DeTomaso Mailing List: May 99, Message #112

> *** Cal said->
> Hi All:
> I just got a copy of the Hall Pantera Catalog and looked at PI Motorsports.
> While they have GREAT STUFF, I'm almost shocked at the sticker price of some
> of the items that are shown before me. This is not intended in any way as a
> knock against them but if you're like me, you're already about to plunk down
> your retirement, beer money, pizza money, aluminum can fund, etc just to get
> the great cat (well, I'm kidding except for maybe the aluminum can fund)
> ;^).
> 
> But seriously, I really think there are ways that one could sanitarily,
> artistically, and functionally add good mods or upgrades to the vehicle
> without adding to the mortgage to the house or running up the credit card
> bill. The Pantera's original inception was to build a budget supercar
> essentially for the masses. Remember the story about some bellhop saving at
> least 10G's just to get one from his local Lincoln Mercury dealer? Besides,
> just the fact that the innards of the car is accessible to most hobbyists
> (as opposed to the snobbly-Prancing horse crowd) is more reason to try and
> keep the parts accessible and inexpensive. There are probably already some
> great ideas out there. I'm looking for more to document and develop. Thanks
> and I appreciate your comments. Cal. #????

Cal, you are absolutely right that our vendors charge list if not
premium prices. The question is do they add any value to your
purchase? If you want to just buy a part and bolt it on they aren't a
bad value at all - especially if you have to hunt for parts and machine
and fabricate to get them to fit if purchased from other sources. 
I'd imagine everyone on this list gets all of the vendor cataloges
along with Summit/Jeggs/Simpson/JC Whitney etc. We each choose the
best value, sometimes it isn't the lowest price....

Don't forget each vendor stocks or manufactures goodies that we can't
get anywhere else. I can't believe they make enough profit on those
special items to be able to sell more generic parts at rock bottom
prices and stay in business. Personally, if I can get something from
a vendor and its in the ball park of normal market prices I'll buy it.
If the price difference is just too extreem for an off the shelf part
I'll go where the cost is the least.

          --mike                   | "No room for luggage
michael.cox@elsegundoca.ncr.com    8      or wusses..."
                                   |  '71 Detomaso Pantera