*****Pictures added 6th February*** go to bottom of page...

Just a few pictures to be going on with, I will be reporting later on work carried out or with pleas for help!!

update 21/11/02 The car is single colour - Tungsten (GL14) with red leather (Nu Buck) interior - code STI Aero Red.

update 30/11/02  With the help of Dave Stone the clutch has been bled right through with new synthetic hydraulic fluid. The rear brake pads were also renewed as the existing ones were worn right down (the wear indicators not wired up!) Ford Granada/Scorpio pads having been used. Some rust has been found on the chassis and the floor pan area has been rectified with a bit more still to correct. A faulty Headlight relay has been replaced which has eradicated an annoying 'occasional' fault! A successful outing for the car last Wednesday to the Chertsey Regional Meeting, despite a 'Mega' attendance of 18 it was the only Panther there.... 

update 2/12/02 Sunday the 1st saw Shelagh & I drive the Solo to Don's Essex Area meet, appalling weather (rain all the way) despite this we completed the 176 mile return journey without the need of outside assistance!! We were very pleased, considering the car has stood unused for a considerable time.

update 6/12/02 I have now lagged the exhaust pipe with 'heat proof' material and a new Turbo Heat Shield, this should reduce the heat in the engine bay and prevent damage to the tailgate paintwork. The headlamp covers have been modified to make them more secure and prevent them falling, off as has happened on at least one other Solo.

update 8/12/02 The last of the chassis treatment has taken place, with new metal sections inserted to bring it back to 'as new'. Today we drove to Mike & Jane's New Forest meeting in the Solo and despite another wet & windy day the car performed without problem - so it's all looking pretty promising!

update 13/12/02 Two days ago we took the Solo to South Wales, a round trip of 250 miles. After 248 miles there was no pressure to the clutch pedal!! I was stuck in 3rd gear but did manage to negotiate 3 roundabouts and a right turn in to our drive without stopping!! Investigation has found that the rubber seals in the clutch master cylinder have perished, a replacement kit is on order and will be fitted next week, when hopefully Solo will again be up and running!  ??does any one actually read this!!??

update 19/12/02 The master cylinder repair kit arrived and was assembled a couple of days ago, I also fashioned a 'catch tray' to prevent the fluid from spilling on to the paintwork, which has happened previously. The floor pan area has been treated and painted with Silver Hammerite. Today Dave again came and helped to bleed the clutch, we also decided to replace the front brake pads, they were not especially worn, but showed signs of 'breaking up'. Despite many suggestions that the front pads were 'Panther Own' the replacements, which were identical, came from the local Motor Factors - another Ford fitment.

update 6/02/03 I have finished the painting of the 'front boot' area and tidied up the wiring harness. The front passenger seat and carpet has been removed and the floor area painted with red oxide and a finish coat of silver Hammerite (pictures below). New matching carpet has been made by Bruno and it is looking as good as new again - now on with the other side...

update 18/02/03 The 'other side' is under way, in the meantime I have replaced the cam belt and all three fan belts, oddly enough the fan belts are conveniently all the same size. I took the opportunity to 'blacken' the turbo air hoses and cam cover and replaced the rusty jubilee clips with new ones. The engine bay is looking a lot smarter. I also fitted some 'remote' battery terminals for ease of 'jump starting' and battery charging, they have proved to be a very useful asset already.

update 18/02/03 Since the last report the car has seen much use, including a 900 mile trip with Roy to 'Suss out' the French Trip. The car went well and not a single problem - apart from the French police wanting to look at the car's 'papers'.. The last of the 'main' jobs is now underway, the tailgate has been removed for repainting - the existing paint has cracked & peeled from the engine heat. The petrol tank has also been removed to repair a small hole and to rectify a 'non functioning' sender unit. Whilst the car is laid up I have taken the opportunity to replace all the radiator hoses and all the flexible heater hoses, it is a 'tad' easier to get to some of them with the tank out! I seem to have omitted previously that I also got the revolving headlights working, they are now quite impressive. Pictures will follow, but I am going to set them up on a separate page to save on 'load' time - look out for the link......HERE IT IS

Originally registered to the Panther Car Company Ltd on 1st December 1989. After being used as the 1988 Show Car it went on to become the first registered Solo on record and was the Company's Demonstration Car, after their closure it went to its first private owner registered on 3rd February 1995, it is fitted with the only optional extras available - rear 'seats', air conditioning and ash tray! To date it has covered approximately 22,000 miles. It is now on a private Cherished Number D1 5OLO.

Below is an Ownership/Build Chart which is as up to date as possible with the information available. If you know different please let me know!!

 

Chassis Number	Colour/Car	Owner	Registration Number	Delivery or Registration Date
012	Blue	Now in Korea	F59SWC	1st car with catalyst for test purposes.
013	Crash Test Car now Not in Existence.
014	Red	Y C Kim Car now passed to his Son.	G846 WEV	As at 6/10/2003 this car is in the "Musée International de l'Automobile de Genève" which is a motor museum next to Geneva airport. Other Details Unknown
015	Tungsten	Mr Andie Wills Panther Enthusiasts Club member.	D15 OLO (Formerly G521 FNO)	01/12/89 ex 1988 Show Car.
016	Red	In Korea	Unknown - LHD.	Details Unknown
017	Red	Mr Scott McDonagh	Details Unknown	Details Unknown
018	Red	Stephen Allan Vine Panther Enthusiasts Club member.	G308 XAR (Formerly  SPC 21)	02.03.90
019	Metallic Red	Bruno Eismark Panther Enthusiasts Club member	G307XAR (Formerly RT 40)	29.03.90
020	No Cars Produced.
021
022	Metallic Blue	Jamie MacRae	G99 EDA	02.08.90
023	Red	Mr Vince Jones	H736 HEV	22.11.90
024	Metallic Green	David Carter Panther Enthusiasts Club member.	H732 HEV	06.10.90
025	Yellow	unknown (in Japan)	G559VYW	26.07.90
026	Red	Simon Rowell Panther Enthusiasts Club member.	D5 OLO was (H731 HEV)	13.09.90
027	Metallic Silver	Mr Robin Tracy Panther Enthusiasts Club member.	Was - 11 JKP Now - BNZ 5010	28.09.90
028	Green	Kenny Rogers       car now in Spain	H733 HEV	03.11.90
029	Red	Private Collector In California	Ex ‘Bruno’ Car	01.03.91
030	Metallic Red	Mr Wooton	H75 OLO	20.12.90
031	Red	Mr George Forrest	H734 HEV	09.11.90
032	Grey	Now in Korea	LHD with Catalyst	1990
21 ‘chassis’ less 3 - ‘non existent  – Possibility of only 18 cars actually produced? With at least 6 cars known to be outside the UK and one being 'written off' there are only at most 11 Solos in the UK.

Pictured Below

Below are Various comments/statements found on a selection of various Panther Solo web pages. 

No doubt the accuracy of some of these will be open to question!!!

• A carbon fibre and aluminum monocoque was used for the body

• The Solo was one of the first cars in the world to have a mid-engine/AWD layout

• It is suggested that the Solo is one of the best handling cars in the world

• Only 12 Solos were sold

• Ferrari claimed to have made  the first car with positive downforce.  It was, in fact, the Solo.

   

Floor area wire brushed and primed.

Finish coat of Silver Hammerite.

New floor/footwell carpet - comparison to picture at top of page will show the difference!

Turbo Air Hoses and Cam Cover Removed..

A Blast From The Past - Remember Noel??

Early picture of my car at Harlow....and...

.........1st in the line up of 4 Solos, also at Harlow.

From This (test car in Disguised Body).............................................To This...