Panthermobile (show car)

The Panthermobile is a show car built for the cartoon TV series The Pink Panther Show.[1]

Panthermobile
Model kit of the Panthermobile
Overview
DesignerEd “Newt” Newton, Dan Woods, Joe Bailon, Bill “The Leadslinger” Hines, and Bill Honda
Body and chassis
Body styleFictional
LayoutLongitudinally front-engine, front-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine7 liter Oldsmobile V8
Transmission3-speed TH-425 automatic (Oldsmobile front wheel drive)

Description

Called “the world’s most flamboyant vehicle”, the bright pink custom car was built in 1969 at Bob Reisner California Show Cars by Ed "Newt" Newton, TV personality Dan Woods, and customizers Joe Bailon, Bill "The Leadslinger" Hines, and Bill Honda.[2] It was used in the title and credit sequences of the original cartoon.[3]

It was one of several famous television show cars of the era in the US, including the original Batmobile, the Monkeemobile, and the Munster Koach,[4] and one of many radical contemporary custom cars, such as Red Baron.

The Panthermobile cost $100,000 to build in 1976, which equates to around $450,000 in 2017.[5]

Specifications

Built on an Oldsmobile Toronado chassis, [6] it measured 23 ft (700 cm) long and 6 ft (180 cm) wide, with an exposed driving compartment requiring the driver to wear a helmet.[7] In the cartoon's title sequence, the driver was a boy. Instead of rearview mirrors, the driver had a camera and black-and-white television monitor.[8] The body is sheet metal.[9]

Behind the open cockpit was a compartment, accessed by a large clamshell door opening to the curb side, which contained pink shag-covered reclining seats, square-tufted upholstery, half a dozen faux-fur pillows, a mobile phone, and a bar.[10] The upholstery was done by Joe Perez.[11]

The seven liter Oldsmobile V8 engine, longitudinally-mounted right behind the driver’s head,[12] drove the front wheels.[13]

The car was a challenge to drive due to the long snout.[14]

Ownership

The Panthermobile was purchased at auction in 2011 and restored by Galpin Auto Sports in Los Angeles, California, under the supervision of Dave Shuten.[15] A complete restoration of the car's drivetrain, suspension, interior, and paint was required.[16]

Notes
  1. News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  2. Carbodydesign (retrieved 15 January 2017); Jalopnik (retrieved 15 January 2017); News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  3. News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  4. Jalopnik (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  5. Carbodydesign (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  6. Jalopnik (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  7. News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  8. News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  9. Jalopnik (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  10. News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  11. News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  12. Jalopnik (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  13. News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  14. News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  15. News.com.au (retrieved 15 January 2017); Jalopnik (retrieved 15 January 2017)
  16. Jalopnik (retrieved 15 January 2017)

Sources
gollark: Apparently my `.config` folder is 1GB.
gollark: ```Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted ondev 4049896 0 4049896 0% /devrun 4093740 1156 4092584 1% /run/dev/mapper/arch-root 62914560 36713744 25937136 59% /tmpfs 4093740 32672 4061068 1% /dev/shmtmpfs 4093740 0 4093740 0% /sys/fs/cgrouptmpfs 4093740 8236 4085504 1% /tmp/dev/sda1 1046512 72504 974008 7% /boot/dev/mapper/arch-home 163371072 142836388 20534684 88% /hometmpfs 818748 32 818716 1% /run/user/1000```
gollark: Well, my server holds other stuff, and it has 1TB.
gollark: I had to clean out my home folder a while ago.
gollark: Yep!
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