Panther Westwinds

Panther Westwinds, commonly known as Panther, was a British manufacturer of niche sports cars and luxury cars founded in 1972 by designer and entrepreneur Robert Jankel. The company operated from Surrey and pursued a distinctive alternative to mainstream British and European car makers. Rather than developing a complete range of proprietary mechanical systems, Panther generally combined production-car mechanical components with unusually styled bodies, elaborate interiors and low-volume coachbuilding techniques. This approach allowed the company to create visually dramatic automobiles without the engineering and tooling budgets required for mass production. Panther's early identity was built around retro-inspired luxury and sporting cars. The J.72, introduced during the company's first period, used Jaguar-related mechanical elements and presented them in a long, flamboyant pre-war-inspired form. The De Ville similarly emphasized imposing proportions, traditional luxury-car cues and customized presentation. The company also experimented with more unusual projects, including the six-wheeled Panther 6, of which only two were built, and the Lazer, a show-oriented sports-car concept. Its products occupied an extremely narrow market: they were expensive, conspicuous and aimed at buyers seeking exclusivity rather than conventional value or practicality. Panther also attempted to reinterpret existing mainstream cars as more luxurious products. The Rio was based on the Triumph Dolomite but was presented with substantially more lavish trim and a price positioned far above the donor model. The Lima used Vauxhall-based mechanical components beneath a fiberglass body. The Lima's body production was handled by Industrial Marine Fibreglass in Newton Abbot, Devon, illustrating the specialist supplier network on which the company depended. The business collapsed in 1980 and was acquired by Young Chull Kim. Production of several established models, including the J.72, De Ville and Lima, resumed in 1981. Under Kim's ownership and through his South Korean Jindo Corporation, Panther developed the Kallista, a new two-seat roadster using Ford mechanical components and replacing the earlier Vauxhall-based Lima. The Kallista entered production in 1983 at Byfleet, later moved to facilities within the Brooklands racetrack, and was also produced at a new Harlow factory from 1988. Jindo sold its interest to SsangYong in 1987. During the 1980s Panther pursued a more technically ambitious product in the Solo. Initially conceived as a rear-wheel-drive two-seater, the design was revised into a four-wheel-drive 2+2 sports car. The Solo reached production only in very limited numbers, and SsangYong announced the end of both Kallista and Solo production in 1990. Parts were transferred to South Korea, where an unsuccessful attempt was made to develop a wider-bodied Kallista for the 1990s European market. SsangYong's later financial problems and the absorption of its motor division into Daewoo further ended the practical continuity of the business. Robert Jankel bought the Panther name back from Korean ownership in 2001 and began work on another sports-car design. He died in 2005 before the project was completed. His son Andrew characterized the unfinished design as an incomplete final statement of Jankel's creative ambitions. Panther therefore remains principally remembered as a low-volume British marque that combined extravagant styling, donor-car engineering and specialist manufacturing, rather than as a sustained mass-production company.

