I've been searching the threads and have picked up some info but I am going to be taking a look at a 24' next week and would like to know what to look for.
It is an 81 with TRS and a 454 with heads it appears to have hyd steering.
Anything that I should be taking a close look at.

any idea on a fair offer price?? from the pics it looks to be in fair condition.

All the normal stuff that can happen to any boat if not well taken care of, look for stresscracks, waetness in the transom, wet stringers. None of this is anything that specifically happens on a Pantera, but mine is a 1981 also, and had a hard life, it had a few defects when i bought it, but nothing major. Which boat are you looking at?? S/E, or Sport?? what power??

All the normal stuff - transom, stringers, stress cracks. I would carefully inspect the engine bulkhead (i.e. the wall that separates the engine bay from the cockpit). I would also carefully look at the gas tank and related plumbing. I haven't heard of pantera's having these problems, but poor rigging can lead to roted transom and stringers. All it takes is one fugtard mechanic.

We must have been typing at the same time

Yes, that bulkhead will tell ya if the tank has ever been removed, as it has to be cut to get the tank out, my '81 has an Aluminum tank(about 50 gallon), which has had no problems.

thanks for the response....

Where exactly is the fuel tank?

it is a 454 and said to be 370hp.

Fuel tank is under the floor centered between the stringers, runs from the backseat bulkhead to the front cockpit bulkhead Approx.

Boat should run around 65 with that setup.

Congrats

anyone have a similar setup that can reccomend a prop. I'm looking for down the road, not even sure if I am going to purchase the boat but you know how it goes when you look at something to buy......

Got any pics? if not, take some.
For that power a 23mir+ or a 24B1, depending on power.

alright don't give me too much sarcasm with this one....... how do I check the stringers and bulkhead???? do I poke them with something or just do a visual??

If you want the boat then spend a little money with a survey.
This will keep you from spending alot on a bad deal.