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| Ford Lincoln Mercury Dealership Sign |
| When the DeTomaso Pantera was sold new thru Ford Lincoln Mercury dealers, the car was positioned as the attention grabber, placed in the center of the showroom to bring potential customers inside. Once inside it was common for shrewd salesmen to steer a buyer toward a different vehicle, one with more profit potential. The Pantera was the eye candy, but other cars in the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lines were the profit centers. The Pantera sits low to the ground, and to enhance the presentation a �Dealer Sign� was hung above. The goal was to add some flair to the otherwise ho-hum Ford product line. This lighted sign displayed the Pantera name, and the Ghia crown badge, connecting the Lincoln Mercury line with Italian styling and specifically this exotic Grand Touring super car. |
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| The dimensions of this sign are approximately 13 inches tall, 12 inches deep, and 48 inches long. It is illuminated by twin 4-foot fluorescent bulbs and is double-sided, with the name and logo appearing on both sides. The frame is aluminum, and the back-lit plastic panels display the name. The plastic panels extend past the frame a few inches on both sides, which adds some dimension to the display, but this also makes the face panels susceptible to damage. Now over 30 years old, the aged plastic face panels are very fragile. Not all dealers received this sign, and when the sales program ended in 1974, many of these were trashed. Some employees squirreled-away these signs as mementoes. I first saw one hanging in a Pantera enthusiast�s garage, and started searched for one of my own. |
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| With the advent of eBay and the internet, searching was more effective. I had seen one up for sale on eBay in the mid 1990�s, but it sold well above my limit. Several years later I saw another, and after some contact with the seller to confirm condition, I bid. Sadly I was outbid right away, and this item went to another anxious collector. Another year or so went by, and I found one again, and again confirmed with the seller the condition was acceptable. By the end of the auction, I was once again outbid. |
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| Copyright By Chuck Melton |