Panther Westwinds was founded in 1972 in Surrey by Robert Jankel, a designer associated with flamboyant and unconventional automobile concepts. The business focused on low-volume production and coachbuilt presentation rather than economies of scale. Panther's central formula was to take readily available mechanical components from established manufacturers and combine them with fiberglass or aluminum bodies, elaborate interiors and retro-inspired styling. This allowed the company to offer cars that looked unlike their donor vehicles and appealed to customers seeking rarity and status. Among the earliest and best-known products was the J.72, a large roadster with strong pre-war luxury-car influences. Panther also developed the De Ville, another imposing luxury model, and the Rio, which was based on the Triumph Dolomite but equipped and priced as a much more exclusive automobile. The Lima used Vauxhall-based mechanical components and a fiberglass body manufactured by Industrial Marine Fibreglass in Devon. The company explored extreme concepts as well, including the three-axled Panther 6, of which only two examples were manufactured, and the Panther Lazer. In the late 1970s Panther also worked on a hovercraft powered by two Honda Gold Wing 1000 cc motorcycle engines. One engine was intended to power the lift fan and the other the directional thrust fan. Development took place discreetly at a director's Surrey property with assistance from a specialist race mechanic, but the project ended when the company failed. The vehicle's later whereabouts are unknown. Panther collapsed in 1980 and was purchased by Young Chull Kim. Production of the J.72, De Ville and Lima resumed the following year. Kim's Jindo Corporation in South Korea developed a replacement for the Lima: the Kallista, a two-seat roadster using Ford mechanical components, a steel chassis platform and an aluminum body. Kallista production began in February 1983 at Canada Road in Byfleet. In January 1984 production moved to a facility within the Brooklands racetrack. Jindo later sold its Panther interest to SsangYong in July 1987. A new Panther factory opened in Harlow, Essex, in February 1988, while production continued at Brooklands. Panther was also developing the Solo, a more original and technically ambitious sports car. The initial concept was a rear-wheel-drive two-seater, but the design was subsequently changed into a four-wheel-drive 2+2. The Solo entered production only in very small numbers. In 1990 SsangYong ended Kallista and Solo production. Parts were moved to South Korea, where a wider-bodied fiberglass Kallista was developed. The revised car increased interior width by approximately four centimeters, but the project did not succeed commercially, although some cars reached mainland European markets. SsangYong later encountered financial difficulties, and its motor division was absorbed into Daewoo in 1999. In 2001 Jankel reacquired the Panther name and started work on a new sports car intended for production in the United States. He died in 2005 before completing the project. His son Andrew described the design as an unfinished creative work. Panther's historical importance lies in its distinctive low-volume approach: it produced memorable, highly individual vehicles, but its dependence on niche demand, specialist suppliers and successive owners made sustained production difficult.

• 2001

  Jankel reacquires the Panther name

  [1]Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org

  Robert Jankel buys the Panther name back from Korean ownership and begins work on a new sports car.

• 1990

  Kallista and Solo production ends

  [1]Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org

  SsangYong announces the end of production for both the Kallista and Solo.

• 1988

  Harlow factory opens

  [1]Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org

  Panther opens another factory in Harlow, Essex, for Kallista production.

• 1987

  SsangYong acquires Jindo's interest

  [1]Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org

  Jindo Corporation sells its interest in Panther to SsangYong.

• 1984

  Production moves to Brooklands

  [1]Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org

  Kallista production transfers to a second factory located within the Brooklands racetrack.

• 1983

  Kallista production starts

  [1]Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org

  The Ford-based Kallista enters production at the Canada Road facility in Byfleet.

• 1980

  Original company collapses

  [1]Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org

  Panther Westwinds collapses and is purchased by Young Chull Kim.

• 1975

  Panther Rio introduced

  [1]Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org

  The Rio, based on the Triumph Dolomite but given substantially more luxurious appointments, becomes one of Panther's distinctive reinterpretations of a mainstream car.

• 1972

  Panther Westwinds is founded

  [1]Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org

  Robert Jankel establishes Panther Westwinds in Surrey as a manufacturer of niche sports and luxury cars.

Panther positioned itself as an exclusive British niche marque offering theatrical styling, coachbuilt presentation and limited production. Its cars were typically based on mechanical components from established manufacturers but were sold as highly distinctive luxury or sporting alternatives for buyers prioritizing rarity and visual impact.

• Luxury sports car · 1972

  Panther J.72

  The J.72 was one of Panther's signature early automobiles. It used Jaguar-related mechanical components beneath an extravagant open body inspired by large pre-war sporting cars. Its long proportions, conspicuous styling and low-volume manufacture embodied Panther's strategy of selling exclusivity and visual drama rather than conventional practicality. Production began during the company's first operating period and resumed after the 1980 acquisition.

