Gday All, many thanks for the compliments. I too love the 30,s era machines, still very raw engineering where big pots with a long stoke provided grunt,I love to make the Panther pull from low revs and listen to the thump! Overhead gear was oiled with a waste system, (also helps to stop the rust). Im told the motor provides more torque if one exhaust is blanked off, havent tried this as I like those chrome pipes. Another attractive look of that era I think would have to be the Webb girder forks, apparently used for racing for some years even after hydraulics first came along.
GRM450, Id love to see a pic of your dads Panther, was it a 600cc?
Foxy

As gorgeous as that sloper is all spiffed up, I would dearly love to have a similar bike in "before" condition, but made nominally roadworthy and left totally scruffy.

You'd see more jaws drop when you rode up and sat there ticking over happily.

This is a blow up of a very small picture taken in 1947 on a trip from Sydney to Tasmania. It was my dad's bike for several years. He said it was a 600, but that's a long time ago so you judge.
It doesn't show much detail as it has reduced to half the quality through photobucket.
The winged emblem must have caused a few nasty injuries. (looks to be mounted to the top of the headlight)
I wish he still had it, and all the rest, AJS, Matchless, Velocette, BSA, etc,etc.

Foxy, your Panther looks excellent in every way and very nicely restored, especially with the known history and before pictures.

Regards Graeme

Gday All, I do have to agree with you GP, I do like to see some of the old machinery still in their original working clothes. The petina earned/inflicted over the years definately adds to the appeal, showing both strenghts and weakness.
Thats a good picture Graeme of your Dads 600. It looks like an early Redwing Model 100, I cant see any chrome kidney shape covers over the valve springs so this suggest 1932 when first released to 35 when covers introduced.
The wings on top of headlight are a dangerous addition, probably off an aftermarket T Model Ford radiator cap? The tool box on the side doesnt look Panther like either, the horn under the tank looks genuine but missing cover and should be where the No plate is, that flag on the front looks like it says Panther?
Your father riding it from Sydney to Tasmania is a good testament to their trusting reliabilty, well know for this and fuel economy.Probably alot of dirt roads traveled and no aircleaner, but I suppose the grits not in there for long.
The original owner of my Panther Mr. Keens was a Chemist, one day with his new bride on the back was travelling home when they noticed smoke billowing from a house in their homes direction. This sight made them screw the OlPanther flat out when all of a sudden his wife let out a scream but told him to keep going. On arrival to their house which was on fire, Mrs keens helped the best she could to douse the flames wearing only her Knickers and bra, the dress had got caught in the chain and subsequently torn off!
Foxy

Excellent photo, Graeme.

Excellent story, Foxy.

Did the local paper at the time manage any photographs of the fire-fighting incident ? The idea of a girl on the back in her underwear shouting 'Faster ! Faster !' certainly sets my imagination going !

Fabulous restoration but I think you technical info in the first post was incorrect at 30 M.P.H it was every other lamp post and at 50 it was every lamp post
I have a hand book for this model I will be listing it on Ebay in the next week or so, when I was a youngster at college I had an original 1955 R.E bullet and used to go into Jollys of Lewisham in S.E London they were Panther dealers and had a whole basement full of stuff.

79 x 100, never thought of that, mmmm... the legend of my Panther just gets better and better!
Thanks for chimming in too not-ron, I suppose its a matter of how far apart the lamp post are? One old Panther owner told me how he could mono his bike for miles, he went on to say they were a well balanced bike. Judging by the elongated stretched gearbox mounts on mine, the previous owners must have tried this aswell!
Let me know when you list the hand book as I might be interested in it.
Joe

Depends entirely on the speed limit the higher the limit the greater the distance but hey who's got the time or the incination..?

Ah Foxy, so you've got the 1930s bike but you've never watched 'The Thirty-nine Steps' and imagined being chained to a bed with Madelaine Carroll in silk stockings ? Perhaps my interest in period lingerie is not entirely healthy ?


Shot at 2009-01-04

Depends on what period...

Im not familiar with the movie nor the actress Madeliane Carrol, am I missing out on something?
I must admit to having a pashion for old motorbikes and women in lingerie (not neccessary in that order),they can make one pulsate like a sock full of grasshoppers!!

Slopers are cool. Ya gotta love the dual exhaust port and that loooong wheelbase. I imagine it would be a great touring bike and easy on the fuel too.

Gday xbacksideslider, yes the Panther is a lovely bike to cruise lazily around the country side on. The Panther is a low bike, 26 inches to top of seat, with a low centre of gravity, the weighty flywheels spinning give a very noticable gyroscopic effect when cornering which adds to its persona.It weighs in at 390 lbs so is weighty, but stable on the road. I have'nt tested it for fuel consumption but have noticed that its very good. The manual states that a solo version gives around 100 mpg and side car 60 mpg. Max speed is 85 solo and 65 respectively. Ive had my Panther up to 80 mph and that was fast enough for me, its a bit like racing grand dad so I didnt want him to pull a heart/muscle!
Foxy

Foxy wrote:Gday xbacksideslider, yes the Panther is a lovely bike to cruise lazily around the country side on. The Panther is a low bike, 26 inches to top of seat, with a low centre of gravity, the weighty flywheels spinning give a very noticable gyroscopic effect when cornering which adds to its persona.It weighs in at 390 lbs so is weighty, but stable on the road. I have'nt tested it for fuel consumption but have noticed that its very good. The manual states that a solo version gives around 100 mpg and side car 60 mpg. Max speed is 85 solo and 65 respectively. Ive had my Panther up to 80 mph and that was fast enough for me, its a bit like racing grand dad so I didnt want him to pull a heart/muscle!
Foxy

Stop it you are making me more jealous than I already am.