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Exotic cars on the road


johnj92131
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Growing up and living here in Southern California all my life, we see a whole lot of "exotic" cars driving on the streets and freeways that are not seen much in most of the country.  So we get a bit jaded about cars on the road.  Cars like Tesla, Ferrari, Rolls, Bentley, Lotus, etc. and the like are not all that unusual.  I have likely spotted more than half a dozen Ferrari's, 3 or 4 different Lotus cars, a couple each Rolls and Bentey's.  All since the start of this year.

 

Just yesterday, I spotted a Morgan on I-5 and another Italian body exotic car I have not seen in a good 10 years.  Actually would up chasing the car for a good 20 miles at speeds over 85 mph.  The car?  De Tomaso Pantera.  Bright Red, just like the one in this link:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=de+tomaso+pantera&espv=2&biw=1517&bih=741&tbm=isch&imgil=VeRMBAcxlz-I7M%253A%253BD9oFpdmDaVG7rM%253Bhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fen.wikipedia.org%25252Fwiki%25252FDe_Tomaso_Pantera&source=iu&pf=m&fir=VeRMBAcxlz-I7M%253A%252CD9oFpdmDaVG7rM%252C_&usg=__q8C5V2rQSWm50ObqLiRnujHn_AI%3D&dpr=0.9&ved=0ahUKEwjzooO5s93MAhUU4GMKHdwkAccQyjcIOg&ei=wxw5V7O1CZTAjwPcyYS4DA#imgrc=X9hjnmyJdP4lMM%3A

 

 

There are also a number of really nice Concours d'Elegance around Southern California that we get to see every once in a while.  The closest one to home is this one:

 

http://www.lajollaconcours.com/

 

Come Father's Day, there will be an Exotic Car Show on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.  3 block will be closed off for the show.  We are planning on going up for the day.  I will post a link, if anyone is interested.

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I once saw a Maserati. It was stuck in the same traffic jam I was.

 

I really don't get excited about exotic cars. Never have. Show me a factory condition 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window with the 327 Ram Jet in Daytona Blue with Saddle leather interior and I will get excited :)

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I once saw a Maserati. It was stuck in the same traffic jam I was.

 

I really don't get excited about exotic cars. Never have. Show me a factory condition 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window with the 327 Ram Jet in Daytona Blue with Saddle leather interior and I will get excited :)

 

Yes traffic jams are where we all end up!  Spotted 2 Maseratis this year.  Never been impressed with them.

 

You would LOVE the Corvette National Museum -  Spent half a day there last September.  I was drooling at the 63-67 Sting Ray.  Always has been my favorite Corvette.  You are really close to Bowling Green, take a weekend trip and see some fantastic Corvette's

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I guess living in miami has me spoiled of seeing all these exotic cars...

I don't care for them...my eyes pop when I see a classic muscle car and obviously jeeps (except jks) lol jk

Just the other day I saw a Willys swamp buggy parked in someone's driveway...sucked but seeing that front grill caught my eyes....

Oh I'm a sucker for a Plymouth cudas and I've only seen 1. The guy daily drives it and i see him often in my neighborhood....

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Just yesterday, I spotted a Morgan on I-5 and another Italian body exotic car I have not seen in a good 10 years.  Actually would up chasing the car for a good 20 miles at speeds over 85 mph.  The car?  De Tomaso Pantera.  Bright Red, just like the one in this link:

 

I've had my Pantera for 30 years now; time does fly & so does she!  :driving:

 

For those who aren't familiar with the DeTomaso Pantera, it was a joint effort between Ford and the Italian Manufacturer DeTomaso.

 

It was the replacement for the Shelby Cobra (AC Cobra).

 

Ford imported them from 1971-1974 and sold them thru select Lincoln Mercury dealers for $10,000.

 

They were built in Modena, Italy just down the road from Ferrari.  The bodies are steel & they came with all the goodies; independent coil over suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes with 4 piston Girling calipers, Campagnolo Magnesium Rims that weigh about 15 pounds each, rack & pinion steering, all the works for back in the day.

 

They were powered by the Boss 302's big brother; the 351 Cleveland, and they used the 5-speed transaxle right out of Ford's GT40 race car.

 

It's an Exotic with the heart of a Muscle Car. :thumbsup:

 

Here are a few recent pics:

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What year is it? It looks great! Which Ford engine does it have?

Thank you.  :)

 

It is a 1973 model.

 

It has the 351 Cleveland; all 71-88 Panteras came with 351 Clevelands.

 

This particular Pantera is rather unique; it isn't a restored car, it is a survivor; an original unrestored car.

 

Other than tires, belts, hoses, fluids, and the intake, carb, and airfilter (I still have the originals) it's factory original.

 

 

This photo is one of my favorites; it seems that a "Red Ferrari" went by them about 30 minutes prior going at "an extremely high rate of speed".

 

I assured them that it couldn't have been little ole me. 

 

After checking out the engine they remarked that they needed to get some faster pursuit cars! :laughin:

 

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When I was in Spain I had a 1954 Pegaso. Thats the most exotic car I ever owned. When I got back to the stares I had a 62  Austin Healy 3000.

 

Wow, a Pegaso!!  That was an exotic!  You don't happen to have any photos do you; I've never seen one in public. :)

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When I was in Spain I had a 1954 Pegaso. Thats the most exotic car I ever owned. When I got back to the stares I had a 62  Austin Healy 3000.

 

I always loved the Big Healy - not the fastest car around, but they did not break down.  Very much a collectors item today.

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We have a few Ferraris (most recently a California and a 360), a Lambo or two (one a burnt orange Gallardo), a couple of Masers, at least two Bentleys, two Lotuses (Lotii?) and an Aston Vantage that I have personally seen here in Bend. Our local Porsche/BMW/VW/Audi dealer has a high dollar storage facility on site with some spendy metal behind its doors. The local Benz dealer has a number of AMGs on site at any given time. There's also a half-dozen Teslas floating around Central Oregon.

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