The J.72 was an ultra-exclusive luxury roadster, the first production vehicle of the Panther Westwinds company.[1] Styled to evoke the Jaguar SS100 and sold from 1972 to 1981, it used mechanicals from the Jaguar XJ, including its 5.3 L V12 engine. It was also offered with Jaguar's 3.8 L and 4.2 L XK engines.[2]
| Panther J.72 | |
|---|---|
 1972 Panther J72 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Panther Westwinds Ltd |
| Production | 1972–1981 368 produced |
| Assembly | Weybridge, England |
| Designer | Robert Jankel |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door roadster |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.8L Jaguar XK6 4.2L Jaguar XK6 5.3L Jaguar V12 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 109.1 in (2,771 mm) |
| Length | 160.0 in (4,064 mm) |
| Width | 65.5 in (1,664 mm) |
| Height | 53.0 in (1,346 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,504 lb (1,136 kg) |
The J.72 was a success for the small company, with its Connolly leather upholstery, and aluminum coachwork. The car was purchased by a celebrity clientele, including comedian Redd Foxx, Freddy Mercury, and Elizabeth Taylor. A total of 368 units were produced.The first units were assembled at Michael Walker's garage, Woking. The chassis was supplied by Geoff Jago near Chichester, The engines and gearboxes came from Forward Engineering, Coventry. The chassis was built up then sent away to have the body fitted, returned for Engine fitting, then sent to the trimmers for the interior and hood. Final work and start-up was carried out at Michael Walkers, Woking, including test drives around the local country roads.
A custom made J72 was ordered to be made using a V-12 engine. In 1973 it was shown at The Frankfurt Motor Show, it was popular, and the V12 became a regular upgrade option for an extra £4,000.[3]
On 26 May 1976, Robert Jankel wrote to the Office of Compliance, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US to comply with Part 578 of the Defect Report procedure. Six vehicles had a defect with the fuel tank which, in the event of a crash, was at risk of being pierced by the rear body mounting bolts. If this happened fuel would spill out and could cause a fire. Panther Westwinds Ltd notified the dealers and the first purchasers of the defect and told them what modifications were needed to fix the problem.[4]
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1976 Panther J72 -
1980 Panther J72 -
Panther J72 interior
Sources and further reading
edit- ^ "Panther Westwinds is the best British car company you've never heard of". British GQ. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ Culshaw, David; Horrobin, Peter (1997). The Complete Catalog of British Cars 1895–1975. Veloce Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-874105-93-0.
- ^ Road & Track. CBS Publications. 1975.
- ^ Administration, United States National Highway Traffic Safety (1976). Safety Related Recall Campaigns for Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment, Including Tires: detailed reports. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.