[DeTomaso] Earliest known Pantera

[B Hower]

Thank you very much Mike. I appreciate your contribution to the Pantera world. 
 Bud #3400 ( Drive it like there is no tomorrow -- for there may not be ! )
      From: "MikeLDrew at aol.com" <MikeLDrew at aol.com>
 To: b.hower3400 at yahoo.com; rimovp at gmail.com 
Cc: detomaso at poca.com 
 Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2015 10:06 PM
 Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Earliest known Pantera
   

In a message dated 7/25/15 17 40 16, b.hower3400 at yahoo.com writes:



I wonder what they changed from time of this test to shipping later cars?



>>>Well, they changed an awful lot of things.  But arguably the most important change was to install a significant brace between the top of the center structure and the back side of the front 'firewall'.

Photo attached.

You can see that this piece is added on; it is spot-welded to the center tunnel, the back of the 'firewall', and the underside of the cowl.  It significantly strengthens the front of the car.

Panteras were already rolling off the assembly line when this was incorporated into the design.  While all US Panteras got them, De Tomaso didn't feel any strong compulsion to bring the Euro cars up to safe standards, so all the pre-US cars were sold without it.  I have sourced a couple of them from wrecked chassis to be added to Euro cars that were undergoing restoration, including Stephane Bergeron's #1256 and Kristian Poulsen's #1267.  

We have all heard about the fact that early US Panteras were all recalled for major chassis upgrades; I don't know if this was part of that upgrade, or if it was included in all the US-market cars.  I would have to assume that no cars would be sold here that didn't meet crash standards so it's probable that they all had them when the rolled off the boat, and that the recall dealt with less significant issues like the suspension falling off etc.  :>)

Mike

  
-------------- next part --------------
   Thank you very much Mike. I appreciate your contribution to the Pantera
   world.

   Bud #3400 ( Drive it like there is no tomorrow -- for there may not be
   ! )
     __________________________________________________________________

   From: "MikeLDrew at aol.com" <MikeLDrew at aol.com>
   To: b.hower3400 at yahoo.com; rimovp at gmail.com
   Cc: detomaso at poca.com
   Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2015 10:06 PM
   Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Earliest known Pantera
   In a message dated 7/25/15 17 40 16, b.hower3400 at yahoo.com writes:

     I wonder what they changed from time of this test to shipping later
     cars?

   >>>Well, they changed an awful lot of things.  But arguably the most
   important change was to install a significant brace between the top of
   the center structure and the back side of the front 'firewall'.
   Photo attached.
   You can see that this piece is added on; it is spot-welded to the
   center tunnel, the back of the 'firewall', and the underside of the
   cowl.  It significantly strengthens the front of the car.
   Panteras were already rolling off the assembly line when this was
   incorporated into the design.  While all US Panteras got them, De
   Tomaso didn't feel any strong compulsion to bring the Euro cars up to
   safe standards, so all the pre-US cars were sold without it.  I have
   sourced a couple of them from wrecked chassis to be added to Euro cars
   that were undergoing restoration, including Stephane Bergeron's #1256
   and Kristian Poulsen's #1267.
   We have all heard about the fact that early US Panteras were all
   recalled for major chassis upgrades; I don't know if this was part of
   that upgrade, or if it was included in all the US-market cars.  I would
   have to assume that no cars would be sold here that didn't meet crash
   standards so it's probable that they all had them when the rolled off
   the boat, and that the recall dealt with less significant issues like
   the suspension falling off etc.  :>)
   Mike