DeTomaso Mailing List: February 1997, Message #32
     



From: Pantera International <panteras@fia.net>

Subject: Re: Introduction

Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 22:04:59 -0800 (PST)



At 06:12 PM 2/3/97 -0800, you wrote:

>

>>I live in Spokane, WA, and have been, shall we say, infatuated with the

>>DeTomaso Pantera since 1984 when I first discovered them.

>

>Hey neighbor!  I'm in Yakima, and we own car #6152, a yellow & black '74

>that originally came from California.

>

>>  This car sounded like rolling thunder.  I

>>remember going to the Sheraton in Spokane one night and this car just

>>rumbled mere feet from me as I was walking down the parking lot into the

>>building.  If anything other than my girlfriend could make me cream my

>>shorts.... that was it.

>

><grin>  Yep, that describes driving a Pantera.  Definitely the most fun you

>can have with your clothes on!  ;^)

>

>>I've heard the term "pushbutton" Pantera.  What is this?  I would think

>>pushbutton transmission, but I don't think that would right for a manual

>>now would it... so the next probable thing I can think of is pushbutton

>>door handles.  If that is the case, what is that in versus to?  Or am I way

>>off track?

>

>The first 70 or so cars were hand-built, and featured push-button door

>handles. When the plant converted to assembly-line production, the buttons

>were replaced with chrome latch-style handles that actually look nicer in my

>opinion.

>

>>If I decide on the purchase of an earlier model, (71 -74), what are the

>>availability of parts for modification to modern styling?  I'm thinking the

>>massive Italian rear wing for one (similar to that found on the Countach),

>>and of course front spoiler, maybe flares and skirts.

>

>There are three or four dealers in the U.S. that specialize in Pantera

>parts, and they offer just about everything imagineable.  I did most of my

>business with Gary Hall at Hall Pantera in Paramount California.  The guy

>probably knows more about Panteras and DeTomaso cars in general than

>DeTomaso himself...I highly recommend them.  Talked to him in person the day

>after the '94 quake...real genuinely nice guy.  He was sobbing though

>because the quake knocked one of his light fixtures off the ceiling, and it

>crashed into the roof of one of his showroom cars - a '48 Cadillac.  Anyway,

>I bought their aftermarket fiberglass wing, and installed it when I had the

>car painted in 1990.  Now 90% of the rubberneckers think it's a Lambo, but I

>rarely get offended with that brand of mistaken identity.  If you do buy a

>Pantera, the people you will grow to loathe and despise are the ones that

>come up and say, "Hey is that a kit car??"  I've gotten to the point where I

>don't even reply any more.  Here's a tip people:  When you approach the

>owner of an exotic that you cannot identify, it's best to err on the side of

>good relations, and say something like "Hey, is that the genuine article?"

>instead.  This will immediately get you on the car owner's Christmas card

>list, and you will get A LOT more of your questions answered!

>

>>Having a Cleveland in my Mach I, I am familiar with the Pantera powerplant.

>> I'm curious though on the wide variety of induction systems that may be

>>available for this car.  I'm especially interested in multi-port fuel

>>injection.  Does anybody have any good leads, or periodicals I can reference?

>

>I talked to a few guys at the Shelby track event in Portland that I

>attended, and they were having good luck with the Holley fuel injection

>system.  I'm still running the original Ford carb, but I have a new Holley

>600 waiting to go in.   That will improve my fuel starvation in high-G

>corners, but the FI unit would be ideal.

>

>If you're ever in Yakima, give me a call.  I don't think I'll ever sell

>mine, but I'd be glad to give you a ride and answer any questions I can.

>

>Later,

>Mike

>

>509-457-2892

>

>Hey you guys, I lived by Manito park for 13 years and I don't miss the

snow! You may want to check at http://www.panteracars.com for our DeTomaso

book and http://www.pim.net for parts at discount. Hope to hear from you again.

Cordially,

Dave Adler

>

>

Dave & Linda Adler

PANTERA International

Voice:  714-848-6674

Fax:       714-843-5851