1971 De Tomaso Other

351C

THPNLD01293

Clear

1971 Detomaso Pantera. 37657 ORIGINAL Miles! This Pantera is #8 (or 18) of the very first 75 (or 96) "push-button" Panteras imported into the US! Some say it is #8, The original said #18! Some say 75 "push-buttons were US Panteras, some say 96? Either way this is a VERY RARE Pantera! This is Pantera #1293 which has sat in a heated/cooled garage for over 30+ years! It has ONLY been driven under 25 miles within the past 15 years!...17 of them was with ME driving 1293 around my horse-country farm roads, during a recent spring run! This Pantera runs, drives and grips the road like a race car! You know how fun they are! This is with 30+ year old ("new" back then) Goodyear NCT's! I would call this Pantera a "semi-barn find"! What I mean by that is although it has been owned by my family for over 30 years, it was basically put into storage over 15+ years ago, and NEVER used other than being started and driven ONLY1.7 miles since 2000! Ist time offered in over 30 years! This is a RARE and ORIGINAL Pantera! Own a piece of history! This Pantera is registered with POCA (Pantera Owners Club of America) under my brother. It does also have some VERY RARE additional history! According to POCA and the Detomaso Registry, there was a THPNL"C"01293 and a THPNL"D"01293 The "C" was located in Sweden (Wrecked and subsequently "parted out"!) and discovered to be a RHD (right hand drive) Pantera. The dash and vin plate ended up in Australia! The Registry has photos of same which they sent to my Brother and I. The registry explained that due to the "turmoil" that Detomaso had at their start up with the Ford Motor Company, it was extremely hard for them to keep up with the demand and therefore easy to understand the "mix-up" with Detomaso building both a RHD and LHD (this 1293) Pantera(s) as explained to us.This makes this #1293 even MORE unique and interesting! The RHD drive version was wrecked! Additionally,I do have the Marti report that shows all the build information for the US RHD Pantera, this Pantera #1293 THPNLD01293 Build History: This car is #8 or 18, of the very first Panteras imported into the US market in 1971. According to the Marti report, this Pantera was built in March 1971 and sold on 06/11/1971 to Johnson & Son Linc-Merc in Costa Mesa California. This Pantera is 1 of 84 painted in: Grabber Blue. Port of entry was: Los Angeles CA. I have a full Deluxe Marti Report that goes to the new owner of 1293. Personal History: Car was purchased from the original owner who relocated to NY from CA. Pantera was bought by my Dad in May 1985. The original owner was a HUGE Hall Pantera customer and spent alot of $$$ on the car. My Dad (now 78) was a Shelby and Hi-Po Mustang collector who wanted this Pantera because it matched a Grabber blue Boss 302 Mustang he had at the time. When the Pantera was purchased it had 34K miles on it. During the mid 90's, 1998 to be exact, my Brother purchased the Pantera from our Dad. In the past 30+ years, this Pantera has been driven under 3000 miles! Pantera #1293 prior owner history: 1293 was owned by a now "long, long ago retired" California Highway Patrolman. He became a personal friend of my Dad and sold him 1293 to buy a Hall Pantera twin turbo GTS back in 1985. He was a Pantera "finatic" and 1293 was his "baby" and his hobby! This Pantera NEVER EVER saw rain! NEVER EVER! When he sold 1293 to my Dad, it was because Charlie only had a 1 car garage and he REFUSED to ever park 1293 outside! His "new" twin turbo GTS won! 1293 was originally registered/titled in California. Personal history: 1293 had several Hall Pantera accessories added both during our ownership and prior. There were several Hall Pantera installed upgrades that had been done by the original owner. This included new cooling fans, a new Hall Pantera radiator, and a 10 quart oil pan with remote oil cooler. As such, this Pantera runs very cool! This was also observed by several Pantera owners at various Pantera meets over the years. A cool running Pantera is a GREAT running Pantera as you all know! 1293 was registered in New York (transferrable registration) by my Dad in 1985 and then "sold" to my brother in 1998 who registered it in Georgia for "cheap" insurance purposes. He owns a home there! As per Georgia the license plate tag, last resistered in 2001 stays with the Pantera and goes to the "new" owner with the paperwork/ Engine history: This is a number matching Pantera with the original engine. It did have some work done by Hall Pantera by the original owner. This again included a 10 quart oil pan and a dual filter remote oil cooler. An aluminium intake was added and we later had it anodized blue in year 2000. It still looks new! Many if the oil lines are braided aluminum and all the other remaining lines have been gone over and replaced within the past 2 months. I replaced the fuel and air filter and changed the oil to semi-synthetic. The old fuel was pumped out. This Pantera then started