Packard's 1954 Panther / Daytona Show Car

In the early 1950s American automobile companies were becoming increasingly interested in the use of fiberglass for exterior body panels.  In mid-summer 1953 the Chevrolet Corvette sports car entered production bearing such cladding.

So it was that Packard commissioned four or perhaps five fiberglass bodied show cars for 1954 called the Panther or Daytona or Panther Daytona (all such names were used formally or informally). Its Wikipedia entry is here, but should be used with caution.  As of the time this post was drafted (late August 2018), it contained a few errors.  One was having its designer, Richard A. Teague, as being employed by Mitchell-Bentley Corporation, the Panther's builder.  Actually, he had been employed by Packard since 1952.  A minor error is stating that the Panther's tail lights were those of 1955 Packard Clippers -- 1954 Clippers had them, and that's what the Panther used.

A much more detailed history can be found here.  It states that Mitchell-Bentley also contributed to the design.

The Panther was one of those show cars that did not yield any styling features to later production cars.  This might have been because Teague and Packard body engineers were mostly interested in discovering what could be made using the fiberglass technology of the time.  That is, that technology might have largely driven the shapes Teague created.  In any case, I don't consider the Panther very attractive.

Two Panthers are known to survive.  One was later modified to have modest tail fins and 1955-56 vintage Packard tail lights.  I consider it less attractive than the originals, and won't deal with it in this post.

Gallery

That's Dick Teague at the wheel.

The bold grille is a variation on current Packard grilles.  The lip draped over it and the headlights is an interesting touch.  However, it, the air scoop immediately below it, and the upper grille frame are too closely spaced.  The design would look better if Teague had simply had only the headlights hooded.

Rear quarter view.  The chassis was that of a production Packard, so the wheelbase is too long for a car with sedan-based driver seating and no back passenger seat.  The result is all that rather empty-looking space between the door and rear wheel opening.  But remember that beauty might not have been top priority here.

The sign on the windshield says "Packard Panther Daytona."  The photo was taken at an auto show.

A surviving Panther shown in this Barrett-Jackson photo.  It was auctioned in Scottsdale Arizona in 2013 for $825,000.

Rear quarter view of the same car.

The same car again, but this photo is by Hyman, Ltd. auctioneers.