[DeTomaso] [NPC] Big dollars at BJ auction

[Charles Engles]

Dear Mike,

            1) I didn't know that
            2) referring to the standard print sources here on this side of the pond, then there *has* not been much in the way of a winning racing record
            3)  I certainly appreciate and applaud the corrected record and I would like to see a distillation of the European racing history based on the Racing Panteras book in.......Profiles!
            4)  Even though the Pantera does have a "track" record, perception is reality.   Since nobody  (Pantera owners nor automotive press nor general population of gearheads) was aware of it, then it didn't exist.   Back to the "lack" of a racing heritage or race wins in the valuation formula.........
            5) Gee, I might have to get the book.
            6) Keep working on your Pantera.  
            7) Keep working on your Pantera.

                         Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MikeLDrew at aol.com 
  To: cengles at cox.net ; donnylee at ccwebster.net 
  Cc: detomaso at realbig.com 
  Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 8:02 PM
  Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] [NPC] Big dollars at BJ auction



  In a message dated 1/22/07 17 41 26, cengles at cox.net writes:



    The
    standard review is that  the Pantera isn't in that ball park because: 1) no
    racing heritage nor wins 



  >>>A common misconception.  True enough, they were a non-entity in USA racing, but they did have a presence in Europe, as the new De Tomaso racing book clearly shows.  The Pantera really came out of the blocks running in 1972, with outright victories in various endurance races in the worldwide championship.  Porsche fought back, both on the engineering front (burning the midnight oil to make the wheezy, girly 911 into a competitive car), and politically (schmoozing the FIA to impose various weight restrictions and other restrictions on the Pantera to slow it down and make it less competitive).

  The money ran out pretty quickly at De Tomaso, and after the '72 season the car was principally campaigned by unsupported privateers.  It was still very successful on a regional level, winning national championships outright for several years thereafter.

  Mike (yeah, I didn't know much of that either, until I read the book....)