Panther Solo: PH Carpool
This week's Carpooler keeps it in the family with a very rare Brit sports car
Car: Panther Solo
Owned since: 2005
Previously owned: My other car - a 2010 Focus ST MP260
This Panther and David have some history
"I bought the car from my late father who had owned the Solo from new. He had said he was thinking of selling the car and I couldn't let it go. Having seen the car in the factory being made and all the memories of sitting in that passenger seat, hearing the engine roar and that feeling of being pressed into the back of the seat it just meant too much. So in 2005 I purchased the Solo."
What I wish I'd known:
"The pitfalls of an old classic hand-built English sports car. When something needs replacing what parts do you need? The car seems to have been made with a mixture of bits from different makes and models on top of custom Panther parts. This has meant many hours on the internet and phone tracking down Alfa Spider lights, electrical diagrams for Lotus Esprit headlights, aluminium fabricators for custom fuel tanks and rads and much more. It seems new cars you drive in silence but not with old cars, if it stops squeaking and rattling you think something must be broken!"
"It's a what you say?"
"From the first moment I saw the car as a young lad I loved it! Everything about the car was so different, it had everything a small boy wants in a car with a huge wing, scoops, speed and the noise turning heads wherever you go. Behind the wheel the handling is just amazing and you can really feel the effects of all the hard work designing the car. Everywhere I go in the car people always want to ask about it. But the best thing is it always just puts a smile on your face."
Things I hate:
"If you ever get to see one of these cars up close take a look at the panel gaps, they're huge! So along with the fit and finish the worst thing with this car is always being asked 'Is that a kit car?' and then having to explain that the car was made by the Panther car company in Essex, followed by 'What's a Panther?'"
Parts a hassle but David's still smitten
"Cost and availability of parts can be a bit hit and miss, with most of the mechanical parts coming from Ford which are easily found and not too expensive. However, the time it can take to find out the make and models from which these parts are from can be exhausting and at times very expensive. Luckily for me the guys at Plough Lane Coachworks in Sutton have years of knowledge and have done an amazing job with my car so far.
"Just watch out if you need body panels as the tooling needed to make them are no longer here so if you need one then it will be custom made with a price tag to suit. Classic car insurance with a limited mileage has provided good value at around £300."
It's even been camping!
"Mostly the car has stayed around the Surrey and Essex areas but have had some very memorable times going camping in the New Forest with the car, surprising what you can fit in it."
What next?
"I will never sell this car as it just holds too much sentimental value, so plans on keeping the old girl going are well on the way. Currently sourcing new custom made parts to replace the aging radiators (from Pro Alloy), hoses (SFS Performance) and exhaust system to name just a few.
"Once everything is all good then a respray and some car shows hopefully!"
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!
Also the first Wikipedia article I've seen about a car that literally names all the examples in existence along with their owners: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_Solo
Only issue for me is that what has been seen, cannot be un-seen! To me they look truly ugly! Brilliant, and I'd happily have one, but ugly!
Only issue for me is that what has been seen, cannot be un-seen! To me they look truly ugly! Brilliant, and I'd happily have one, but ugly!
Well played, sir.
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