[DeTomaso] Wanted: Used Pantera Grill

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/25/16 13 27 51, fred at creekspeak.com writes:


> Need a solid original complete grill for my 1972 pre-L Pantera, serial
> #30XX. My original one had the stainless trim around the border. What is
> the difference between the ones offered "with studs" and "without
> studs"?
> 

>>>Hi Fred,

Sadly, I had a grille for sale years ago but have long since sold it.

The early cars secured the grill with studs through holes in the body, and 
tiny nuts (8mm? 6mm) on the back side.   When De Tomaso switched to the 
one-piece bumper, they simplified construction and the new grille was secured to 
the body from the outside using sheetmetal screws.   Both grilles are 
interchangeable, but the one-piece bumper hides the unsightly screws better.   
The early grilles are susceptible to the attachment nuts rusting to the studs, 
so when you try to remove them without first liberally soaking them in 
Liquid Wrench or similar, the studs snap off.

Do you not have any grille at all at the moment?   Grilles are rare and 
expensive, and almost no existing grille is beyond reasonable salvation unless 
it was destroyed in a wreck.

Tell us what you have, and if you have nothing, then hopefully somebody can 
help you find what you need!

Good luck!

Mike
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   In a message dated 1/25/16 13 27 51, fred at creekspeak.com writes:

     Need a solid original complete grill for my 1972 pre-L Pantera,
     serial
     #30XX. My original one had the stainless trim around the border.
     What is
     the difference between the ones offered "with studs" and "without
     studs"?

   >>>Hi Fred,
   Sadly, I had a grille for sale years ago but have long since sold it.
   The early cars secured the grill with studs through holes in the body,
   and tiny nuts (8mm? 6mm) on the back side.  When De Tomaso switched to
   the one-piece bumper, they simplified construction and the new grille
   was secured to the body from the outside using sheetmetal screws.  Both
   grilles are interchangeable, but the one-piece bumper hides the
   unsightly screws better.  The early grilles are susceptible to the
   attachment nuts rusting to the studs, so when you try to remove them
   without first liberally soaking them in Liquid Wrench or similar, the
   studs snap off.
   Do you not have any grille at all at the moment?  Grilles are rare and
   expensive, and almost no existing grille is beyond reasonable salvation
   unless it was destroyed in a wreck.
   Tell us what you have, and if you have nothing, then hopefully somebody
   can help you find what you need!
   Good luck!
   Mike