From extravagant replicas and six-wheeled fantasies to the Kallista and a restyled Dolomite, we chart the ups and downs of Panther.
To most petrol heads, there’s a world of difference between designing the latest high street fashions and running a company producing a range of retrostyled sports cars, but this unusual move didn’t seem to faze Robert Jankel when he left the family fashion business in 1972 to found Panther Westwinds in a factory overlooking the famous Brooklands motor racing circuit. Born in London in 1938, Robert Jankel studied engineering at Chelsea College and went on to build his first car, a customised Austin Seven special, in 1954 before reluctantly joining the family fashion business following an unsuccessful stint as a car salesman.
Even while working as a fashion designer, Jankel was still involved with cars and completely rebuilt a vintage 1930 Rolls-Royce, which he promptly sold in 1970 while on a trip to Spain to a bullfighter for £10,000. With the blessing of his wife Jennifer, the daughter of the famous bandleader Joe Loss, Jankel invested the cash he’d received from the sale of the restored Rolls-Royce and founded Panther Westwinds to build a range of specialised sports cars. The name Panther was chosen for the new concern as Jankel hoped it would lead to his cars conjuring up a similar image to those produced by Jaguar, while the Westwinds part was taken from the name of his family home.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2018 من Classic Car Mart.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2018 من Classic Car Mart.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
3D Technology To Preserve Classics?
Traditionally, the unavailability of a critical component has had major repercussions for owners of historic vehicles, putting the brakes on a restoration project or even forcing a historic vehicle off the road.
UPCYCLING
Two British-made modern classics which made credible sporting saloons despite their unlikely origins.
NICHE WORK
A crossover model before the term had even been invented, the original Range Rover could well be the perfect multi-purpose classic.
CLASSIC REVIVAL
Fancy an MGB without the welding and SUs? The much modernised RV8 should fit the bill.
1980s FLEET FAVOURITES
We profile a line-up of popular mid-sized '80s company cars ranging from the ubiquitous Sierra and Cavalier repmobiles through to the king of the company car park, the BMW 3-Series.
Solid State
Although a well-preserved Volvo 120 Series ‘Amazon’ makes a good choice as an occasional everyday classic driver, the range can be confusing. We play the numbers game and reveal some of the Amazon’s main foibles.
Round-Up - 1990s Jaguars
Following Ford’s acquisition of an independent Jaguar in 1989, the Coventry-based luxury car maker underwent a transformation that led to the introduction of a range of capable models that today are reasonably affordable as well as being fun to own and drive.
Myth And Rumour
The Stag may have suffered a poor reputation when new, but in the 21st century it’s one of Britain’s most popular classics – and justifiably so. We take a look at the pros and cons of investing in Triumph’s sporting flagship.
The Full English
An English-built Citroën meets English wine as we enter a slightly bizarre parallel universe.
Tailgate Revolving Doors
Paul Guinness looks back at his experiences from 35 years ago, when he helped to arrange a club stand at the first-ever Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC
