1954 Packard Panther Daytona Concept Roadster

This is the first of four Panthers built in 1954 and was designed by Chief Stylist Dick Teague and built by Packard contractor Mitchell-Bentley Corporation who was building the Caribbean at the same time. The Panther embraces futuristic styling in a fiberglass body with traditional Packard features of its grill identity and high fender low hood styling with an innovative wrap-around windshield. The original Panther was built as an exercise in design possibilities for concept and showing and to determine the adaptability of a fiberglass car for family use. After success in the United States and England, three more Panthers were built. The second one built, Panther-Daytona flashed over the measured-mile Daytona course at the highest speed ever attained by a car of this class - 131.1 miles per hour driven by Jim Rathmann. The Daytona Panthers are now powered by a 359 CID Packard straight-8 with a McCulloch Centrifugal Supercharger that produces 275 horsepower.