DeTomaso Mailing List: July 97, Message #113
     



From: MikeLDrew@aol.com

Subject: Re: The devil made me do it

Date: Mon, 7 Jul 1997 13:56:09 -0400 (EDT)



Kirby,



Congrats on your new purchase!  



A few comments:



1)  As far as I know, the GTS version of the Longchamp wasn't introduced

until about 1982.  Numbers vary, but I believe about 19 of them were made,

including 3 convertibles (of the 9 factory convertibles made.)  Thus, your

car was converted, much as Panteras are routinely converted to GTS or GT5

spec.



2)  Is your car a 200 or 300 series car?  I would expect it would be a 300

series, given its production date, and also considering it has a full leather

interior.



3)  A few vendors have 10" Campys sitting around, but they're expensive new,

around $1300 EACH as I recall.  A full set of 8's and 10's went for only

$1200 at the San Diego Swap Meet last summer; you should consider either

finding a local trustworthy Agent (such as Shane) to look around for you

there (it will be HUGE this year) or putting a 'wheels wanted' ad in the

POCAmart and PI.  Plenty of people are selling their 8's and 10's to go to

17" wheels nowadays, so you shouldn't have too much difficulty finding a set.

 I'd put factory wheels on all four corners, especially considering the 8's

are so inexpensive.  Check out my wheels article in the last POCA

quarterly-if you buy the 8's seperately, make sure they match your 10's (i.e.

are late-style two-slots.)



You're lucky in that the rear suspension is virtually identical to a Jaguar

XJS/XJ6.  Furthermore, since this rear end is widely used in replica Cobra

applications, there is big-time aftermarket support available in the form of

new shocks, springs, etc. to bring your rear ride height to exactly where it

needs to be.  My Cobra's rear end sat too high when it was first completed;

the prior owner cut a coil off each of the four springs to bring it down

some.



Enjoy!



Mike

  



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