right up! 1293 ALWAYS starts up immediately! ALWAYS has! We did start the car every 3 months so it never reall had any "old" fuel in it! It has an added electric fuel pump, done by Hall Pantera as well. There are ZERO leaks and it never ever leaked in 30+ years! It runs like NEW and is a VERY,VERY STRONG 351C! It sounds GREAT! Body/Chassis history: The only mods to the body are the front spoiler which is molded on fiberglass...NO DRILL HOLES and easily removable. I remember arguing with my dad when he painted 1293 over 30+ years ago to remove it, well I lost and he won and it stayed on! The only other non factory mod is the Hall Pantera rear blue "cover" that is on the rear deck/trunk (see photos) and again easily removable! ALL of the emblems and grille(s) are original and in great shape! There are a few spots that when you look closely there are some "checking" marks and such, but again the paint is over 30 years old! By the way it is the ONLY repaint this Pantera ever had! As a close friend of ours, who does concours restorations stated, he used the best paint available at the time during the refinishing. He only wished he had the many different types of paint available now, 30+ years ago! Think about that when you look at the overall paint condition! The rear hatch and hood as well as both doors open and close as NEW! Everything lines up PERFECTLY! A side note, I left the hood unlatched and open in the photos for you "eagle-eyes"! Sorry! To reiterate, the ONLY rust I found was on the lower rocker! I believe this was due to 30 year old "silt" sitting inside the inner rocker for over 30+ years. I have since gone over EVERY "nook and cranny" every accessible area and even removed all access panels to check for rust. I did then vacuum out, every single piece of "road debris found"! The floors are solid and do not have ANY rust WHATSOEVER! The body is VERY, VERY clean! Drivetrain history: Transaxle has never been apart or removed by us, nor the original owner other than 1 clutch replacement which was over 30+ years ago by the original owner. We did replace the clutch slave cylinder 15 years ago as the original got tight from sitting. The car shifts smoothly with ZERO "clutch chatter" and all gears shift in/out VERY smoothly without any issues. My brother had all the brake calipers rebuilt 15 years ago and all new brake pads installed. They work flawlessly! All brake lines are clean and corrosion free. There are braided stainlee lines on the front calipers My only personal observation is I did feel some slight pulsations during my 17 mile cruise. But remember this Pantera has only been driven under 25 miles in the past 15 years! I did not drive it "like it was stolen" as the 30+ year old Goodyear NCT's (Yes NCT's) are dry rotted inside the tread area. REMEMBER they are over 30+ years old! It is sad as they ALL look like new. They have the original 3700 miles on them since purchased in 1985! Steering is VERY tight with no vibrations or rattles. The A frames are all in excellent condition with the entire front suspension being removed and powder coated 30+ years ago! It does have some 30 year old dust on it, but still looks great! The rears are still all original! The rubber/poly bushings are all still intact, but ther rears are starting to show some minor dry rot. Remember they are 44 years old! As a reminder this car is "super tight" and not a "rattle-trap" and "squeak-box" worn out Pantera, like we have seen become over the years! Interior history: The Interior is ALL original! Check out photo of the hood release. It is vertical. The majority I have seen are horizontal! I checked the original mounting location thinking it was just turned "vertical" and discovered it cannot be turned horizontally! Another "early" feature. The guages ALL work. Every lever and button and switch move and work FREELY! The ONLY additions are the extra dash guages that are easily removable, and the addition of the drivers "4" lap belt! The "SCHEEL"seats were just recovered as the 30+ year old material dry rotted! Unfortunately, the original seats are long gone! The windows go up and down perfectly, althoughly slowly compared to modern power windows, as all Pantera owners know! All original glass! ALL original, clear and scratch free! The window "felts" are worn (but original!) and my brother does have the replacements for both. (never installed and inside rear trunk area inside the long cardboard tube. (See photo) The rubber insulation is all intact and all original, with the exception of a wear spot on the drivers side from entry/exit. Doors open and close flawlessly! The horn and turn signals work flawlessly! Every light bulb and marker light work perfectly! The headlight motors go up and down perfectly, although once in awhile, they are "sluggish" going down! The carpets are all ORIGINAL, with the driver side the only area showing any wear! They are amazingly not dry rotted, and only have what appear to me, to be minimal fading! The door