Seventies BONKERS Supercar: Panther Six - Where Are The Only 2 Built?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Launched in 1977, the Panther Six was excess all areas in car terms.
Known for their traditional roadster style cars, this was designed to take on the Italian supercar builders. Unfortunately before full production could get underway, the Panther company collapsed, and the South Koreans that rescued it had no interest in the Six.
However 2 cars were built - one by the factory, and one privately. And we chase them literally round the globe to see if we can find out where they are today.
I remember seeing the car at the Motorshow when I was a kid, I always thought it was a fantastic looking thing, having now seen it with its roof up I’m not so sure ! Am I right in thinking that rear bumper unit is off a 1970’s Dodge or something similar. Great vid.
You might be right on rear bumper - didn't cone across any info on it in my research.
That absolutely looks like that period of Chrysler prototype-esque butt shot.
Yeah, that roof just doesn't gel, does it?
@@David8n The roof on the original car doesn't look good either when up. The are many ways to tell the difference between the two cars, the steering wheel side being the obvious one. I've never seen the second car with a hood, there is a big unsightly lump behind driver on the first car.
The roof looks like a pitched up tent 😂😂😂
commander straker would have loved one !
for those of you too young to understand you have missed out on a great tv show
One of the ladies with purple hair and a silver jumpsuit would look the part behind the wheel ;)
...yes I know that show!
Thanks for putting this video together. It's a trip down memory lane for me..I well remember all the work that was put into the car.....Cory.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for your help putting it together.
Glad Cory that you got to work on such a rare car.
I reckon number 2 is a ringer. It probably never had a factory chassis number, so therefore could never have been registered properly in the UK. Number hadn’t been seen in ages, so it was probably easier to apply for the V5C using a V62 form, getting the logbook and turn number 2 into a ringer of number 1.
That's one possibility...
Yeah this or someone's got their wires crossed when applying for a logbook. One way or another I think these cars have now got mixed up on DVLA, despite them being obviously different.
Number 2 being LHD means it was likely built for export and never UK registered. If it went to a Saudi royal as rumoured the lack of a chassis number wouldn't have been a problem.
Excellent content. Very well done.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic video! The 6 wheel Panther and the Rolls Royce ‘Monster’ were cars of legend with me and my Dad when we were younger. Thank you.
Do you mean the Rolls Royce Beast?
One thing of note was the Countach was not the first car to have those huge 345 rear tyres, it was the Panther 6, they were so new infact they were 'hand cut'.
Another SUPERB little video about an ultra bizarre car! Thanks mate!
Glad you enjoyed it. Made the effort (and this took way too much time...) worthwhile
I think I saw one of these actually driving on the road in Kent, between a place called Downe and Keston. It was metallic blue and looked in poor condition, or sort of unfinished condition. It was probably around 1985/86.
Open top and having 6 wheels, it was hard to miss.
Good point, it would catch your attention!
Your picture of No2 being 'covered in dust' is being kind; it was encrusted in a thick layer of birdshit, which was how it looked after being imported into Medway Docks. I moved it a couple of times after that and have a couple of pictures. It was white, LHD with a red leather Recaro interior, gold plated trim, and on six cross-spoke split-rim alloys. It still had the twin turbo Cadillac V8. As a serial Capri owner, it was obvious where the windscreen and door structure came from.
Great info. The doors apparently were Vauxhall Coupe ones.
Interesting video. Did you notice the DVLA list no1 as 2 axle rigid body. Has it lost one!
Cheers Russ
Good spot... didn’t notice that!
As a kid in the late 70s early 80s I remember reading an article in a magazine which said there was 12 built at the time I remember seeing photos of an all black one and an all silver one
Think there may have been 12 paint schemes on 2 cars...
definitely just two, but they were repainted several times. I think Jankel, the Panther boss, wanted people to think they were in production.
I remember seeing this on trade plates as Robert would often drive it to his house 'westwinds' in Oatlands at a lunch time in the mid ''70's.
Inspector clusoe could not had found that much info well done Trev
Absolutely brilliant channel really enjoying your videos.
Glad you enjoy them.
Fascinating Trevor, well done. 😊
Thanks
Another good video 🚘🚙🚗👍👍👍👏👏👏👏
Glad you enjoyed it
Another interesting and well researched video - many thanks!! Such a shame this car never "made it".
Glad you enjoyed it!
Remember see this on the A3 near Guildford.
Quite a sight.
You wouldn't miss it!
I was absolutely mad on these insane machines as a kid. Looked like it was off the set of Star Wars.
Thanks Trevor, on the money again!!
Thank you!
Great detective work ! 🔎
Glad you liked it!
