The eccentric 'Panthermobile' from the late 60s/early 70s 'Pink Panther' show is currently for auction in the UK, and is expected to fetch up to £100,000 when asset realisation specialist Robson Kay's online auction closes on Friday, 14 October at 13:00 GMT.
The unique car was created in 1969 to ferry the unfortunately coloured feline around on his own show, which aired for seven years.
The car's creator, Jay Ohrberg, is no stranger to crafting special Hollywood automobiles; during his career he also created such icons as the Batmobiles, K.I.T.T., 'General Lee', the Back To The Future DeLorean, the Starsky & Hutch Ford Gran Torino and even the car from the 1994 film 'The Flintstones'.
The Panthermobile was part of his collection until 2007, when it was auctioned by Coys that June, realising £88,000 from its current owner.
Unsurprisingly, the 42-year-old oddity is not road-legal, and therefore does not come with a British-regulation, V5 logbook. The engine is not currently running and, according to the auction house Robson Kay, it "would benefit from some sympathetic restoration".
But which other car is so instantly recognisable, has a driver’s seat ahead of the front wheels, and a profile which resembles an anteater? Surely, even those with parents too young to remember the TV show would put down their Playstation controllers to inspect this oddball invention...
The Panthermobile is being offered alongside an official Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica, both via online auction ending on Friday 14 October at 13:00 GMT. The cars can be viewed at www.robsonkay.co.uk, and bids can be lodged via the Bidspotter website.
Text: Joe Breeze
Photos: Robson Kay
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