I knew it wouldn't be long...

[P72Ford]

I bought another panther on Friday morning.

2007 P71, street appearance package car. Smokestone clearcoat over light camel was not my first choice, but beggars can't be choosers. This is a California detective's take home car (was there until March of 2015), with 104 on the clock, and a paltry 228 hours. I did not miss a 0. My 2008 ex MSP car has 157 on the clock, and 4800 hours. This one is very clean, which is what I was looking for. I paid "all the money" by most people's standards, but I had to have it. 2 months in my beater '08 was enough for me to know I want a good one of these cars for long term use. And if you haven't noticed, its getting real hard to find a good (by my standards) 6-10 year old police cruiser...

No pictures yet (I haven't detailed it), but its good. Reaaaaallllly good. 3.27 open rear was a bummer, but I'll change that. The chairs are heavenly (my first time trying out the velour seats), and it is quiet and tight. Going to start with some maintenance on it (the basics), then dark tint , something with the wheels, exhaust, 3.73s and a TL. I could go all in here and build this one silly, to the detriment of my '65. I also still have truck projects in the pipeline to be done this year, but I have to do a few things to this ASAP. The SAP hubcaps are god awful... Looking for a fun fair weather cruiser for now (probably wheel the '08 in the winter), but I'm already kicking around performance upgrades. Stay tuned.

[Hearsesrock427]

There's aftermarket-a-plenty for the whale chassis/suspension, as I'm sure you've seen on ADTR and read about. Set of 255/50/R17 ultra high performance tires, poly bushings, bigger sway bars front and rear, etc. It all comes down to how much you want to spend and how much work you want to put into her. Even bone stock the P71s corner pretty darn good, got to drive my buddy's '08 on some open sweepers at a brisk pace, and she didn't break a sweat.

[Mainemantom]

Did you get it in MA ? Do you know what agency it was from ? Does it have any numbers or reflective tape on the inside of the driver door jam ?

[P72Ford]

I did not get it in Massachusetts.

Not sure what town specifically in So-Cal it was used in. It has no markings whatsoever, internal or external. Appears to have no police equipment mounted anywhere; no holes in the roof, no spotlight, nothing.

[packman]

Nice!!! I would stick with mod'ing your '65 and do driveability mods to the '07. Perhaps use your '08 as the guinea pig for things that you want to do to the '07?

If I ever contracted some sort of neuro-disease, and just had to modify my '05; I would try to figure out how to get a Raptor engine in there. I would have to buy a beater and get some space to work in before I would take that task on.

[P72Ford]

I am attaching the first picture, just because... why did I create a thread and add no pictures??

I am going to document the "as received" condition as soon as the weather cooperates (we're getting snow here now).

I am going to look at (and buy, if they are mint), a set of '07-'09 GT500 wheels tomorrow morning. I was going to powder-coat the police wheels on this, get new center caps, and some firestone speed rated tires... but I don't really want the cop look for this car (plus, whether I do police wheels, or the Shelby wheels, its going to cost me the same). I am going to swap in a new OEM chrome grille (true to an SAP; not sure why it has the black one), and I think the GT500 wheels have just the right offset and width to deliver the look I am after. Plus, I am thinking of doing some stuff with the brakes on this, and the windows in GT500 wheels will help showcase that.

[His Royal Ghostliness]

Smokestone clearcoat over light camel was not my first choice, but beggars can't be choosers.

Hm, I think it looks quite nice actually. Especially once the GT500 wheels go on, should be a pretty sweet look for her.

[packman]

I agree with HRG; that's a nice color; and the car is clean, Unless there is rot and rust underneath all of that.

Perhaps take a SVT98t approach and go crazy modifying the beater engine ('08). When everything is working, swap it all over to the '07.

[gadget73]

I like the color. I also like the black grille. Honestly the chrome ones don't do anything for me. Its too much chrome on a car that has none otherwise, looks like bad aftermarket IMO.

[87gtVIC]

Car looks right at home in your garage.

[P72Ford]

I agree with HRG; that's a nice color; and the car is clean, Unless there is rot and rust underneath all of that.

Perhaps take a SVT98t approach and go crazy modifying the beater engine ('08). When everything is working, swap it all over to the '07.

No rust, unlike most of the local ones; this one is immaculate underneath (don't get me wrong, I definitely paid for that). The whale body cars suffer rocker rot in the worse way. You can't see it because the plastic covers, but if you look up underneath, most local P71s are rotten. My '08 is pretty rough there, although not really anywhere else.

I picked up the Shelby wheels; they might as well be new. I also ordered a new carpet and matching floor mats (there is a blemish on the driver's floor), picked up oil and coolant, got some t bolt clamps to replace the shitty hose clamps when I change the radiator hoses, and the chrome grille. I went chrome because the car is an SAP, which means the door handles are chrome (partially), as well as the rear trim under the trunk finish panel and taillights. The black grille does not jive with this; it will become garage wall art. And with the GT500 wheels, this thing is going to really pop with the chrome. I am going to at least upgrade the brake pads, paint calipers, and do something for rotors (coated) so that the brakes look minty behind the new hoops.

On the fence about what I will do first for performance... exhaust and j mod, or gears and tune...

[P72Ford]

One new picture. Weather here has been really lame lately, so I haven't even started messing with this thing lately.

But, parts are ordered:

*OEM Ford grille (chrome)
*New headlights (going to relay these eventually)
*All the tune up stuff (plugs, belt, hoses, coolant, filters, oil, etc)
*Magnaflow cat back (I am going to mod the tailpipes for Marauder-esque tips, eventually)
*Stop Tech "Top Cop" rotors and pads (zinc plated/ drilled/ slotted)
*New floor mats (OEM)
*'07-'09 GT500 wheels



Plans are to steam clean the undercarriage (I always do this). Paint the calipers up, do the brakes and put the wheels on. Do the tune up and fluids, full interior detail, strip the tint and have it re-tinted (darker 15%/ sides, 5% rear window), install the exhaust (may gut the downstream cats). Then I'll register and drive it a bit. Jmod, gears, and tune in the fall I think. Have to put the D60 in my truck first.

Looking forward to playing with a panther again!

[SVT98t]

Looks good!
It's funny. You ordered a new carpet for yours. I'm probably just going to get a 8'x6' roll of green astroturf from Home Depot and do mine.
Keep it up.


-ryan s.

[packman]

Nice!!!

I am going to go with my original wheel choice and get the 18" Saleen wheels for my '05. The guy across town cracked his car up and is just running steelies. I was going to go with the '10 Roush wheels, but I am still on the fence with sticking 20" wheels under there.

[79lincolnlover]

Are the gauges analog or digital?