I saw one of them twice in the early 90s.
It was being driven by an auctioneer, the first sighting was at Radway Green ,Royal Ordnance Factory during a machinery auction. The second was at Dunkeswell aerodrome, again at an auction sale, again being driven by the auctioneer. So where does he fit in the story?
No idea where he fits in, but interesting info none the least!
I remember seeing this drive around Weybrige and Byfleet in Surrey. Panther used to bring their cars to us for MOTs . They built some gull wing 500 Mercs and 6 wheel range rovers for an Arab which were all exported.
Imagine it was quite a sight!
You found a lot more than I did when I wrote about them a few years ago, but the story of no.2 ties in with the rumour I read of it languishing in a container while its owner served a prison sentence. I guess both cars ending up white with the same reg number confuses things a lot!
My family was living in the UK in 1978 and I remember it being in some sort of newspaper auto insert with all the vehicles for sale in the UK. I was 10 or 11 and thought this was the coolest thing ever.
Was amazing on first sight.
@@oscarsgarage447 I might have gotten to see it in person, I remember we went to a big auto show in Manchester or maybe it was Birmingham. It was a long time ago.
Looks like one of those things Jay Leno would seek out.
Hi again … the Panther 6 that I went to photograph at Straight 8 in the early 80s was (I’m fairly sure) white over black. But my memory is fuzzy after 40 years. But somewhere I will have the photos. I may have caught the registration number too. If I find the photos I’ll let you know. But they are not brilliant quality, I was using a 110 camera without flash bulbs! Anyway great video. Cheers 🍻
If you found them that would be great. Our email is oscarsgarage999@gmail.com
I saw a Panther 6 in Park Lane around 1980 at a collectors cars dealer, half on the pavement. I seem to remember that it was a dark colour . . . . .
Wow first time of hearing about this crazy car 😎👍
Glad you enjoyed it
i remember number 1 as it’s called in along with about 100 other cars in a place. there was a lot of other rare cars held on the same site like convertible cavalier and a few range rover 6 wheels. the place burnt down around 2006. virtually the cars were beyond saving. the place was a part of a farm that grew plants not the herbal plants either.
Petition to bring this back.
Like the idea, not sure who I would send it to though?
That's beautiful. Maybe shorter and with just four wheels would've helped, but imo, it does have lovely lines
In its time, it was an amazing looking vehicle.
You work Hard to get your content 👏👏👏👏👏 well done You 👍👍
I appreciate that
I remember as a kid when the Panther 6 was released. I seem to remember a Sunday Times magazine article about it. I always wondered what happened to it. I never knew a 2nd one was built.
I remember it being used on tv advert for watches, I think Omega. Parker, from Thunderbirds owns it now. Lady Penelope sacked him, after she caught him wearing her underwear, she having come home unexpectedly early from the bingo.
😂 😂 😂
Was gonna say this was Parkers weekend off, A road blast!😂 UK🇬🇧
capable of 200mph... sure it was lol
Manufacturers figures... bit like VW diesel emissions...
Wow I had totally forgotten about this car . I remember the Kallista 1.6 and 2.8 , also the crazy Deauville .
Lambos and Ferrari hadn't went twin turbo engine and none of the other makes could be possible but not with me driving it as 4 wheel steering is a fkn nightmare as wandering due to tracking all over place pity not 6 wheel drive it'd need the Hulk to steer non power steering
@@alanthomson1227 don’t forget the Panther Rio based on a Triumph Dolomite.
@ oh no and I had a Dolomite 1850 HL
Just want to say love you channel. Please don't take this as offending but you have a certain nerd when searching cars. Love it mate.
No offence taken, its more like a compliment... 😂
Thanks for taking the time to reply. All the best
It wouldn’t surprise me if the first car is in a certain collection in Brunei.
I remember seeing this car drive past me in Moseley Birmingham sometime in the 80's
The six was a beautiful car. Always had a soft spot for a J72 but doubt I'd ever afford one. 😂 Just have to slum it and look for a Lima or Kallista...
All great looking cars, but I wasn't sure about the Solo.
@oscarsgarage447 yeah but those rotating headlight covers on the Solo is a thing of beauty, far nicer than pop ups in my opinion. It was very MR2 mk2 before it existed, it just looked awkward with that long rear deck.
I remember seeing the #2 car in North Vancouver Canada back in the late 70s was wild to see it didn't have any of the front body on it
I remember being blown away by the front suspension and the turbo charged engine
Think it might have been in the 80s but was definitely in Canada.
