Lot details
Registration No: SGF658V
Chassis No: 2173
Mot Expiry: March 2011

Of all the extraordinary cars brought to us by Robert Jankel's Panther Westwinds concern, the De Ville is surely one of the most practical as well as dramatic. Styled to loosely ape the massive Bugatti Royale of the 1930s, the tubular-framed De Ville was powered by Jaguar six or 12 cylinder units of the day. It also employed Jaguar suspension, steering and transmission, so was comparatively easy to drive and service.

The interiors were inevitably lavish and frequently featured TV and drinks bars. Around 60 cars were built between 1974 and 1985, one of which appeared in a film version of 101 Dalmatians, for which the Jaguar engine was reputedly replaced by a Chevy V8. Sir Elton John and Oliver Reed were noted De Ville owners.

The De Ville V12 (5,343cc) offered was constructed in 1979. Its coachwork is finished in green and the interior trimmed in ivory leather. It was sold new to a Texan oilman. It then enjoyed a spell in a New York Motor Museum before being repatriated for the wedding of a Cambridgeshire millionaire. The vendor acquired the Panther in 1994. The conversion from left to right-hand drive was executed by Panther Westwinds Ltd.

According to the vendor, the coachwork is "complete and original". The automatic gearbox was reportedly reconditioned eight years ago and the engine was this year treated to a major refurbishment at a cost of £10,000 following a water pump failure. A DVD of the work accompanies the De Ville and the firm responsible, Wolf Direct Racing, have apparently warranted the engine for five years subject to certain conditions. The only aspect of the car the vendor has flagged for attention is the Everflex roof. The Panther is understood to have covered just 12,800 miles from new and is taxed and MOT'd until March 2011. What better way to turn the heads at Ascot or Henley.