Supercars Spotted Thread
Discussion
joshcowin said:
I love the lfa and think it looks great. I actually think the pantera has aged terribly, it just looks like a kit car now. There is something not quite right with the windscreen angle and the rear quarter window is odd.
Really, considering the Pantera first showed it's face in 1971 i think it's design was way ahead of it's time which still drops jaws even today with or without the flares and wing,
The LFA is a pleasant looking car but a super car should be WOW looking not just pleasant
Each to their own ,in our eyes we are both right.:
:Edited by rat rod on Monday 21st March 21:08
rat rod said:
Really, considering the Pantera first showed it's face in 1971 i think it's design was way ahead of it's time
which still drops jaws even today with or without the flares and wing,
The LFA is a pleasant looking car but a super car should be WOW looking not just pleasant
Each to their own ,in our eyes we are both right.
As you say there is no right and wrong! which still drops jaws even today with or without the flares and wing,
The LFA is a pleasant looking car but a super car should be WOW looking not just pleasant
Each to their own ,in our eyes we are both right.
Edited by rat rod on Monday 21st March 21:06
I agree the simple panteras are the best looking, I dislike the flared arches and big wings. Still they have not aged that well imo, the lexus may age even worse of course we will have to wait 30+ years to find out!
When I went shopping for a Pantera 25 years ago, I specifically looked for an early Pre L car as I didn't like the flared fendered, Countach winged cars that in my opinion, destroyed the sensuous, svelte design of the original. It's interesting that you find that the Pantera design hasn't aged well. Every Sunday I attend car meetups here in Los Angeles where there might be 500-1000 super and hypercars in attendance including one two weekends ago at a Lamborghini-Aston Martin dealership. My stock bodied Pantera always garners a crowd and the most typical remark is it still looks so contemporary. Very few people believe that it was built 51 years ago. Unfortunately, most new supercar designers feel that they need to have "elephant" ear scoops on their flanks big enough to cook a turkey and bypassing the sleekness of vintage sports cars.
tberg said:
When I went shopping for a Pantera 25 years ago, I specifically looked for an early Pre L car as I didn't like the flared fendered, Countach winged cars that in my opinion, destroyed the sensuous, svelte design of the original. It's interesting that you find that the Pantera design hasn't aged well. Every Sunday I attend car meetups here in Los Angeles where there might be 500-1000 super and hypercars in attendance including one two weekends ago at a Lamborghini-Aston Martin dealership. My stock bodied Pantera always garners a crowd and the most typical remark is it still looks so contemporary. Very few people believe that it was built 51 years ago. Unfortunately, most new supercar designers feel that they need to have "elephant" ear scoops on their flanks big enough to cook a turkey and bypassing the sleekness of vintage sports cars.
This is a better angle undoubtedly, those wheels are amazing btw! 
Penrhyn,
You're absolutely right. I essentially gave up driving the Pantera because it had so many issues and was so unreliable that just the thought of trying to start it made me cringe. And especially when in early 2013 I bought my 5.0L XKR which was so enjoyable, so easy to drive at pace, so comfortable, and so absolutely reliable that I just gave up. Ultimately, because of how good the Jag was it made me make the decision to make the Pantera a better car that I could enjoy. The design of the Pantera and its aesthetics was never in question. it is still imho one of the greatest automotive designs ever. From any angle it is aggressive yet sensual. What other supercar of this petite size can fit two golf bags and clubs in its trunk? The real problem with the Pantera was that it went from an idea to showrooms in under a year, and development on the early cars was incomplete. During the four years that it was being modified and restored, we dealt with the overheating issues, the starting issues, the notchy shifting of the ZF gated 5 spd., comfort issues and a few other problems. In addition, we added higher performance calipers, bigger wheels to accomodate them, a 500+hp engine, headers, new exhaust, new body hugging seats, all leather interior including the dash, but we left the stock body exactly as it had bee born except for the 2 tone paint whose idea came from a friend's Ferrari 512 bbi. Now that it's sorted, I drive it every single weekend and it's a joy not to have to worry about it breaking down or overheating. As I previously said in an earlier post on this thread, I detest the giant side scoops that every supercar manufacturer seems to think makes the car look more aggressive (and therefore more sellable at high prices). I guess being older, I prefer sensuous smooth shaped sports cars. Look at an early E-type, or even a Miura, or a Dino. Compare those shapes and the design language to an Aventador. I'd take any of the aforementioned cars before any modern day Lambo. When you think about the fact that the Pantera debuted in 1970, it had to look like a spaceship had descended from outerspace, there was nothing like it at the time including the earlier Miura. The fact that it still looks contemporary when parked among cars 50 years newer is testament to Tom Tjaarda's brilliant design. And now that I can enjoy it, with little worry, it's icing on the cake.
