[DeTomaso] Ares Project 1 - Panther

[Charles Engles]

Dear Julian,


                   Exceedingly well done, sir.

                                  Warmest regards, Chuck Engles



-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On Behalf
Of Julian Kift
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 3:25 PM
To: GERRY ROMACK; Larry Finch; Larry Finch via DeTomaso
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Ares Project 1 - Panther

No matter what it looks like there are always going to be haters and from
reactions across the various forums/social media it seems there are no
bigger haters than the purist Pantera crowd. You know; those same people
that for years embraced any and all modifications to their cars (cue music
for the good, bad and the ugly) and also complained they weren't worth a
dime. Yes, those same people who now scramble to find oem parts at scrap
value prices and won't drive their Pantera's because they are worth too much
and complain about all that too!

Yes, this a modified Huracan platform, yes it costs a lot of money, but then
so does the base car it came from and as with many low volume supercars and
coach builders you are paying for exclusivity. Is it in my budget no, hell
no, but if I was spending that sort of money on a car I'd give it serious
consideration, no, actually I'd buy one, but then if I was spending that
sort of money on a car It would be because I had the means to have a lot of
cars! And having bought it I'd sure as hell be welcome at Cars & Coffee if
not the POCA Fun Rally!

I actually see more Pantera in this embodiment than I do Huracan, maybe that
would rapidly fade in pressing the button when the V10 engine spurts into
life, but visually I think it is a great effort and I'd like to think Tom
Tjaarda would see the likeness and cues that he designed so many years ago.
Part of the problem of any modern rendition is that the Pantera has stood
the test of time so well, it doesn't look out of place against any modern
supercar and in some cases can still outshine them. But in reality this Ares
isn't a car targeted at the current Pantera owner, it is a modern rendition
for a modern World that demands luxury in a vehicle and for people who have
lost touch with being one with the car and feeling out every inch of the
road.

In comparison to dropping what is reported to be +$350K (we don't know for
sure because Tom Kim has been ever so quiet) on a stretched carbon fiber
copy of a GT5-S I'd sure try and find the extra for the Ares version. After
all, if I want a GT5-S why not just buy the original at lower cost? Because,
as I said these new Pantera's are not a car for a driver, but a car for
someone who wants to be driven in perceived style, a status symbol, perhaps
for the likes of someone whose parent has just bought their way into an Ivy
league school and needs a to make an arrival statement. Whereas, we as
Pantera owners are more about the departure statement!

Julian
________________________________
From: DeTomaso <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com> on behalf of GERRY
ROMACK <gr2835 at comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 11:39 AM
To: Larry Finch; Larry Finch via DeTomaso
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Ares Project 1 - Panther

The new Ares DeTomaso sportscar is nothing more than a rebadged Lambourgini
Hurican for $685,000. This is coming from Tom Kim's EX-Partner in Europe who
is calling it a Panther for Legal reasons.

https://www.motor1.com/news/313525/ares-panther-de-tomaso-tribute/

> Gerry
>