
> over...especially since many of those changes led to horrible press here. The Euro prepped cars were coveted by period 
> foreign tests however. >>>
> 
> Interesting perspective.  I'm curious just what contributions Ford made to the Pantera that were NOT good, or what changes led to the horrible press here.  The only one I can think of is tossing the beautiful original steering wheel in favor of that ugly Capri wheel.
> 
> As for any of the other problems the press reported here, I think they were all DeTomaso original issues, not Ford contributions.
> 
> 
>