panels and door grab handles are in excellent condition. The door entry/exit mechanisms both work flawlessly! The door locks both work flawlessly, both manually and with the door key! The air conditioning even works after getting a recharge OVER 30+ years ago! AMAZING!The interior door buzzer even works! I find this also quite Amazing after 44+ years! This is a reminder of the overall condition of 1293! Wheels/Tires: The Campagnolo wheels were redone over 30+ years ago and with the exception of one of the front wheels, they are in perfect condition. ZERO curb rash of any kind! The front wheel does have some paint chip(s) but minor. They were sent out over 30+ years ago, yet they still look excellent! The Goodyear NCT's have like new tread but have some "dry-rot" inside the tread pattern. REMEMBER they are 30+ years old! Exhaust: Muffler/tailpipe(s) are Hall Pantera and are 30+ years old! They sound GREAT but are 30+ years old! The headers are in EXCELLENT shape with ZERO leaks! Gaskets are intact with ZERO "popping" upon decelleration! Other: Aftermarket high end sound system installed withou ANY cutting or alterations of ANY kind! My Brother spent $1200.00 for a Radio install (in 1998) with new speakers that was done with ZERO cutting/widening of any kind. A CD Player was installed and fits inside the front factory spare uder the aftermarket tire cover. It was a costly install, but nontheless, VERY well done! The ORIGINAL Becker radio is here as well as an ORIGINAL radio "block-off" cover. The ORIGINAL Jack and lug wrench are here. No tool kit! Lost with the original owner! We also have some extra carpet pieces from when the front was compartment was redone. We also have both sides of the new window felt kits, a complete kit! I saw a windshield wiper arm and one of the Hall Pantera hood vents in there as well. On a side note: This Pantera was never driven in the rain by the former owner, and as such we NEVER drove it in the rain! NEVER EVER! Thus, this is why we never installed the windshield wipers! We personally feel it takes away from the sleek look of the Pantera with the arms installed! A Pantera owners manual is in the glove compartment, but I believe it is a reproduction. The rear "trunk insert" is in excellent shape with ZERO cracks or signs of prior damage or repair. The original carpet is intact on it, but does have some small wear "holes" at the corners. It is 44+ years old! It removes and installs without any effort and fits PERFECTLY with ZERO warping! The original steering wheel is also here. It was replaced with a "thick"type Hall Pantera steering wheel for better road feel! This was due to the inside "plastic" having a crack on the original wheel and this wheel looks and feels so much better! I have tried to cover everything I could think of. I am sure to some Pantera experts, I may have left something out. Feel free to email me and I will get back to you asap. If you want to to chat and discuss in more detail, send me your contact number. You may rest assurred I will not post it or release it to ANYONE! I am NOT a car dealer or salesman, but did work for FORD SVO (before they became SVT) back in the mid 80's and was involved in professional auto racing. I am now in my 24th year as a State Police Supervisor. Why do I say this all to you? I know cars, specifically Hi-PO Fords! I am selling this for my brother as it now sits in MY garage and I now need the space for an 08' Supercharged Jaguar XKR convertible, that my Dad wants me to use for awhile. Sorry! I/WE are NOT interested in ANY trades of autos,boats, gold, silver, stocks, bonds, real estate, etc!...I am sure you get my drift, so to speak! If for some reason I do not contact you, you may assume I feel you are wasting my time! Real Pantera buyers understand what I mean by this! Enough said! My brother is in excellent health and is going to use the proceeds to pay off a home he owns down in Georgia. Hence the GA plate and registration from 2001 on the Pantera! Please do not "low ball" us with offers. Remember, you will be wasting my time! Real Pantera owners know what the value of this rare 1293 is! My brother has discussed this Pantera with other "push-button" owners as well as POCA. The value is an educated one based on POCA and oher "eary" Pantera owners. You can use the "buy it now" option or bid to own. Do not ask my brothers reserve, but is is substantially less than the "buy it now". How much less you ask? Do not ask! BID! Bid and own a piece of Rare Pantera history! Payment: The ONLY acceptable payment option(s) are a wire transfer completed a minimum of 5 days prior to pickup by buyer or shipper. I will also accept a Bank check a minimum of 5 days prior to pickup from a National US Bank ONLY! NO EXCEPTIONS! Storage: If you need to store the car prior to pickup, I will allow the Pantera to stay for a total of 15 days after auction ends. This is ONLY after the Pantera is paid for in FULL! Sorry NO exceptions! Good luck to all and happy bidding!