Panther Rio
Encyclopedia
The Panther Rio was a motor car
made by British
manufacturer Panther Westwinds
, using Triumph Dolomite
mechanicals. According to the company, it differed from the family saloon-class Dolomite, in being finished to "Rolls-Royce standards". Only 38 were built between 1975 and 1977. A rarer Rio Especial used the high-performance Triumph Dolomite Sprint as its basis.
Panther Westwinds had been set up by fashion designer Robert Jankel
to produce expensive and bespoke cars for the customer that wanted something entirely different. Such vehicles held a lucrative market at the time. Jankel began working on a car that would appeal to the Rolls-Royce owner looking to trade down to something more economic, yet still considered higher class — losing nothing in terms of luxury or build quality. Following the 1973 energy crisis, demand for such cars began to diminish.
The Triumph Dolomite was selected for improvement, due in part to the vehicle's combination of advanced engines and upright driving position, which offered a blend of modern and traditional luxuries. The Panther Rio was the result, and was launched in September 1975.
When released the car had leather and walnut internal fittings and a hand-beaten aluminium
skin. The Rio was advertised as:
Panther was optimistic over the car's chances and prematurely announced a pre-order of 100 cars from the H.R.Owen luxury line of dealerships. This would have meant a financial boom, clearing the way for the Rio to be offered for sale amongst some of the highest quality vehicles of the time. However, the 100 car deal never materialized and the Rio sold at extremely slow rates, largely in part to consumer awareness of the Rio's relatively humble Triumph Dolomite underpinnings.
The price was high too. In February 1976, a Rio Especial cost £9445. In comparison, the Dolomite Sprint sold for £3283 and the Jaguar XJ 5.3 for £7496. The latter advertised luxury to equal the Rio's.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
made by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
manufacturer Panther Westwinds
Panther Westwinds
Panther Westwinds was a manufacturer of niche sports cars and luxury cars, based in Surrey, United Kingdom. Founded in 1972 by Robert Jankel, the Panther company enjoyed success throughout the 1970s with retro-styled cars based on the mechanical components of standard production cars from other...
, using Triumph Dolomite
Triumph Dolomite
The Triumph Dolomite was a popular small saloon car produced by the Triumph Motor Company division of the British Leyland Corporation in Canley, Coventry between October 1972 and August 1980.-History:...
mechanicals. According to the company, it differed from the family saloon-class Dolomite, in being finished to "Rolls-Royce standards". Only 38 were built between 1975 and 1977. A rarer Rio Especial used the high-performance Triumph Dolomite Sprint as its basis.
Panther Westwinds had been set up by fashion designer Robert Jankel
Robert Jankel
Robert Jankel was arguably the world's most famous designer of limousines, armoured cars and other speciality vehicles. He also founded the automotive company Panther Westwinds.- Early life :...
to produce expensive and bespoke cars for the customer that wanted something entirely different. Such vehicles held a lucrative market at the time. Jankel began working on a car that would appeal to the Rolls-Royce owner looking to trade down to something more economic, yet still considered higher class — losing nothing in terms of luxury or build quality. Following the 1973 energy crisis, demand for such cars began to diminish.
The Triumph Dolomite was selected for improvement, due in part to the vehicle's combination of advanced engines and upright driving position, which offered a blend of modern and traditional luxuries. The Panther Rio was the result, and was launched in September 1975.
When released the car had leather and walnut internal fittings and a hand-beaten aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
skin. The Rio was advertised as:
"Combining characteristics combined in no other single car — the very highest level of luxury, appointments and smooth quietness with superb handling, a 115 mi/h maximum speed, 0–60 mph acceleration in 8.7 seconds, the opulence of Connolly LeatherThe compact family saloon was offered in two forms: the 1850 cc version, which was the "base" model; and the 2.0 litre 16-valve version (using the engine from the Dolomite Sprint), called the Rio Especial. Problems for the Rio included the fact that the new thicker, fatter seats resulted in a more cramped interior than the Dolomite.Connolly LeatherConnolly Leather was for over 125 years, a British company supplying highly finished leather primarily to car manufacturers. The term is also used to describe the particular brand of leather itself, when fitted in a car interior....
, deep pile carpeting and burr walnut in the finest limousine traditions with the fuel economy and manoeuvrability of a compact family saloon; Panther coachbuilt quality and safety engineering with total functionalism; hand-crafted exclusivity without ostentation."
Panther was optimistic over the car's chances and prematurely announced a pre-order of 100 cars from the H.R.Owen luxury line of dealerships. This would have meant a financial boom, clearing the way for the Rio to be offered for sale amongst some of the highest quality vehicles of the time. However, the 100 car deal never materialized and the Rio sold at extremely slow rates, largely in part to consumer awareness of the Rio's relatively humble Triumph Dolomite underpinnings.
The price was high too. In February 1976, a Rio Especial cost £9445. In comparison, the Dolomite Sprint sold for £3283 and the Jaguar XJ 5.3 for £7496. The latter advertised luxury to equal the Rio's.