• Luxury car · 1974

  Panther De Ville

  The De Ville was a large, highly styled luxury automobile designed to evoke the presence of traditional prestige cars while remaining a specialist Panther product. It emphasized imposing exterior treatment and lavish presentation. The model was part of the group of Panther vehicles whose production restarted after Young Chull Kim acquired the company in 1980.

• Luxury saloon · 1975

  Panther Rio

  The Rio was based on the Triumph Dolomite but was transformed through more elaborate trim and luxury-oriented presentation. Panther marketed it as a much more exclusive proposition than its donor car, with a price reported in the reference material as equivalent to several Dolomites. The model illustrates Panther's practice of rebodying or extensively upgrading mainstream mechanical packages for a niche clientele.

• Sports car · 1976

  Panther Lima

  The Lima was a compact retro-styled sports car using Vauxhall-based mechanical components and a fiberglass body. Its bodyshell was manufactured by Industrial Marine Fibreglass in Newton Abbot, Devon. The model remained part of Panther's revived range after the 1980 collapse and was later superseded in the company's strategy by the Ford-based Kallista.

• Convertible roadster · 1983

  Panther Kallista

  The Kallista was a two-seat convertible developed under Jindo ownership as a successor to the Vauxhall-based Lima. Its steel chassis platform and aluminum body were paired with Ford mechanical components. Production began in Byfleet in 1983, moved to Brooklands in 1984 and was supplemented by Harlow production from 1988. A later wider-bodied fiberglass derivative was developed in South Korea but did not achieve commercial success.

• Sports car · 1989

  Panther Solo

  The Solo was Panther's attempt to create a more original and technically advanced sports car. The project began as a rear-wheel-drive two-seater and was redesigned as a four-wheel-drive 2+2. It represented a move away from the company's more traditional donor-car-based products, but production was extremely limited and SsangYong ended the program in 1990.

• Six-wheeled sports car · 1977

  Panther 6

  The Panther 6 was an extreme three-axled sports-car project and one of the marque's most unusual designs. Only two examples were manufactured. It demonstrated Panther's willingness to pursue highly individual configurations that would have been impractical for a conventional volume manufacturer.

• 2001

  Reacquisition of the Panther nameM&A

  Background

  After the marque had passed through Korean ownership, Robert Jankel sought to restore control of the Panther identity.

  Action taken

  Jankel bought the Panther name back and began preparing a new sports-car design.

  Aftermath

  The planned revival did not reach completed production before Jankel's death in 2005.

  Source

• 1990

  Termination of Kallista and Solo productionStrategy

  Background

  SsangYong controlled the Panther business while the marque faced the limitations of a small specialist production base.

  Action taken

  SsangYong announced the end of Kallista production in spring 1990 and Solo production in autumn 1990.

  Aftermath

  Parts were moved to South Korea, where a wider-bodied Kallista project was attempted without commercial success.

  Source

• 1983

  Solo redesigned as a four-wheel-drive 2+2Generation change

  Background

  Panther was developing a new sports car intended to be more original than its donor-based models.

  Action taken

  The Solo design changed from a rear-wheel-drive two-seater into a four-wheel-drive 2+2.

  Aftermath

  The technically ambitious car eventually reached only very limited production before the program ended in 1990.

  Source

• 1982

  Development of the Kallista replacementStrategy

  Background

  The Vauxhall-based Lima was no longer the central basis for Panther's next-generation roadster.

  Action taken

  Jindo Corporation developed a steel chassis and aluminum-bodied two-seater using Ford mechanical components.

  Aftermath

  The Kallista entered production in 1983 and became Panther's principal roadster during the 1980s.

  Source

• 1980

  Sale of Panther after corporate collapseM&A

  Background

  The original Panther Westwinds company collapsed after a period of ambitious low-volume vehicle development and other experimental projects.

  Action taken

  Young Chull Kim purchased the business and restarted production of the J.72, De Ville and Lima.

  Aftermath

  The Panther name continued under Korean-linked ownership and the company developed the Kallista and Solo.

  Source

1. 1Panther Westwindsen.wikipedia.org