In the De Tomaso Pantera community there is an aftermarket electric power steering unit available that is a do it yourself project and very effective.  I have a 1972 Pantera and I admit as I approach 70 years of age, yanking a non power steering car is getting harder.  A friend who also has a Pantera, ordered the unit, installed it himself in a few hours, and thoroughly enjoys it.  It has a dial that allows you to adjust the amount of boost, I've driven it, and it's great.  The unit comes from SACC Restoration, and Scott is the proprietor.  You might want to look him up and see if he could adapt his unit to your application.   ... View more

Well I'm sorry for your troubles with your S type, and it sounds like your fuel pump might be the culprit, but to your "grown kids" I would say that my 2010 Jaguar XKR has 200,000 miles on it and has been the most reliable car I've ever owned in 53 years of driving and more than 30 cars.  In over 9 years of ownership I have never owned such a magnificent automobile.  Get a competent independent mechanic to make a house call, and he should be able to diagnose the fuel delivery issue.  Good luck and let us know how it turns out. ... View more

Two of my favorite cars in the world (and which I own, shown below) which have hidden headlights are the 1968 Pontiac GTO and the 1972 De Tomaso Pantera (actually all 22 years of the Pantera got pop-up hidden headlights).  The '68 GTO is probably my favortie car design of all time.  The front end with its color matched Endura bumper, hood scoops, hood mounted tach, and hidden headlights,as well as it sensuous shape, was and still remains beautiful.  The Pantera's pop-ups rising out of the pointed wedge of the front end still amaze me even after nearly a quarter century of ownership.   ... View more

Would have loved to have been there with either my 2002 XKR 'vert or my 2010 XKR coupe.  These types of meets are what make owning special cars such a joy.   My two XKRs ... View more

When the 1968 Pontiac GTO was released, I was a young high schooler waiting impatiently for my sixteenth birthday to arrive in early 1969, so that I could drive (legally).  The first time I saw the GTO in Verdoro Green with its Endura bumper, the hidden headlights, the hood scoops and the hood mounted tach, I was smitten with the aesthetics.  When my 16th birthday arrived, I got a 1969 Cougar Eliminator in banana yellow, but it never cured me of the GTO itch.  About 10 years ago, I bought a very nice driver quality GTO in Verdoro Green, drove it a little bit and then noticed some rust bubbles beginning to form under the paint.  I had a tenant who rebuilt salvaged cars, and when he left, one of his employees stayed around and rebuilt my best friend's son's K5 Blazer.  He did a nice job, so I decided to have him take apart the GTO.  After taking it apart, he left without notice, and my car was left in pieces all over the lot where it sat for several years until about two and a half years ago.  A new tenant who owned an auto body shop next door was having trouble paying rent, so I told him he could restore the car in lieu of rent for whatever time it took (within reason).  I got it back several months ago, and I still think it is the best looking American car design ever (with maybe the Riviera with clamshell lights as an exception).  I love what it looks like but hate that it drives like a Cadillac hearse.  Someday I'll tackle that.     The other car I always admired when I used to take my Cougar in for service at O'Connor Lincoln/Mercury near downtown Los Angeles was the De Tomaso Pantera.  I bought one over 20 years ago but had essentially given up driving it about 10 years ago due to lots of issues.  About 8 years ago I decided that I was either going to make it a car I could enjoy driving and not resent doing so, or I was going to get rid of it.  It spent four years getting a remake for both comfort and reliability, and now I drive it every weekend with other enthusiasts without problems.  I do think it still looks contemporary and is the best example of '70's Italian Wedge design.  It's loud, quick (over 500hp), and gorgeous! ... View more

JimR,  My first car was a new 1969 banana yellow Cougar Eliminator, so I got to see the Panteras every time I took the car in for service.  It left an indelible mark as I purchased one about 21 years ago and did a restoration/modification about 3 years ago.  I now, finally, have made it reliable and comfortable enough to drive it every weekend, first time in 21 years of ownership I can say that.  But my all time favorite car design is the 1968 Pontiac GTO in Verdoro Green.  I bought one several years ago and have just gotten it back from restoration.  I still think with its curvaceous hood, ram air scoops and hood mounted tach along with the Endura bumper and hidden headlights make for one of the best looking domestic cars ever produced even if it drives and handles like a Cadillac hearse.  Next up for restoration for a second time is my 1978 Datsun 280Z owned since new!  I guess we have some similar tastes.   ... View more

I have a 2010 5.0L Jaguar XKR that can now be routinely bought in the low $20,000 range.  I have surpassed 183,000 miles on her and she still looks new and drives like it did when I bought it 8 years ago.  With nearly 600hp, this DB9 clone has been the most reliable, enjoyable car I have ever owned from more than 3 dozen.  I would highly doubt you can find a better performing, easier to maintain super GT than this.  Simply an outstanding automobile.  And if you don't want the supercharger, the naturally aspirated XK will be even less costly. ... View more

i had a '73 Cqpri with the 2600 V6.  It replaced my first car, a 1969 Cougar Eliminator.  We called the Capri, the poorman's BMW 2002.  It was a fun car and my first manual transmission car.  My other 1970's cars which I still own are a 1978 Datsun 280Z (bought new) and a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera (owned over 20 years).     ... View more

Probably the two most similar looking cars ever, especially from a side profile view are the X150 Jaguar XK/XKR and the Aston DB9. Both cars were Ian Callum designs, and if you didn't see the front and rear fascias and just looked at them from the side, you'd have trouble distinguishing between the two. ... View more

                                The De Tomaso Pantera, of course.  Here's my '72           w ... View more

When I take my '72 De Tomaso Pantera to car meets on the weekends in Southern California, any time I see a parent with a younster in tow, I invite them to put their children in the driver's seat and take pictures. Most are genuinely shocked but typically take advantage. What have you got to lose, a footprint on a floor mat? The smiles it brings to the faces of young kids is priceless! ... View more

I didn't see your comment before I posted mine, great minds think alike. ... View more

How about any Jaguar and the Detomaso Mangusta and Pantera? ... View more

The 351 Cleveland ... View more