Panther 6 six wheel car history

Manufacturer	Panther Westwind’s Ltd
Production	1977 to 1978
Produced	2
Assembly	Weybridge, England
Body style	2-door convertible
Layout	RMR layout
Engine	V8 8.2L Cadillac
Transmission	3-speed automatic
Wheelbase	105.0 in (2,667 mm)
Length	192.0 in (4,877 mm)
Width	80.0 in (2,032 mm)
Height	48.0 in (1,219 mm)
Curb weight	2,870 lb (1,302 kg)
Designer	Robert Jankel

The Panther 6 was an unusual road sports car produced by the British car manufacturer Panther from the 1970s.

History

The Panther 6 was primarily designed and built to draw public attention to the company. It was largely self-constructed in 1976 by Robert Jankel, the company's owner. its most striking feature that had six wheels with cabriolet body type and only a three-seater. Other eye-catching design features were a body-coloured front bumper with wide embedded lighting units. The main headlights could be folded out. Features included a detachable hard top and convertible soft top, hi tech electronic instruments, air conditioning, electric seats and windows and even an automatic fire extinguisher, The car had a large panoramic window and sunken wipers. Inside, two telephones were installed in the doors, and there was a television set in the dashboard.

The Panther 6 was presented to the public at the 1977 London Motor Show in Earls Court and it unique looks caused a great stir there. A total of only two examples of the Panther 6 were built within eight years. Both were painted differently over the years.

The first vehicle was a right-hand drive, painted black. It had a single bench seat with three seats and featured a column shifter. The vehicle took up the design concept of the Tyrrell P34, which caused quite a stir in the Formula 1 World Championship from 1976, and implemented it in the field of road vehicles. 

The second vehicle was left-hand drive with two individual seats and a centre shift. Panther began building the second car in 1978; However, the company soon ran into financial difficulties and was initially unable to complete the car. The second 6 was not completed until Panther was already in receivership. It primarily served to develop additional funds for the company through the sale of the car. The car was sold in 1985 for £150,000 later painted white and black.

The car had two steered front axles with four small 205/40 VR13 tires and one rear axle with two significantly larger tires. The front suspension was independent with  wishbones and coil springs fitted with  anti-roll bar and  telescopic dampers at the rear also  independent, wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar and telescopic dampers. 

The wheelbase from the second front axle to the rear axle is 2667. The vehicle is 4877 mm long, 2032 mm wide and 1219 mm high. The curb weight is given as 1302 kg.

The vehicle was powered by an 8.2-litre, twin-turbocharged with 2 Airesearch T04 turbochargers to a Holley downdraught carb the eight-cylinder engine sourced from Cadillac mid-mounted above the rear axle. The factory specified the power of the engine as 600 hp; the top speed should be 200 miles per hour (about 320 km/h). A General Motors three-speed automatic transmission served as power transmission gearbox Turbo-Hydramatic 425 automatic with hydraulic torque converter and 3 ratios with possible manual selection.

Claims for the top speed of this vehicle suggested it was capable of over 200 mph (322 km/h); however, these claims are so far unsubstantiated.
It is doubtful whether series production was planned. A major problem along the way was the small front tires that Pirelli had made exclusively for this vehicle and which would have been very expensive to produce.