Pantera parts ! (Page 11/75)
opm2000 SEP 28, 10:49 PM
So with these issues resolved, we began fabrication of the trunk liner. The hinges, latch and support rod are attached to the liner, and it is made to work. Then the Trunk skin is bonded to the liner. This allows for fine fitting of the body lines and panel gaps. Nothing looks worse than an ill fitting door on a custom built car. This method allows exact fitting.

And the front clip

I can't wait till we pop this out, late this weekend.

David Breeze

blackrams SEP 28, 11:57 PM
These pics represent many days of work and I am anxious as anyone to start bolting parts on. Gettin excited all over again.

------------------
Ron
aka: Blackrams

opm2000 OCT 01, 12:25 PM
 
quote
Originally posted by VISCERAL:

After all is said and done, think you guys can get around to doing some GT5S fenders?


Today I secured a set of what I believe to be the GTS fender flares. Once I have them in hand I'll make molds so they can be available....and I'll modify our current front air dam to the GT5 or GTS look, make a mold, and then be able to offer two different air dams.

David Breeze
VISCERAL OCT 07, 06:54 PM
opm2000 OCT 08, 05:52 AM
The fender flares arrived, I'll try to post a photo tonite. I tried fitting them up against the yellow car...perfect fit. I 'm pretty sure they are the GTS type, but whatever, they give a nice look to the wheel wells.

David Breeze

opm2000 OCT 10, 09:53 PM
Wow, these flares certianly do add a bit to the looks:

They seem to fit the contours of the body quite well. Here, Blackrams is holding the flares up so the existing fender flare wall & the flare wall just meet. We haven't done any accurate measuring yet, but it looks like you'd pick up about another 1" to 1.5" of width, for fatter tires. It doesn't look bad as is, the flares are bigger, ie taller and deeper, so they accentuate the flare areas.

Sorry it took so long, we got started on another layup for another rear clip.

David Breeze

The Black Widow OCT 11, 12:05 AM
Very nice! Im really excited to see the gt5 thing... always my favorite. Keep us posted, cant wait to see it in person some day!
-Matt
datacop OCT 11, 01:16 AM
now THAT'S what I'm talkin about!!
rverhalen OCT 20, 03:38 PM
We need updates, I am looking at kits right now and want to put yours in the mix to choose from. So tell us more of where you are at and when is the first kit going to be sold?

If you guys can send me some pictures of the wider bodied look this would help.


Great job so far, just keep us updated

Thanks
Robert Ver Halen
rverhalen@triad.rr.com
336-462-1040

opm2000 OCT 20, 07:08 PM
Hey, it's good to hear that folks are interested in this as a kit. First thing I'll say is that no kits have been sold to date. So if you do undertake to build a Pantero, it will be a very unique car. Blackrams is recieving the first parts pulled from the molds, and that is what you've seen in these pages so far. He was gracious enough to haul the prototype car and molds all the way from Vista, California back home to Versailles, KY for no charge other that recieving these first parts. That also made him a Guienea Pig in a sense, because I had to go thru a process of "learning" the molds, and figuring the best way to produce quality fiberglass parts from them.

Anyhow, I've been thru that process now, and last weekend we laid up the rear clip for the first true kit. It turned out very well, and we are gearing up to produce all of the remaining parts for kit #1, to be ready to ship this month.

Also, I've spent considerable time analyzing the mounting system used on the prototype car, and figuring out better ways to mount, in some cases. The whole idea of this kit, to me, is that it must be easy for the first time builder to assemble. None of this business where you spend years fabricating everything from scratch, as required in a Lambo kit. So I'm happy with what we've come up with in this regard. Instructions will be provided in the form of a text & photo guide that you open on your desktop computer.

I'm trying to keep prices cut to the bone, as compared to the Kitcar market. I've setteled on a price of $4,000 for the first 6 body kits. After that, I'll review things and see if I'm in the poorhouse or not. I'm not doing this to become rich & famous, but I do have to cover my costs.

The $4,000 will include the front clip, rear clip, 2 door skins, front hood skin, front hood liner, 2 headlight door skins, and 4 bumpers. The instructions will detail how to fabricate the simple steel reinforcement and mounting brackets, as required. Or for an additional $400 these can be provided already made up and fiberglassed in where appropriate.

The molds are not made yet for the wheel flares, but the materials have been ordered. I plan to offer two different styles of front air dam (your choice) and 4 wheel flares for $650, with the first 6 body kits. This will be open for review as well at that point. Right now, the mold is not ready for the second style airdam, so that's clear.

No pics tonight, but between now and this weekend, I'll add a few, and explain a few things along the way, such as how the body mounts, and the quality controll I use on each part fabricated.

I do appreciate folks keeping interest in this car. It is quite an undertaking to produce parts from a cold start, like this. When I acquired the molds, I set 7 months as a goal for kit production. But honestly, to get kit #1 out the door before 12 months time is just amazing to me.