@oscarsgarage447 yes I was going to say late 70s early 80s the pictures you have are definately from the same shop I saw it in
Not Shure but I think a guy I used to work with. had a high performance engine shop in North van may have built the engine ,
And that's why I saw the car
I went grape picking in 82 and while knocking about in Paris afterwards i sore one of these cars outside a posh hotel on that famous rd that i can't spell
It is in Buckinghamshire not Norfolk and the engine is sezed I work on it
That's interesting as we have been sent recent pictures of it in Saudi. Could you send some pictures to oscarsgarage999@gmail.com.
I remember that Car magazine did a story on these when they were first shown. In the sidebar comments, one editor wrote, "Whether it becomes the darling of rock stars and middle eastern potentates matters little. What matters is that the thing is utterly revolting -- as revolting as a fat, slimy slug."
Ouch...
I remember this car, it had vauxhall viva/ magnum front axles connected together to give the four wheel steer
I do vaguely remember reading that, doors were Opel/Vauxhall coupe apparently
I think the original was a twin turbo (one per bank) 8.2. And as well as being the 'fastest' car in the world it must have also had a single digit fuel economy too? I thought the second car was non turbo but could be wrong there, it has gone through many many revisions.
Yes original was twin turbo, second car has two turbos in later images (Canada onwards) so assume was originally a twin turbo.
if number 1 has been exported the owner of number 2 was fully entitled to apply and get the registration number so i would imagine that is what has happened in this case
funny, just a few days ago I have wondered, if there are any production cars, which have four front wheels, like that crazy F1 car and here it is.
that car is hiddeous (at least with it's roof up) 😃
It was in my top trumps super car set.
Wow Top Trumps! They were great, may have a set or 2 about!
Yep, mine as well, thats where I know it from.
@@GoldenCroc LOL me too!
6 wheelers was the fashion back in the 70's .lol
Hi. How about another 6 wheeler the Wolfrace Sonic, equally mental.
Oooo... let me check that one out!
Pretty sure this was up for sale on eBay in recent years. Made £18k if memory serves... @@oscarsgarage447
Absolutely. Just to pique your imagination, it has twin engines 😅.
I'm in....
@@oscarsgarage447 Built by Nick Butler for the Wolfrace Wheel company. Had dual Rover V8 engines and was registered and road legal. saw it at the Belle Vue Custom Car Show in 1981 or 82. It was originally painted midnight blue but later repainted bright red.
Nick was a very prolific hot rod builder, if he's still around he may know its whereabouts.
Yes the original car is indeed now purple and likely in Saudi. I have pictures of it being so too.
Would you like to share them so we can do an update? Oscarsgarage999@gmail.com
Thanks for this brilliant video. This car looks like it wouldn't of been out of place in the 1970's TV show Thunderbirds or Batman ) it's probably there offspring lol
Glad you enjoyed it!
What about the Car in the Credits of "The Pink Panther Show".....
Whatever happened to the Wolfrace Sonic? I'm sure it had 2 Rover V8 motors in it. I saw it once at a custom car show with my Dad at Bingley Hall, about 1980 I guess?
You are not the only one to ask, perhaps I should investigate...
Had a video idea- trying to find out what happened to the Rover SD1 (and maybe the Saab) from The Human League's "Don't You Want Me Baby" music video. Maybe could lead into a series about music video cars!
Good thought... I have had other music video suggestions but the cars had all been scrapped...
Aston Martin Lagonda also built at least one (possibly as many as three) six wheeled cars with similar 'computerised' instruments etc in thd 70's. I believe they were built for a Saudi prince or such. Not sure what happened to those, but I think they were shipped to the customer, so may be languishing in collections out there...
Wasn't aware of those, but the Saudis do seem to like 6 wheelers
You should do a series on the goblin work garage cars
I'll have a look, but being fairly recent there doesn't tend to be a story. But you never know...
Hello, great video unfortunately the original car has been re-sprayed that purple/blue colour that looks different from different angels. And is in what seems to be a car sales lot in Saudi Arabia but plus correct me if it is not?
Thanks for the info, I have been shown a clip of it at a car show.
Paint has a "Pearl" Effect Finish which causes the Paint to Change Colour when Viewed from Different Angles.......
Looks like a car homer Simpson would make
😂
Panther Westwinds has a thriving Owners club these days and the Deville was used in 1997s 101 Dalmatian's and the sequel 102 Dalmatian's and the new film Cruella
Amazing range of designs they put out.
@@oscarsgarage447 At one point the company nearly beat Morgan with the roadsters, Kallista (ford capri V6 engine) the Lima(powered by 2 litre four cylinder engine) and the J72 which was almost a replica of the SS100 but had a modern Jaguar engine. and even Oliver Reed the legendry Actor owned a Panther Deville saloon
Also they used a DeVille in The Mummy or its sequel can't remember which.
