Panther Lima

Panther Lima
Overview
Manufacturer	Panther Westwinds[1]
Model years	1976-1982
Designer	Bob Jankel[1]
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door Sports cabriolet
Related	Vauxhall Magnum[1]
Powertrain
Engine	2279 cc Vauxhall I4[1] 2279 cc Vauxhall turbo I4
Transmission	4 speed manual all-synchromesh (Vauxhall)[1] Automatic Optional[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	97 in (2,464 mm)[1]
Length	142 in (3,607 mm)[1]
Width	63.4 in (1,610 mm)[1]
Height	48.3 in (1,227 mm)[1]
Curb weight	1,803 lb (818 kg)[2]
Chronology
Successor	Panther Kallista

The Panther Lima was a retro-styled roadster of the 1970s that was built by Panther. It used Vauxhall Viva and Magnum mechanicals, including that car's 2.3 L (2279 cc) engine. A later Mark II model used a purpose-built chassis. The body was built of fibreglass in a roadster style reminiscent of an Allard or Morgan. The Lima was produced in volume, with over 500 built by the time of the introduction of the Lima Turbo in February 1979.^[2] The Yellow/Black Lima shown is a Turbo version. The Turbo Lima was fitted with 14-inch alloy wheels, and had a TURBO graphic on the bonnet. The turbocharged version, with an engine developed in Southern California, had 178 hp (133 kW) rather than the 108 hp (81 kW) of the original and a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time of less than six seconds.^[2]

Production lasted from 1976 through 1982 with 897 cars produced. It was replaced by the similar Panther Kallista for the 1980s.

Sources and further reading

1. "Autotest: Panther Lima". Autocar. Vol. 146 (nbr 4207). 25 June 1977. pp. 36–40.
2. Davis, Pedr (20 February 1979). "British sports car now turbo-charged". The Canberra Times (Canberra). p. 11. Retrieved 18 January 2015.

External links