You're absolutely right. I essentially gave up driving the Pantera because it had so many issues and was so unreliable that just the thought of trying to start it made me cringe. And especially when in early 2013 I bought my 5.0L XKR which was so enjoyable, so easy to drive at pace, so comfortable, and so absolutely reliable that I just gave up. Ultimately, because of how good the Jag was it made me make the decision to make the Pantera a better car that I could enjoy. The design of the Pantera and its aesthetics was never in question. it is still imho one of the greatest automotive designs ever. From any angle it is aggressive yet sensual. What other supercar of this petite size can fit two golf bags and clubs in its trunk? The real problem with the Pantera was that it went from an idea to showrooms in under a year, and development on the early cars was incomplete. During the four years that it was being modified and restored, we dealt with the overheating issues, the starting issues, the notchy shifting of the ZF gated 5 spd., comfort issues and a few other problems. In addition, we added higher performance calipers, bigger wheels to accomodate them, a 500+hp engine, headers, new exhaust, new body hugging seats, all leather interior including the dash, but we left the stock body exactly as it had bee born except for the 2 tone paint whose idea came from a friend's Ferrari 512 bbi. Now that it's sorted, I drive it every single weekend and it's a joy not to have to worry about it breaking down or overheating. As I previously said in an earlier post on this thread, I detest the giant side scoops that every supercar manufacturer seems to think makes the car look more aggressive (and therefore more sellable at high prices). I guess being older, I prefer sensuous smooth shaped sports cars. Look at an early E-type, or even a Miura, or a Dino. Compare those shapes and the design language to an Aventador. I'd take any of the aforementioned cars before any modern day Lambo. When you think about the fact that the Pantera debuted in 1970, it had to look like a spaceship had descended from outerspace, there was nothing like it at the time including the earlier Miura. The fact that it still looks contemporary when parked among cars 50 years newer is testament to Tom Tjaarda's brilliant design. And now that I can enjoy it, with little worry, it's icing on the cake.
Edited by tberg on Saturday 26th March 03:29
tberg said:
Penrhyn,
You're absolutely right. I essentially gave up driving the Pantera because it had so many issues and was so unreliable that just the thought of trying to start it made me cringe. And especially when in early 2013 I bought my 5.0L XKR which was so enjoyable, so easy to drive at pace, so comfortable, and so absolutely reliable that I just gave up. Ultimately, because of how good the Jag was it made me make the decision to make the Pantera a better car that I could enjoy. The design of the Pantera and its aesthetics was never in question. it is still imho one of the greatest automotive designs ever. From any angle it is aggressive yet sensual. What other supercar of this petite size can fit two golf bags and clubs in its trunk? The real problem with the Pantera was that it went from an idea to showrooms in under a year, and development on the early cars was incomplete. During the four years that it was being modified and restored, we dealt with the overheating issues, the starting issues, the notchy shifting of the ZF gated 5 spd., comfort issues and a few other problems. In addition, we added higher performance calipers, bigger wheels to accomodate them, a 500+hp engine, headers, new exhaust, new body hugging seats, all leather interior including the dash, but we left the stock body exactly as it had bee born except for the 2 tone paint whose idea came from a friend's Ferrari 512 bbi. Now that it's sorted, I drive it every single weekend and it's a joy not to have to worry about it breaking down or overheating. As I previously said in an earlier post on this thread, I detest the giant side scoops that every supercar manufacturer seems to think makes the car look more aggressive (and therefore more sellable at high prices). I guess being older, I prefer sensuous smooth shaped sports cars. Look at an early E-type, or even a Miura, or a Dino. Compare those shapes and the design language to an Aventador. I'd take any of the aforementioned cars before any modern day Lambo. When you think about the fact that the Pantera debuted in 1970, it had to look like a spaceship had descended from outerspace, there was nothing like it at the time including the earlier Miura. The fact that it still looks contemporary when parked among cars 50 years newer is testament to Tom Tjaarda's brilliant design. And now that I can enjoy it, with little worry, it's icing on the cake.
