[DeTomaso] Chassis THPNLP 02290

[Mark Hemphill Gmail]

Douglas, 
I was the buyer of #2290 that Michael referred to in Jacksonville, Florida.
I bought it in August of 2013 from a car collector in Hilton Head, SC.
I sold it to Jerry, the owner of P I Motorsports in California in May 2015.
Unbeknownst to Michael Shortt the seller in Hilton Head had not been up front with me on rust issues the car had.
I was extremely disappointed to find rust the week after I got it home.
In an effort to offer you full disclosure on #2290, the car, when I shipped it out to Jerry (originally for repair/restoration before he bought it from me) had extensive rust down by the starter and the frame on opposite side (which seller had disguised with painted over foam filler). And the engine had a bad knock which I thought was a wrist pin going bad (this noise developed after I had bought it).
But, rather than restore it I took Jerry's offer and sold it as he insisted that he had a French buyer at his dealership then and there that didn't care about those issues and wanted to buy it.

I later saw it on eBay for sale by PI months later which I thought didn't make sense but I did not pursue it with Jerry as it was not my car anymore.
I would have hoped that he had fixed the issues I mentioned but don't know that he did or did not.

(From my experience it drives home the point of doing a PPI and a general 'buyer beware' warning on any car purchase from a private individual or a dealer).

The car was titled here as a 1971. I did a Marti report and it said it was a 1972. Pertinent paperwork regarding previous owners was included with sale of the car. So if you don't have it now I would guess it has become lost since I sent that stuff out to Jerry with the title back in 2013. By my estimate I was owner #5 and the car spent most of its life in Cincinnati, Ohio and then 9 years in Hilton Head SC and about two years with me in Florida.

It is a nice original car with engine matching numbers. The interior was in near perfect condition. Previous owner added the transmission temp gauge.

Had I restored it I would have gone back to the original medium green which is almost a sea foam green. It's a really rare color and would I think add to your cars value.

Although my first experience with Pantera's was not totally positive I am considering getting another, lol.

Hope you enjoy #2290! 

Best Regards, 
Mark Hemphill



Sent from my cell phone


On Jan 29, 2016, at 6:27 AM, Isobel Punt <isobelpunt at hotmail.com> wrote:

  Hi, all who responded to my query re 02290.  Confusion re dates arises
  from the fact that you guys in the US date a car by its "model year"
  whereas we in the UK go by the date of actual manufacture.  Our car is
  stamped Dicembre 1971, which is self-explanatory.  Glad to hear these
  early, pure Panteras are appreciated for what they are.

  Thanks, Michael Shortt, for that snippet of history.  Do you have a
  record of vendor or purchaser?  We would love to get in touch.  Maybe
  the Club keeps a database of chassis numbers linked to members` names
  and addresses?

  Does anyone know if our car should have a horizontal grille over the
  engine, adjoining the rear window? If so, where can we get one?  Ditto
  tool kit, driver`s handbook, anything else out there?

  Best to all,

  Douglas.

  PS: We have no intention of restoring our car - that would be a crime.
  When it needs repainting, will certainly consider going back to the
  original green, but it`s a lovely shade of red...
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