Panther Solo (2)

[plasticman]

I remember when I was working on it that they were priced at £40K and cost £100K to build . There was also a problem with the chassis design where a rear end shunt could result in a chassis rail coming through the drivers seat .

[Slowboy]

Hi plasticman, very interesting to come across someone who actually worked on the Solo. From what you say the economics of building the car were clearly even worse than I'd been led to believe. The previous estimates I'd been given were that each one cost around £80 - 85k to build with the vast majority of this being the steel, glass, kevlar epoxy survival tub. I've never heard of the rear end shunt problem - but it certainly doesn't sound ideal! Based on your comments I'll be watching my rear view mirror a touch more - in the interests of self preservation.

Are there any other interesting facts you can share concerning the pros and cons of the Solo from a manufacturing / testing perspective. I'd be really interested. Cheers.

[s m]

rob.e said:

I remember the magazines really rated this back in the day.. but I feel it has not aged well.

Lots of ford part on there, and has a kit-car feel unfortunately.

Can remember Autocar running one at their annual Best Handling Day, alongside a Sapphire 4x4 RS

[Slowboy]

Hi Don1, I've been buying and selling cars on PH for about 9 years as Slowboy, but only recently did I notice the forums! Obviously this doesn't say much for my observation or IT literacy skills. Clearly my user name applies to more than just the speed I drive. Cheers.

[garethj]

I remember the excitement from the magazines when this car was being developed, there are a few road tests scanned in here: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=7869726@N02&q=...

When I was in university I got a copy of the IMechE report about carbon fibre composites being used in the chassis, if you're a complete anorak (or studied Automotive Engineering) it's very interesting to read about the state of the art in the late '80s

[Joe911]

My brother http://pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?memberI... used to own one, maybe even that one!

[Carfolio]

Dave Hedgehog said:

43034 said:

All I can see is an MR2

me 2

It predates the Mk 2 MR2 by a year or two though.

[astrsxi77]

I've never been so disappointed seeing a car in the metal as I was when I finally saw a Solo, a couple of years back at an auto pageant.

One would feature in practically every early 90s "Supercars" type book that I had as a child and it was always near the top of my dream cars lists.

Well, come the day, all that expectation was swiftly replaced by disillusion - look at the length of the thing and the weird cab-forward design! Savour the sideways protruding pop-ups, the myriad Ford parts and panel gaps. Even the engine is oddly off-centre, presumably for packaging reasons.

Perhaps I was expecting too much of a car from a compnay with such modest resources.

[DoodleMcDoo]

just found this thread and had to join to add saying I also own one of this cars and has just started to get a massive overhaul to be put back on the road.

I also have some pictures of the cars being made at the factory which can be found here

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150948...

[Ozzie Osmond]

Very unusual car and it's always interesting to hear about them for that reason alone!

[SturdyHSV]

If you look at the cars in the background, that must have seemed like a spaceship at the time

[s m]

SturdyHSV said:

If you look at the cars in the background, that must have seemed like a spaceship at the time

Always reminded me a bit of the Mk2 MR2 from the front which came out roughly the same time

[Panteros]

If all goes to plan there will be Solo on display at the NEC Classic Motor Show in November. The theme is Classics Reunited and the Panther Car Club will be bringing the two companies together showing the rise and fall of Panthers so the Solo is a must as it broke the bank.
Having driven the Solo its once driven not forgotten with good road holding at high speeds excellent on the country lanes but not very practical as an every day car although great fun second car.

[rohrl]

I've got an old copy of Car magazine somewhere in which they lauded the Panther Solo as the next great world-beating British sports car. The same article however did admit that the car they were testing was shoddily put together at best and sounded pretty agricultural being fitted with Sierra running gear.

[williamp]

Just missed this one on ebay. Still really want one...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-Panther-Solo-Deposi...