Packard Panther
Encyclopedia
The Packard Panther was a show car, built in 1954 to showcase some of the more radical ideas Packard was considering for its production models in the mid- and late-1950s.
The Panther was a two-seat "personal luxury" sporting convertible
(in the same vein as the Pan-American
), with Packard styling cues but much lower stance. A total of four Panthers were built, of which only two survive. Originally, the cars had 1955 Clipper
taillights, but these were subsequently removed and replaced with the Senior Series' "cathedral" style units. The design for the Panther's one-piece fiberglass body is credited to Dick Teague, later of AMC
, who worked at Mitchell-Bentley Corporation at the time. Of the four Panthers built, one was owned by Mitchell-Bentley exec William Mitchell, Sr. The Mitchell car is the only Panther which had a removable hardtop (which resembled the that of the 1955 Thunderbird
). Mitchell sold it in 1988 to the Bortz Collection. The car was sold in 2006 to an unknown buyer for in excess of $360,000. Although it was shown in late 1954 and 1955 (when Packard was already advertising its new, modern overhead valve
V8), the Panther featured the company's outdated 327 cid L-head
(flathead) straight-eight, supercharged to produce 275 hp, along with Ultramatic
automatic transmission
. Many believe Packard did not want to hurt sales of left-over 1954 L-head models, and by installing the new V8 in the Panther, potential buyers would ignore those cars for the all-new 1955s.
Currently still in existence, the Panther was also named "Daytona", and has been repainted in several different color schemes over the years. Today it remains in excellent condition and is privately owned.
The Panther was a two-seat "personal luxury" sporting convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
(in the same vein as the Pan-American
Packard Pan-American
The Packard Pan-American is a concept car produced for the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan in 1952.Conceived as a moderate-performance two-seater by Hugh Ferry, president of Packard, it was built by Henney, which was responsible for fitting custom hearse and ambulance bodies on...
), with Packard styling cues but much lower stance. A total of four Panthers were built, of which only two survive. Originally, the cars had 1955 Clipper
Packard Clipper
The Packard Clipper was initially a single model of the Packard Motor Car Company introduced in April, 1941, midyear, much as was the 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang and other new departures. It was manufactured between 1942 and 1947, from the six and junior eight, to the Super-8, where it cost more than...
taillights, but these were subsequently removed and replaced with the Senior Series' "cathedral" style units. The design for the Panther's one-piece fiberglass body is credited to Dick Teague, later of AMC
American Motors
American Motors Corporation was an American automobile company formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.George W...
, who worked at Mitchell-Bentley Corporation at the time. Of the four Panthers built, one was owned by Mitchell-Bentley exec William Mitchell, Sr. The Mitchell car is the only Panther which had a removable hardtop (which resembled the that of the 1955 Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird (first generation)
Ford unveiled the Thunderbird at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954. The first production car came off the line on September 9, 1954, and went on sale on October 22, 1954 as a 1955 model, and sold briskly; 3,500 orders were placed in the first ten days of sale...
). Mitchell sold it in 1988 to the Bortz Collection. The car was sold in 2006 to an unknown buyer for in excess of $360,000. Although it was shown in late 1954 and 1955 (when Packard was already advertising its new, modern overhead valve
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
V8), the Panther featured the company's outdated 327 cid L-head
Flathead engine
A flathead engine is an internal combustion engine with valves placed in the engine block beside the piston, instead of in the cylinder head, as in an overhead valve engine...
(flathead) straight-eight, supercharged to produce 275 hp, along with Ultramatic
Ultramatic
For the Voigtländer SLR camera, see Voigtländer Ultramatic CSUltramatic was the trademarked name of the Packard Motor Car Company's automatic transmission introduced in 1949 and produced until 1956 at Packard's Detroit, Michigan factory....
automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. Many believe Packard did not want to hurt sales of left-over 1954 L-head models, and by installing the new V8 in the Panther, potential buyers would ignore those cars for the all-new 1955s.
Currently still in existence, the Panther was also named "Daytona", and has been repainted in several different color schemes over the years. Today it remains in excellent condition and is privately owned.