[DeTomaso] My story

[LS]

David, awesome story. 

It sounds similar to mine...bought my first car ever after graduating. 

I too was torn between Ferrari and Detomaso. 

I drove a few really bad, really slow and neglected examples of both (308 and Pantera) cars. They were soft and not exactly exciting. 

I went back to doing more research and realized that I wanted an earlier, higher horsepower 308 GTB. These were much more powerful than later models. I ditched the cats for test pipes, switched to a Euro exhaust, advanced timing, etc. It felt like another 50 hp had been added above the 255.  It was beautiful, quick and sounded like an F1 car. After driving it for 3 yrs, I moved on.

During this same time, a friend bought a pre L Pantera. I was prepared to be disappointed like the other Panteras I had experienced, but his was sorted out like my 308 was. He had Wilkinson wheels, Wilwood brakes, and other basic tweaks that were done for track use. 

I rode in his and was very impressed. I quickly realized that I needed to move a Detomaso up on my "Must Own" list. 

I finally decided on a Pantera rather than a Mangusta, Vallelunga, or Longchamp GTS. 

Between those early 308 and Pantera test drives, I realized that you can't judge a marque or a car based on a few examples. Enthusiast inspired performance enchancements and sorting is what makes a good car exceptional. 

Also, why decide on just one car or marque? Own them all...together or one by one. 

Viva Detomaso!

LS


 



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________________________________
 From: David Skinner <skinnerdskinner at yahoo.com>
To: detomaso at poca.com 
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 2:46 AM
Subject: [DeTomaso] My story
 

In the spring of 1998, a few years out of college, after I had paid off my student loans, I set out to buy my dream car, a Ferrari 308.  I was in Los Angeles on business and I test drove a few of them that were for sale in the area.  They felt nothing like the posters I had on my wall as a kid.  They were quiet and they were slow.  By pure accident I came across an ad for a 1971 Pantera with 41,000 original miles.  I remembered as a teenager working at Car Quest and seeing one pull up in the parking lot and I remembered it being amazing.  I drove a few miles to check it out.  When I saw it in person everything I remembered came flooding back to me.  When the guy who owned it gave me the keys and I started it, it felt like hell was being unleashed all around me.  It was so loud, and when I drove it, it was so fast and so low and so tight that all I did after I drove it was pay him in cash the $25,000 dollars he was asking for it.  I have been a
 Pantera owner ever since then, and I always will be. I´ll never sell it.  I´m Pantera proud and I just wanted to share my story.



Cheers, david
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