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Pink Panther
Body: tubular steel space frame with aluminium panels
Engine: 1700cc Ford
Gearbox: Ford 2000E
Configuration: front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Suspension: front - twin wishbone, rear - beam axel
Driver: Reg Powell
Class: Clubman class A and Historic Clubman
Date taken: 2005 at Silvertone
Image copyright: Andy Powell
Information and text: Andy Powell
My father Reg Powell bought the Gryphon Pink Panther in November 1979 from Chris Hodgetts. Before Chris, Stuart Glass drove it. We still see both Stuart and Chris both who have very fond memories of the car and can vouch for its current authenticity! We have raced it ever since and the car is still very much the original Pink Panther. When we bought the car it was fitted with side pods and we raced the car with some reasonable success in that configuration until 1999. When we got the car it was fitted with a 1600cc all steel Cosworth screamer engine, which after only a few races blew itself to pieces. In 1999 the car was re-built from scratch and to a better than new condition. Andy Diamond saw the car a few years back and commented on how nice it was. We also took the opportunity to return it to the original cycle wing configuration. The car is now powered by our own Powell Speed 1700cc Ford engine and is raced in the BARC Classic Clubman's Championship. This championship is a great walk down memory lane for anyone around the 1970's racing scene with a few of the original drivers around too! The car is basically absolutely original. In the very early days I believe that it was re-chassised but since we have had it has remained in very much original trim. In 2001 dad had a pretty big accident in it at Lydden Hill. The car was written off from driver bulkhead forward. Over the coming year the car was once again returned to as new condition. The suspension although made from new parts was made to original patterns and the chassis re-constructed by Arch Motors by copying a new chassis we have, but importantly it is still at least half the original car. Instead of using the new chassis we retained as much as possible and constructed the new car so in our own hearts the car retained its original identity. This car has been loved throughout our ownership and I have in fact grown up with it over the last 27 years. Apart from some sprinting and testing I have not driven the car in anger, but I am sure that will change one day. Prior to racing the pink panther from 1979 - today Reg raced minis and mini special saloons from 1963 - 1978 with some successes.
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