Your Pantera sounds fantastic (as a story, I'm sure it makes a great noise too!). How does it handle?You're absolutely right. I essentially gave up driving the Pantera because it had so many issues and was so unreliable that just the thought of trying to start it made me cringe. And especially when in early 2013 I bought my 5.0L XKR which was so enjoyable, so easy to drive at pace, so comfortable, and so absolutely reliable that I just gave up. Ultimately, because of how good the Jag was it made me make the decision to make the Pantera a better car that I could enjoy. The design of the Pantera and its aesthetics was never in question. it is still imho one of the greatest automotive designs ever. From any angle it is aggressive yet sensual. What other supercar of this petite size can fit two golf bags and clubs in its trunk? The real problem with the Pantera was that it went from an idea to showrooms in under a year, and development on the early cars was incomplete. During the four years that it was being modified and restored, we dealt with the overheating issues, the starting issues, the notchy shifting of the ZF gated 5 spd., comfort issues and a few other problems. In addition, we added higher performance calipers, bigger wheels to accomodate them, a 500+hp engine, headers, new exhaust, new body hugging seats, all leather interior including the dash, but we left the stock body exactly as it had bee born except for the 2 tone paint whose idea came from a friend's Ferrari 512 bbi. Now that it's sorted, I drive it every single weekend and it's a joy not to have to worry about it breaking down or overheating. As I previously said in an earlier post on this thread, I detest the giant side scoops that every supercar manufacturer seems to think makes the car look more aggressive (and therefore more sellable at high prices). I guess being older, I prefer sensuous smooth shaped sports cars. Look at an early E-type, or even a Miura, or a Dino. Compare those shapes and the design language to an Aventador. I'd take any of the aforementioned cars before any modern day Lambo. When you think about the fact that the Pantera debuted in 1970, it had to look like a spaceship had descended from outerspace, there was nothing like it at the time including the earlier Miura. The fact that it still looks contemporary when parked among cars 50 years newer is testament to Tom Tjaarda's brilliant design. And now that I can enjoy it, with little worry, it's icing on the cake.
Edited by tberg on Saturday 26th March 03:29
trackdemon,
When we rebuilt the car we added big bore headers and new exhaust so that Pantera is quite loud in a very deep gutteral way, not a high whiny sound like newer supercars. The car's handling is very flat since the car is so low, but without power steering, recovery on very tight turns is not easy on my 69 year old body. A friend who also has a Pantera added an after market electric power steering pump to his and it's quite good. It may be the next modification I do. But as I've said, it's the first time in over 20 years of ownership that I can drive it reliably and without worry, and I'm just enjoying that. Tremendous noise from inches behind your head, incredible torque in any gear, exceptional beauty, it's just finally fun!
When we rebuilt the car we added big bore headers and new exhaust so that Pantera is quite loud in a very deep gutteral way, not a high whiny sound like newer supercars. The car's handling is very flat since the car is so low, but without power steering, recovery on very tight turns is not easy on my 69 year old body. A friend who also has a Pantera added an after market electric power steering pump to his and it's quite good. It may be the next modification I do. But as I've said, it's the first time in over 20 years of ownership that I can drive it reliably and without worry, and I'm just enjoying that. Tremendous noise from inches behind your head, incredible torque in any gear, exceptional beauty, it's just finally fun!
Edited by tberg on Monday 28th March 19:14
Edited by tberg on Tuesday 29th March 03:05
Spotted this Gordon Murray T50 on the M25 yesterday evening.
I'm not sure if I owned one of these I would be taking it out on a gloomy evening in the pissing rain and shunting it in stop start traffic for mile after mile behind a red Fiat Picanto.
It sounded fantastic but it seemed like a bit of a handful to drive in heavy traffic unless he was revving it like that to impress everyone. But I don't think he was I think he was just doing that because that was the best way to drive it in the conditions.
I'm not sure if I owned one of these I would be taking it out on a gloomy evening in the pissing rain and shunting it in stop start traffic for mile after mile behind a red Fiat Picanto.
It sounded fantastic but it seemed like a bit of a handful to drive in heavy traffic unless he was revving it like that to impress everyone. But I don't think he was I think he was just doing that because that was the best way to drive it in the conditions.
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