The Panther De Ville is a neo-classic luxury vehicle produced by Panther Westwinds, a British speciality car maker, from 1974 to 1985. It was conceived by Robert Jankel to appeal to the taste of nouveau riche customers, including the singer Elton John and the actor Oliver Reed.
Panther De Ville at a glance
| Maker | Panther Westwinds, Britain |
|---|---|
| Production | 1974–1985 |
| Designer | Robert Jankel |
| Body | four-door saloon, two-door convertible, six-door limousine |
| Chassis | tubular frame |
| Wheelbase | 142 in (3,607 mm) |
| Engine | Jaguar straight-six or V12 |
| Running gear | Jaguar suspension, power steering, automatic transmission |
| Doors | from the BMC 1800 family car |
| Built | about 60, including 11 convertibles and one six-door limousine |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the De Ville.
History of the Panther De Ville
A car for a particular taste
The De Ville was the idea of Robert Jankel, who set out to build a car for customers who wanted something more conspicuous than a Rolls-Royce. Its flowing wing lines and large headlights were styled in imitation of the Bugatti Royale, while under the neo-classic exterior the interior was modern and made no pretence of pre-war design.
Jaguar underneath
The car used a tubular frame with a wheelbase of 142 inches (3,607 mm), and power came from Jaguar: a straight-six or a V12. The suspension, power steering and automatic transmission were Jaguar parts too, which made the De Ville an easy car to drive and quite quick, although poor aerodynamics tended to keep the top speed low. Jaguar also supplied the engines, but the doors came from a much humbler source — the BMC 1800 family car. Interiors were lavish and often featured television sets and drinks bars.
Hand-built in small numbers
About 60 De Villes were hand-built. Among them were eleven two-door convertibles, for many years Britain’s most expensive listed production car, and one pink and gold six-door limousine.
Cruella de Vil’s car
A Panther De Ville appeared in Disney’s live-action films 101 Dalmatians (1996) and 102 Dalmatians (2000), and two De Villes were used for the film Cruella (2021) as Cruella de Vil’s car. For the latter, the Jaguar engine was replaced with a small-block Chevrolet V8 to better withstand the rigours of stunt driving.
Design and features
- Neo-classic styling: wing lines and big headlights modelled on the Bugatti Royale.
- Jaguar power: a straight-six or V12, with Jaguar suspension, steering and automatic transmission.
- Lavish interior: modern inside, often with television sets and drinks bars.
- Hand-built: around 60 cars, including eleven convertibles and a pink and gold six-door limousine.
- Film career: Cruella de Vil’s car in the 101 Dalmatians films and Cruella.
Panther De Ville versions
- Saloon (1974–1985): the standard four-door car with Jaguar six or V12 power.
- Two-door convertible: eleven built; for many years Britain’s most expensive listed production car.
- Six-door limousine: a single car finished in pink and gold.
The De Ville came before Panther’s other speciality models, the J72 roadster and the six-wheeled Panther 6. More cars are in the Panther collection.
Video: Oliver Reed’s Panther De Ville (Review)
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Panther De Ville, English Wikipedia: production, design, engines, bodies, films
