Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

This car will be at auction at Ameila Island Tommorrow (March 14,2009)

Beautiful car.

Any guesses as to what it will bring?

My guess: $2.3 million & worth every penny!

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Here is info from the video:

One of only four such concept cars, the Panther-Daytona was a stylistic and innovative tour de force and an exercise in forward thinking design. This particular example was further modified for the personal use of Mitchell-Bentley executive William Mitchell, Sr. RM Auctions is pleased to present this car along with over 100 others at Automobiles of Amelia Island on March 14, 2009 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. More info available at http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars...

Looks like a different radiator and water neck setup then I have seen on the '54 str-eights.

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Sure does, but doesn't look much lower than original either. Wonder what that black cable or hose?? is looped over the starter & engine behind carb.

hydraulic window hose?

That radiator hose neck was probably made that way to clear the supercharger that was on that car, or to move it for hood clearance.

My guess is that real money on it will stop at around $350,000, and worth every bit at half the price.

I don't know about that West. The concept cars have been pulling some really big numbers in the last 5 years. I don't see why independent concept cars would fair any worse.

$700,000. Twice what it brought three years ago, but then, a TON of money was spent restoring it between auctions.

1954 Packard Panther-Daytona Roadster Concept Car - Sold for $700,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $700,000 - $1,000,000.

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With nothing but dial-up internet access from home, I have to admit that I did not initially play the video provided in the opening post, but the still photo that was added above has piqued my curiosity. I just checked out the video from work, where I have a hi-speed connection (but no audio).

Given the presence of the removable hardtop roof and the rear fender chevrons (both latent modifications), I suspect that this is the Panther that I saw at the Studebaker museum a couple of decades ago. Back then, it was painted in a yellow/gold two-tone, but I've seen more recent pix of the car where the gold had been refinished in a copper color, which just didn't look right to me.

The copper/black color scheme, inside and out, is stunning, and appears to be authentic - at least for the time of the '55 taillight update (per the log cited by Owen_Dyneto in another thread).

The car is probably worth every penny of the bid (and then some), but waaaaay beyond my reach.