@@martinharris5017 I will have too double check that, because there was only 63 Devilles ever built and it was hand built too order from the factory
@@ThomasGAinsworth Knowing Hollywood it was probably the same car re-used for various films.
Great video, I've always been fascinated by this car. I can see where you were going with this and the evidence does kind of stack up, but I still hope there are two out there 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it... well there could still be 2 cars but maybe only one has a V5. Allegedly... 😉
LOL Oscar, The Panther Car Club for a total of only 2 vehicles...totally bonkers! Thanks for your efforts...you have a niche YT channel I enjoy!
Oh no, there are several other Panther models. www.panthercarclub.com/
@@oscarsgarage447fella I knew loved panthers he had two of them
Might have been capable of 200 if the rear wheels were larger diameter or gearbox highly (unlikely) modified,to build a car like this alone in your garage,that already has spares backup and tuneability,the viva front suspension was used & designed from rally car's at the time,so infinity tuneability there too,off the shelf, easily replicate a car like this, probably no viva part's left ,panther Lima based viva 2.3
Nice work Oscar wondering if the lady p car came before or after panther
Thanks. Good question... wasn't that in the 1960s?
Before.
@@nickjames2407 thanks nick I thought it probably was but couldn't remember which part of childhood I watched Thunderbirds
@@johngibson3837I remember being fascinated with Thunderbirds as a young child, and loved "F A B 1". Later in my teens, the Panther 6 came along. It was in its time, stunning in comparison with anything else available including some grossly customised SL Mercs. There was a showroom in Park Lane near the Playboy club that always had a few of those available for the wealthy visitors to that area from abroad. There was also, I'm not sure if it was before or afterwards, the completely different, Panther Royale, the World's most expensive car. It had a Jaguar V12 engine, and Austin Maxi based doors.
I am pretty sure I saw the white over black ( very dark blue)car in the mid 00's at a NEC classic car show.
Incidentally the red Panther Solo has been up sale recently in the Seven Valley area
Which ties in with the video time line nicely
@@oscarsgarage447 got a feeling it was made star of the show or something like that. It's a hell of a car and a school boy dream when it was first shown. Bob Jankal as you know was an interesting fella. He did some XJ40 2dr coupes, not sure how many but there was one about 20 years ago on a drive of a house near Kniver which is in the same part of the world as the Solo I mentioned, no connection just coincidence. The world needs more Bob Jankals, William Towns and Colin Chapmans
They only built two of these six wheeled, rear engined, 18 feet long, Cadillac powered two seat convertibles.
Yup, as it says in the video...
@ I wonder why
Striking yet unattractive
Unique yet not desirable
Six wheels when four were fine
Where do you store stuff?
El Camino vibes without the utility.
British custom high-end oddities of this era such as the spitfire tank engined giant hooded atrocity are pure cringe.
Brunei's sultan was buying every AMG they could build yet Britain didn't think to go in that direction of cars that looked, handled and drove spectacularly.
Hesketh motorcycles were the exception, and they've been fine tuned after 50 years and are now in production.
The pictures at 7 minutes 20 seconds remind me of a lawn tractor with its body work off.
Excellent documentation.
A suggestion: put your motorcycle as a feature in the background as opposed to hidden away behind stuff.
Suggestion heard, but the kit car I'm sat on is also a feature...
@oscarsgarage447
I missed that 👀
Could only make out the handlebars
What bike & car?
Based on Lady Penelopes Roller
What about in the Closing Credits of the Pink Panther Show.....Had Different Body and a Gull Wing Door Set Up......
"2 axle rigid body"
TWO axle?!!
Sell the Design and make a Kit car.
well, there is a more super supercar with 6 wheel, the 1977 Tyrell P34😉
Apparently that was the inspiration
The cars worth 10 grand Max
Its worth what someone wants to pay for it, and someone sell it for. Me, I will gladly pay much more than that if it shows up for sale.
its not a 2 axle rigid body like mot check says
I saw it when it was black
Cool, where was it?
