EDUCATE YOURSELF!!! Those who find good cars or good deals don’t do so by accident. They know exactly what they are looking for. To be a successful buyer you need to be able to make a rational informed decision. Don’t get swept-away in a rushed decision. And don’t become too attached emotionally to any one car you look at – there will always be another. At the bottom of this page is a list of resources to help you. Also, visit other Pantera owner’s websites and the forums and thoroughly read and learn from the experience of others.
Join your local Pantera Owners Club and POCA (https://poca.clubexpress.com/). Get to know other Pantera owners in your area. They will prove to be an invaluable resource to answer questions, point out what to look for or avoid by showing you their cars, and they may know of cars available for sale that have not yet been advertised. They will also serve as an excellent sounding board for your price expectations – they’ll help you determine if you (or a seller) is “a dreamer” or if a car is a good value. They may even volunteer to help you inspect a car!
Get to know other Pantera club members and their cars! This will prove invaluable to your education and search!
Learn everything you can about the cars – models, differences, upgrades, corrosion, availability and cost of various parts and upgrades you may want or need.
Thoroughly read Mike Dailey’s “Pantera Place” website (http://www.panteraplace.com/), which is an excellent starting point to begin your Pantera education. Then, follow the links to any other Pantera websites (both vendors and owners) and use a search engine (i.e. Google) to look for any other owner or vendor sites to continue your education.
Regularly check any website advertising Panteras for sale, including eBay. But NEVER buy a car you have not personally seen or had inspected by a trusted club member or hired independent “expert”. I am was always amazed at how different my definition of “like new” was from those who told me their car for sale was “like new.” Caveat emptor!
Look at as many cars as you can – Make appointments to inspect any and all cars within your price and geographic range (a $200 round-trip plane ticket to inspect a car is cheap compared to the investment you are about to make). The author of this article was fortunate that his search ranged from Sacramento to San Diego and included trips to Las Vegas, NV and Scottsdale, AZ. He also booked flights to Seattle, Ohio and Chicago, but they proved unnecessary as he found my car on the Las Vegas trip.
Follow-up all leads that appear on the Pantera International bulletin board, and let people know what you are looking for. The author found a beautiful 1971 Pantera for sale that was not yet advertised, merely by telling a friend behind the Parts Counter at his local Ford dealership that he was looking for a Pantera. And he happened to know someone who had owned one for 19 years and was planning to sell it!
Visit PI Motorsports in Orange, CA. They have probably the single largest collection of Panteras for sale under one roof anywhere in the nation. It is extremely valuable to compare different cars side-by-side, especially if one or two appear to be what you are looking for, and you go for a drive. You can also compare multiple cars in one location by attending club meetings and car shows your local Pantera Club chapter is participating in. Check your local chapter’s events calendar.
Determine what you want in terms of model, colors, level of upgrades, etc. Also, know what your budget is, realistically. A $60,000 car on eBay may appear to be a great deal, but it may also need another $30,000 worth of repairs and upgrades. Often, a car with modest upgrades can be had for less than it would cost to perform the same upgrades to an original car. However, buying an original car or one that needs a little work allows you to make upgrades, improvements, and modifications as time and money permit. Know what you want, AND what you are getting into.
And remember: There will always be another car. Don’t get swept up looking at one particular car thinking that it is the “perfect” or “only” car for you. There will always be another one, it just takes time. And perseverance.
Join Pantera International (sponsor of the PI Motorsports website and BBS).
If you follow these steps you will get to know other Pantera owners and their cars! You will learn a LOT, make new friends, and have fun in the process!
