my first post
 

New member and this is my first post. Just got my 1972 De Tomaso Pantera back after four year restoration/modification. I've owned the car over 16 years. About 6 years ago after I purchased a Jaguar XKR 5.0L coupe, pulleyed and tuned it to about 600hp, I simply was never driving my Pantera. It was just too much of a pain in the rear. Starting it was always an issue, removing air cleaner, dumping gas into the carb, running back into the car hoping it would start, running back out to screw on the air cleaner and hope the car was still running. Couldn't drive it in traffic, or in temperatures above 75* which in Los Angeles meant virtually never. So I decided either I make it more user friendly or I sell it. I hated to sell it as I still think this 50 year old Tom Tjaarda design is still gorgeous, contemporary looking and certainly better looking than any Lambo since the Miura, and a blast to drive when it can be driven. So, I decided to make it better. Originally, I was just going to install fuel injection to replace the finicky carburetor, but that turned into a new built 351C engine with about 550hp and ft. lbs.,headers and exhaust, cooling system upgrades, all new leather wrapped interior (including the dash) with diamond quilted, red topstitched on black leaher Corvette C-4 seats. harnesses, flush windshield glass and a new respray (though the old one was in very good condition). Took it down 2 weekends ago to the Classic Auto Show at Orange County Fairgrounds and was asked to display the car in one of the main pavilions. It is certainly one of the loudest cars I have ever heard, just thunderous.

My XKR, however, is my daily driver workhorse. What a great automobile, comfortable, luxurious, nimble (for a big coupe), fast, reliable, a great GT car that can be bought for about the price of a used 5 year old Camry. and I don't have to worry about traffic or weather conditions. My 2002 XKR convertible is the old body style (X100) and doesn't ride nearly as well as my 5.0L Coupe, but it's so gorgeous, so connected to its E-type heritage, and so nice to drive topless 360 days per year in Los Angeles.

Having a '68 GTO coupe restored right now as well as a few other projects, and I still have my '78 280Z that I bought new. Hope to learn a lot and contribute a lot to this forum.
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Fantastic vehicles. Welcome!

Thanks Kent,
The Pantera is just a visceral experience but not something you would want to spend a lot of time in on the street. The surprise to me (though now that I have 150,000 miles on her, not as much of a surprise anymore) is the X150 XKR. It is just so good, enjoyable, and beautiful that if people knew just how inexpensively they could get into such a high performance luxury car, their values would skyrocket. But, I enjoy them all. Thanks again.
Ted