Panther Car History

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Panther Car History - Panther Six

Hi All,
I'm looking for more photos of all Panther Cars. Please send me your photos for our website with a little describtion (year, model, engine, specials...) So we can show the world how many nice and different panthers there are.
Thanks in advance
Geli (your webmaster)

Panther Six

The Panther 6 is an extravagant six-wheel convertible powered by a mid-mounted 8.2 ltr (500 in³) Cadillac V8 engine with twin turbo chargers.
It was produced by Panther Westwinds in 1977. Only two cars were ever made, both of which still exist.
The six wheel configuration was possibly inspired by the Tyrrell P34. The layout was one pair of rear wheels with 265/50 VR16 tyres and two pairs of front steering wheels with 205/40 VR13 tyres.
The specification included a traditional convertible soft-top, electronic digital instruments, air conditioning, an automatic engine bay fire extinguisher system, electric seats and windows, a door mounted telephone and dashboard mounted 3” television.
Claims for the top speed of this vehicle suggested it was capable of over 200 mph (322 km/h), however these claims are unsubstantiated.

Manufacturer… Panther Westwinds

Production……. 1977

Class	Sports Car
Body style(s)	Convertible
Engine(s)	8.2 L Cadillac V8 500ci
Transmission(s)	3 speed automatic
Wheelbase	2670 mm (105.1 in)
Length	4870 mm (191.7 in)
Width	2030 mm (79.9 in)
Height	1220 mm (48 in)
Curb weight	1302 kg (2870.4 lb)
Fuel capacity	136.4 litres
Fuel Consumption	Approx 4-6 mpg.

Panther Six No.1 (RHD)

(Pictures by Terry. Also, thanks to A. Mirko & C. Ellwyn)

Panther Six No.2 (LHD)

(Pictures by Terry. Also, thanks to A. Mirko & C. Ellwyn)

Articel Octane: Out of this world
(“Hors de ce monde”)

Panther Six No.2 - picture of the Bonhams auction in Monaco where it was sold

A few pics I had taken of the Panther 6 when I did some electrical repairs to it a couple of years ago.

Wish I'd taken more at the time. It was a non runner when I got to it, but it only needed a new stater motor and it fired up easily.

Had to sort out the pop up headlamps as well, both were siezed up. One was the original TR7 one and one was a Fiat one, possibly X1/9. I replaced both with recon units and got them working.

Wish I'd taken a pic after I backed it out of the garage in these pics, it dwarfed my MG Midget. I often wonder how many can claim to have actually driven it> Albeit I only drove it out of the garage and around the yard.

The guy who had it claimed he'd bought off the Greek government, after it's owner fell foul of the greek tax authorities. Said he had to have it dug out of a huge plie of pigeon crap in the bonded wharehouse.

Think it went off the auction soon after I'd worked on it?

One or two things I do recall tho. The doors ere off some sort of Opel?vauxhall with glassfibre skins to give the width. The guy asked me to look at the electric door mirrors but they had never been wired up, no wiring to them at all!.

The seats were out of a US car, some of the functions relied on engine vacuum but no pipes were evident as ever being fitted.

I aslso got all the heater/ac fans working, they were siezed up as well. It appeared to have no luggage space , the front compartment was crammed with the ac and heater.

A fasinating car, lucky to have worked on it and driven it.

Regards Steve.

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