Pantera Buyer's Guide (by Matt Bradley):
When I wrote the following, two years ago, I felt the following was very true, when it came to Pantera prices. And I still had the 3 year-old memories of my buying experience to draw on as well. However, it seems in the past year, Pantera prices have taken a noticeable bump. Cars that I would have said were worth $25K seem to be getting $30K, or more. Prices are still all over the place, in accordance with the various modified Panteras out there, and I always feel there is a good buy out there if a person shops right, but in general, I do think I've seen a sudden uptick in prices. So, be aware of this [opinion] when reading the following. -- MB (3/2/06).
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A buyer's guide to a Pantera is a very subjective thing. People often ask "How much is this Pantera worth?" It's a very difficult question to answer. The most obvious answer is--"Only what someone is willing to pay." Very roughly speaking, Panteras range from $20K to $50K+. I would consider a Pantera that costs below $25K to need work. Anything above $25K should be driveable, and probably have some updates/upgrades. Over $30K and you are starting to look at much nicer cars. $35K and up, and you are looking at excellent examples.
Having said that, there are some things to be aware of. These are only my opinions:
"Original" Panteras: Not necessarily considered valuable because of this. Most current Panteras are modified anyways, as the owners have tried to keep them updated with some of the latest technology, and aftermarket parts. These modified/updated Panteras often bring more money than a stock car, because of investment put into the car.
Low Mileage: To me this is often a sign of trouble ahead. Cars not regularly driven, or even worse, having been stored for a lengthy period, often have problems to sort out. A car that is driven regularly has a better chance of being in good shape.
Numbers matching: Who cares! Pantera owners don't. Unless it means something special to you, do not pay a premium for this feature either.
Do not buy a rusty Pantera! There are lots of horror stories out there of people who bought rusty Panteras (and often paid too much), only to end up dumping tons of money into it to make it roadworthy, or even quitting on the project altogether.
Make sure the ZF transmission is in good shape. Service and parts are still available for this transmission, and it is a really good transmission, but it is not a cheap transmission to buy, or service. Check out that 2nd gear synchro, as it is particularly known to be of concern. Having said this, be aware that Ford was left with lots of ZF's on the shelves after exiting the Pantera program, simply because it's pretty much the best made thing on the whole car.
Don't buy a car without help! Join a local Pantera club if available, or at least join the national POCA club to get information from the quarterly magazines. Also, the bulletin board at Pantera International, as well as the DeTomaso email list, are good sources within the Pantera community. If possible, find someone with knowledge of Panteras to go with you to check out any potential buys.
Where to buy:
The best Panteras seem to change hands from owner to owner, so I encourage you to seek out the above mentioned clubs. Here are also some sources on the internet to look for classified ads:
Buyer's Guides:
Here are some guides available elsewhere:
Buying a Pantera by Mike Dailey at The Panteraplace
Illustrated Pantera Buyer's Guide by Matt Stone (out of print, best found on Ebay)