The Panther Solo. A fantastic miss

Panter made small series of sports cars and roadsters based on Ford's 'ready-to-wear technique'. The company's most famous model was the 1979 six-wheel 'Panther Six', which was conceived as a 300+ km / h fast convertible. Only a prototype of the Panther Six has been built. But there must still be enough parts for a second copy. The most successful model was the Kallista.

The other models, such as Kallista and Lima, were modeled on the looks of cars from the 1930s and 1940s. And in the meantime, Panthers have long since ceased to be the somewhat suspiciously viewed neo retro's that they were in their days before that designation even existed

The beginning and the end

Panther was founded in 1972 by Robert Jankel and was based in Weybridge in Surrey in England. Due to the financial problems so typical of these types of companies, the company was taken over in 1980 by Jindu Industries, a company of South Korean businessman Young C. Kim. In 1988, the SsangYong Motor Co., Ltd took over the brand. The production in the UK ended in 1990. The production in South Korea continued until 1992. Robert Jankel bought the Panther name back in 2001. Until his death in 2005, he worked on a new sports car design. His son called that his "unfinished symphony"

But in 1978-1988 there was the Panther Solo II, an 2 + 2 coupe with a Ford four-cylinder and the successor to the Panther Solo. The Panther Solo II was miles away from the retro-styled Kallistas. And from the Panther Solo (1) In 1978, the press wrote that the Panther Solo was on its way. And the general assumption then was that the new Panther would be a very nice car.

A year of development time

In 1983 a small team of engineers, designers and technicians was formed to develop the Panther Solo. That club only needed a year to build the first prototype. The Panther Solo had a Ford CVH-1.6-liter engine with 105 hp (from Escort XR3i) or in the turbo version a block with 130 hp (from Escort RS Turbo), and a Ford gearbox, steering, brakes and suspension. In fact, the powertrain and MacPherson strut rear suspension were those of an Escort, but then mounted 'backwards' with the rear-wheel-driven Panther Solo.

A unique chassis

The chassis was unique for the Panther Solo. It consisted of a monocoque chassis with box section of steel plates and a steel honeycomb rear partition on which the engine and rear-wheel suspensions were mounted. The body consisted of two parts - under the fiberglass belt line to protect against minor damage; aluminum panels were used above the belt line. The prototype had a Targa roof and pop-up headlights. And it could have become so beautiful. Because the price seemed good and the handling was fantastic.

But then Toyota came up with the MR2

And that was and did everything better than the Panther Solo. That forced Panther to upgrade the Panther Solo. The Panther Solo II was larger, according to everyone less beautiful, was only theoretically an 2 + 2, it was partly designed on the basis of wind tunnel tests. The new appearance was described in 1988 in a test as 'terrible and bizarre'. The quality of the car was 'sub optimal'.

The reliability left something to be desired. But if the Panther Solo II were well put together, it could have been a serious competitor for Porsche or Ferrari. Because in terms of handling, steering and performance, the Panther Solo IIs were fantastic. And that appearance? Oh, you can't argue about taste ...