Sure it was brown when i saw it at the motorshow,genius he made it at home, in his garage employees had no clue,caddy (fwd) engine wheels brakes, everything still in it's own subframe,was put in the back, front set up easy to, vauxhall Viva entire cross member,same everything fitted to that beam,bin used a thousand times on hot rods,with jaguar irs rear,everything attached to that as well,loads of race part's available for Viva's front,tune up part's for caddy,did it have a turbo really , V8 probly want two, pretty sure was dark brown , think panther Lima used vauxhall 2.3 Viva part's, so easily a available to him,like nicking a couple of pens from work,fknoze where he found caddy crate front end !!(Clip,for sceptic') ,genius vehicle,spare parts& modified already there
Also the Guinness book of world records at the time placed the Panther 6 as the fastest 'production' car in the world at 200mph. It was soon taken over however by another though, the Aston Martin Bulldog which apparently could do 210mph! Plainly the Guinness book of records was was quite happy to take number without any proof of either going very fast. The 3 speed auto like the Vector of the same time had huge ratios making acceleration little more than sedate.
I think I met to Micheal does he own a strip bar? I was asked to leave and I thought a s class or a 7 series, but no a fucking Yogo the driver couldn’t even fit behind the steering wheel 😂😂
"Autoshite"😂
Honestly... its a forum... and a good one!
Pretty sure one of them was in Saudi, painted a horrible cream colour. But that's from something i remember seeing on the net well over 10yrs ago
Well if you remember more keep us posted. Saudi keeps coming up on these cars, especially no1
@oscarsgarage447 or there was a 3rd car? Not inconceivable if a rich arab wanted one
Top Trumps legendary
I remember seeing the Panther 6 at the Motor Show many years back. If you like six wheeled cars, how about one made of wood and UK road registered? Here you go: th-cam.com/video/FPdsFMCKD74/w-d-xo.html
Ah yes. The Hustler? Goes back to my kit car roots!
There is ZERO chance THAT would get even remotely close to 170mph let alone above?
Unfortunately we will probably never know, but seeing that at 200mph would have been impressive to watch, and probably scary to be driving...
200mph in such a car would need at least 600hp, likely a fair bit more even. I doubt that engine puts out close to that number if it was built in the 70s.
@GoldenCroc and that's without the silly extra pair of wheels and assorted hubs, brakes, bearings etc adding loads of extra weight and drag.
@@davekennedy6315 Yes thats true enough, but to be fair thats not all that muich compared to the aerodynamic drag at that speed. But yes, its certainly wont be efficient in any way compared to most normal cars.
@GoldenCroc yeah, it looks FAR from the slippery, clean shape that assists in high top speeds.
No VIN......🤔 😂 Bulgarian Jail ...
Not much to work out then.
Short video of #1 Panther 6.
th-cam.com/video/lEHjVMZTOAM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RB3uKlwLPX2Pk9TH
Turned down offers of 150K, yeah right. I know what I got. Lol.
The market spoke at the auction...
Capable of 200 Mph ?? but was this ever proved? i very much doubt it, Pub bragging rights going on here, or just utter bullshit
But in truth, how many cars meet the the manufacturer figures...? I doubt its ever done 200mph, but hopefully a nerd out there will work out if it could have done...
BS but no more BS than what other makers claims. Porsche said their 911 Turbo did 0-60 in 4 seconds. They achieved that figure by jacking up the back of the car, in gear, flooring the throttle and dropping it. They destroyed multiple drivetrains in the process. No the Panther 6 never did 200mph except in the marketing blurb, but nothing new in that!
I found this on the #1 panther 6.
6 mins and 25 seconds in.
th-cam.com/video/yVtI7gFtGUY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=F4lSe24x2yKI1PgH
Brilliant job well done. So the painted purple & Saudi stories were correct!
25:45 min
Yes they are. Enjoyed your video too.
Great job.
@oscarsgarage447
Slow, ridiculous, impractical, noisy and deadly in an accident at any speed.
Is that your experience of the car based on a test drive or just an opinion?
What garbage. In no sense of the word was this rubbish a "supercar"
And as for the 200mph claim, I say BS.
I think panther ripped off my uncle in Glasgow before the panther he built famous 6 wheel 4 steering jaguar xjs in all mags at time
the germans love abit of 6 wheeled action look at the mantas,corsas and other mad conversions they've done
I remember a 6 wheel jag XJS that was featured in Street Machine magazine at that time but it had 4 wheels at the back and 2 up front. It was a promo build for the 100+ Wheel Company.
@@AFExploration that's same Jag covers street machine custom çar magazine had red white and blue paint 100+ saw at show wanted something out there and 6 wheel Jag a fiesta model with body kit too when croswire wheels of alloy alley cat copied with thicker spokes I'd love own 70s custom car as thru years been absolutely amazing custom trucks cars vans motorbikes scooters with art airbrushed on for decades anyone with info on an Anglia mk1,to5 cortinas or old vauxhall Opel's 2dr MK1 cavalier coupe sport hatch or Opel ascona b series 2door or manta any right drive Opel's kadetts b,c,D drop msg know any neglect needing saved