DeTomaso Mailing List: December 97, Message #161
     



From: 	<KVERGES@figdav.com>

Subject: Re: Optimum Weight Distribution and The McLaren F1

Date: 	Fri, 12 Dec 1997 10:54:48 +0000



All,



Some time ago there was a thread about weight distribution and the Pantera.



Well, here's an interesting comparison.  What a difference 26 years makes?



                                                               Pantera                           McLaren F1



Price (unadjusted for inflation)                 $10,000                          $1,131,120



Curb Weight (lbs)                                         3123                                    2840



Weight Distrubution (%F/R)                  40.9/59.1                                  41/59



Displacement (liters)                                      5.75                                     6.06



Horsepower                                                   310                                      627



Torque   (ft-lbs)                                               380                                      479



Acceleration (1/4 mile sec @ mph)  14.0  @ 99.4                      11.6  @ 125.0



Braking 80-0 (ft)                                              232                                      215



Others similarities (and differences) abound.  Basically, though, the price is the biggest numerical difference, followed next by horsepower, which can be rectified for a little less than the price differential.



Figures are taken from the August 1971 issue of Car & Driver and the December 1997 issue of Road & Track.



BTW, a notable qualitative comment about the McLaren was that it overheated to the point where the driver had to pull over and let it cool and the A/C did no good at all., albeit in ambient temps near 100.  Being a Texas boy, my Pantera does better than this in July-August.



So, there'll be no more nonsense about fundamental Pantera design flaws.



Keith