%20(4)_edited.png)
The 1984 Panther Solo Prototype was the first attempt at a mid-engined sports car by the revived Panther Westwinds under its new Korean ownership, led by Young Chull Kim. Following Panther’s bankruptcy, Kim sought to develop a two-seat, mid-engined sports car to showcase the brand’s return. The Solo was powered by a 1.6-litre Ford CVH engine, and its unveiling at the British Motor Show in Birmingham generated enthusiasm, even though the car was still far from production-ready.
However, the project took an unexpected turn when Toyota launched the MR2, a mid-engined sports car with a similar concept but backed by Toyota’s engineering and production capabilities. After personally driving an MR2, Young Chull Kim quickly realized that his Solo would struggle to compete—the MR2 was cheaper, faster, and more refined. Recognizing the Solo’s limitations, he abandoned the original design and instead shifted focus to a more ambitious project: the Panther Solo II, a larger 2+2 sports car with all-wheel drive and turbocharged power.
