[DeTomaso] WTB Carbon Fiber for my 1971 Pantera

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

Ed, a nice interior will always outsell a ratty one, stock or not. The 
wrinkled-leather look of the GT5-S   is available from several of the Pantera 
vendors to be applied to your interior panels so things fit well. And 
refinished seats are simply more comfortable to sit in, valve notwithstanding. I'd 
say do it- you'll enjoy the car much more.
Before you get too far along in the interior, know that the upholstered 
fiberglas firewall bubble over the protruding part of the engine can easily be 
sawed loose from the rest of the bulkhead panel. The leatherette covering 
the bubble is already separate and can be removed to preserve it before 
sawing. Once the bubble is cut loose, the original upholstering can be reapplied 
to it for a stock look. Then the bubble is attached to the steel access fire 
door with velcro, making future removal for front-of-the-motor maintenence 
far less of a hassle than stock. It's unnoticable when done carefully. So if 
you decide to re-do things, cut the bubble first. The same goes for redoing 
the trunks; many Panteras have had the battery dropped below the front trunk 
floor for a little neater look up there and more storage on trips. Some of 
the late cars came this way from the factory (as well as the separate 
bubble), so one can look at such mods as 'factory-based upgrades' rather than 
hot-rodifications. They both increase the value IMHO. Good luck- J Deryke