Panther Deville? Any Info/help Appricated!

[lambo_xx]

Just wondering what they were like? What are they like to drive? Was there many made?

I've always been completely obsessed by the car in 101 Dalmatians and just think it's stunning, I noticed it was a 2 door rather than a 4 door does that mean it's rare? Does anyone know where that particular car is now? It used to be on Display at Disney Orlando, but last time I was there it was moved.

Any other info would be much appreciated

Thanks

[mark387mw]

I used to have a Kallista and found it easy to drive and own but can't help with the De Ville, a rare car indeed.
Research help is here http://www.pantherclub.co.uk/Georges/web/web.htm and here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_De_Ville

[alsaautomotive]

Can't comment on how they drive, but we painted one several years ago & they are very, very nicely built

[grahamw48]

They look ridiculous, as the wheels are totally out of proportion with he rest of the car...ie far too small.

[hot metal]

The doors are from a Mini.

[smokingtyre]

There was one on display at Disneyland Paris when I went a couple of years ago - I will see if I can dig out a picture of it.

I don't know much about them through, apart from they seems well built but are made from a bit of everything.

[lambo_xx]

smokingtyre said:

There was one on display at Disneyland Paris when I went a couple of years ago - I will see if I can dig out a picture of it.

I don't know much about them through, apart from they seems well built but are made from a bit of everything.

Yea that would be the one from 101 Dalmatians. As far as I know they only had one for the film. Can you remember if the car was outside or inside? It was inside in Orlando about 10 years ago IIRC.

If you could find that photo it would be much appreciated as I LOVE that car!

[graeme36s]

I know a father and son that built them. Both ex rolls royce chaps.

[smokingtyre]

These pics are from Disneyland Paris last year.

[Stegel]

hot metal said:

The doors are from a Mini.

The doors came from the Austin/Morris 1800 (Maxi, 3 litre also used them). Front doors modified to quarter lights (or did the 3 litre have this as standard?) rears to suit the wheelbase.

[Skyedriver]

It's a Beauford or Beaufront (???) that uses mini doors
Kit car type vehicle oft used as wedding car

[garethj]

Stegel said:

hot metal said:

The doors are from a Mini.

The doors came from the Austin/Morris 1800 (Maxi, 3 litre also used them). Front doors modified to quarter lights (or did the 3 litre have this as standard?) rears to suit the wheelbase.

That's true, but that Disney car only has 2 doors - the same as the DeVille cabrio. They look longer than Maxi front doors to me so could be Mini ones?

Some brochure pics:
Saloon

Convertible

From here

Edited by garethj on Thursday 8th October 13:11

[lambo_xx]

smokingtyre said:

These pics are from Disneyland Paris last year.

Great pictures, thanks for posting! I don't know why exactly but I've just always loved this car, I think it's absolutely stunning. Anyway thanks again.!

[vixen1700]

There was a little feature about Oliver Reed's Deville in Classic & Sportscar a few months back. Sorry, can't remember which month it was though.

[BigG80]

Hi there,

The DeVille for 101 Dalmations was converted from the standard car. They removed the rear doors and chopped up the boot area to get that strange rear end. They also removed the standard V12 Rolls Royce engine and replaced it with a Chevy block for some strange reason.

My stepfather is George Newell who runs www.pantherclub.co.uk and his page has a lot of information on the DeVille along with all the other Panther models. He's owned 2 of the saloons and also an incredibly rare red/cream Convertible which was my sister's wedding car. George actually went to inspect the Disney car a few years back and reported it as being in a bit of a state with water eating through the door sills and they had a lot of trouble trying to start the car. I'm presuming from the pictures above that a restoration job has taken place.

In terms of driving the car, I've not driven it but George and my Mum used the car for a month long European tour and its a big lazy cruising car. They will blast along at over 100 mph which makes people get out of the way quite quickly when they see them in the rear view mirror!

I grew up with Panthers as my Dad formed the original club and then George used to run a restoration/sales business for the cars after that. I love them for all their faults!

[AndrewW-G]

BigG80 said:

Hi there,

The DeVille for 101 Dalmations was converted from the standard car. They removed the rear doors and chopped up the boot area to get that strange rear end. They also removed the standard V12 Rolls Royce engine and replaced it with a Chevy block for some strange reason.

Think you may have meant they removed the Jaguar V12

[BigG80]

AndrewW-G said:

BigG80 said:

Hi there,

The DeVille for 101 Dalmations was converted from the standard car. They removed the rear doors and chopped up the boot area to get that strange rear end. They also removed the standard V12 Rolls Royce engine and replaced it with a Chevy block for some strange reason.

Think you may have meant they removed the Jaguar V12

Dam! Yes you're absolutely right. For some reason I was thinking of the car we had before the DeVille which was a Silver Shadow and it got stuck in my head.

The DeVille of course used V12 Jaguar running gear as did the J72 (except for few examples with the small engine), the Lima was Vauxhall Magnum based and the Kallista was Ford based using the 1.6, 2.8, 2.8i and 2.9i engines.

[garethj]

BigG80 said:

The DeVille of course used V12 Jaguar running gear as did the J72 (except for few examples with the small engine)

I thought most J72s used the Jaguar 6 cylinder engine, and very few had the V12?

[lowdrag]

There's one here for sale at £39,500 if you are feeling flush:-

http://www.pantherclub.co.uk/Georges/salesfromweb/...

If you are not feeling flush but want to read a road test this didn't sell but you could contact the vendor to read all about it:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/**PANTHER-DE-VILLE--REPRINT-...

And original brochures etc. can be found here:-

http://www.mclellansautomotive.com/lit/bymake/pant...

There is a book available on the net about the history of Panther and the development of the cars too. I knew the DeVille was styled after a Bugatti but didn't know it was the Type 46 until now. Oh, and yes, the doors were from the 1800 series.

[RW774]

That sums it up