Tag Archives: panther

Kellison J6

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1968 Kellison J6 Panther

Offered by Bring a Trailer Auctions | Online | December 2020

Photo – Bring a Trailer

Jim Kellison’s Kellison Manufacturing Company was established circa 1957 in California. Their specialty was fiberglass kit cars. Beefy, mean-looking fiberglass kit cars. We’ve featured J4R and J5R models before, and this is a J6, which was the final model introduced.

The J6 was designed for use around a Corvette frame, although this particular car uses a custom-fabricated steel frame. Power is from a 5.0-liter Chevrolet V8. Apart from the body, the car is made up of bits and pieces of other production cars. It’s got a GM transmission, a Ford rear end, a Studebaker windshield, Buick suspension components, etc.

At least 500 J6s were built, presumably all as kits (some earlier cars could’ve been had as turn-key examples). They’re a rare sight today – and they are still good looking. This one is currently up on BaT. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $64,928.

Panther Lima

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1979 Panther Lima

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Essen, Germany | Date TBD…

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Robert Jankel’s Panther Westwinds had not only a weird name but also a weird catalog of cars. The Lima was a retro-styled sports car introduced in 1976 and eventually replaced by the Kallista in 1982.

The Lima was based on the Vauxhall Viva and Magnum. It featured a fiberglass body reminiscent of a Morgan and is powered by a 2.3-liter Vauxhall inline-four. They weren’t terribly quick or powerful, but a turbocharged version went on sale in 1979.

In all, 897 examples were produced. This bumblebee-liveried RHD example will sell at no reserve whenever this auction ends up taking place. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $8,329.

Ferrari Daytona Wagon

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1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Shooting Brake by Panther Westwinds

Offered by Gooding & Company | Pebble Beach, California | August 20-21, 2016

Photo - Gooding & Company

Photo – Gooding & Company

We’ll start by urging you to go to Gooding & Company’s website to check out more pictures of this awesome car. Sure, it’s a Ferrari Daytona, but it has been turned into a shooting brake – a two-door wagon. The rear section features a lot of glass, including a huge rear window and gullwing-hinged side glass that fold up. It’s astonishing.

As a 365 GTB/4 this car is powered by a 4.4-liter V-12 making 352 horsepower. The design was actually done by Luigi Chinetti Jr. for a customer at his dealership. The body was built by Panther Westwinds, a manufacturer of sports cars in their own right.

The first owner was a Floridian who surely enjoyed driving this mobile, black, glass greenhouse. It would have a few other American owners (and one Belgian). The current owner acquired the car in 2013 and had it completely restored. It has only covered 4,500 miles in its life, which is incredible. This unique one-off is expected to bring between $700,000-$1,000,000. Click here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Panther Kallista

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1984 Panther Kallista Turbo

Offered by Oldtimer Galerie | Toffen, Switzerland | April 23, 2016

Photo - Oldtimer Galerie

Photo – Oldtimer Galerie

Panther Westwinds was an English car company that built some strange cars during their existence. The Kallista was a retro-looking model that was very similar to the company’s earlier car, the Lima.

Panther actually built their cars, even though they were based around other models and some might mistake them for kit cars. The Kallista could be had with a variety of Ford engines. This car carries a 2.8-liter Ford V-6 that has apparently been turbocharged. Output is about 213 horsepower.

Panther built this model from 1982 through 1990 (but produced continued in South Korea by SsangYong from ’90-’93). We’re unsure on total production for this model, but it is said that this is the only such model in Switzerland. It should bring between $29,350-$33,500. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Panther DeVille

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1977 Panther DeVille

Offered by Auctions America | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | March 22-24, 2013

1977 Panther DeVille

Panther Westwinds build some outrageous cars in their history. This neo-classic is actually pretty tame compared to some of their cars (it only has four wheels, is what I mean). When it was introduced in 1974, there were already a few neo-classics on the market, but so many more were yet to come.

The body was meant to evoke the Bugatti Royale. The engines were Jaguar-sourced – either a straight six or an optional V-12. The original owner of this car opted for the latter and it made about 282 horsepower. The car was named De Ville and, as you would expect from a car that looks like this and has that name, one was used (not this one) in the 1996 live-action version of 101 Dalmatians (the one with Glenn Close playing Cruella De Vil). I think that one was a coupe or convertible – I haven’t seen the movie in a while.

Only 60 DeVilles were built in total, with the sedan being the most popular bodystyle with 48 built. This one is original with original paint. It has new tires and has had mechanical freshening and is ready to go. I’ll call it a $35,000-$45,000 car. Click here for more and here for more from Auctions America.

Update: Did not sell.

Panther J72

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1975 Panther J72 Roadster

Offered by Bonhams | Harrogate, U.K. | November 14, 2012

Panther Westwinds was founded in 1972 by Robert Jankel to build low-volume sports and luxury cars in Surrey. The J72 was the first car from the company and it combined a little of both luxury and sports car. It was not a kit car, but rather a full production car with styling reminiscent of the Jaguar SS100. It was not a replica either and it preceded the wave of “nostalgia cars” (aka neo-classics) by a solid five years.

It did, however, use Jaguar engines. You could get a 5.3-liter V12 or your choice of two Jaguar straight-sixes. This one has the 4.2-liter I6 (a 3.8 was also available) that makes somewhere around 240 horsepower.

The J72 was produced from 1972 until 1981. In total, 368 were built and this one has been owned by its current owner since new. It’s a 7,000 mile car that has seen extremely light use in the past 10 years. This is a rare, unusual and cool car for only $29,000-$35,000. For more information, click here. For more from Bonhams at the Great Yorkshire Showground, click here.

Update: Sold $35,500.