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  1. #1
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    Question Panther Jet record hydro...

    I posted this over in the jet section as well so I hope I'm not violating protocol to put it here too, but I imagine that some of you guys will remember what I'm talking about. I'm starting to think I just dreamed it...

    Back in the late 70s Panther Jet was supposed to be working on a hydro that was going to become the "world's fastest jet boat". I remember a few drawings and at least one ad with a rather impressive looking painting of the thing. It looked like it should have a turbojet or rocket motor; tail fins and wings with an enclosed cockpit. Real Buck Rogers stuff. Just the kind of thing that grabbed the attention of a 15 year old...

    Does anyone know if they ever built the thing? I never heard anything more about it except for a brief mention in Hot Boat magazine back in the day. I can't even find the ad on the internet any more! Seems to me that I heard that the hull was actually built, but nothing more. Like I said, I'm starting to think I just dreamed it and age is making me think it was real...

    Any info would be appreciated. Nothing critical, just curiosity on my part.

    thanks!

    Mike
    Cheers,

    Mugs
    (Racing on the pavement these days...)

  2. #2
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    That might have been the boat that Arfons got killed in at Sebring?

  3. #3
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    That one looks like pure thrust; no outdrive? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFSVq05Uy9k

  4. #4
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    You're right David, Arfons was thrust powered and several years later than the Panther thing I was talking about.

    The Panther boat would have been sometime around 1975 or so. It was going to be powered by a Panther Jet pump with a huge blown V-8 of some kind. (Panther was connected to American Motors as I recall)

    I don't think they were chasing an absolute water speed record (like Arfons), but wanted to be the fastest water jet powered boat. I don't remember ever hearing any speed predictions though.
    Cheers,

    Mugs
    (Racing on the pavement these days...)

  5. #5
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    Crazy stuff you find by accident while using Google search!

    http://www.vintagejetboats.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3269&d=1330561779


    Click image for larger version. 

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  6. #6
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    A) That is awesome.... Great discovery. Haven't had a chance to watch the whole thing but it looks hilarious. Great 70s "period piece".

    B) Go to 4:35 in the vid and look at the poster on the wall. That is the boat I am talking about! In fact, I had that poster on my bedroom wall when I was a kid.

    Like I said, it was used in their ad campaigns, posters were distributed and a couple of short articles in Hot Boat (I think) covered some of the design and development, but it seems to just have disappeared.

    The rumor was that Ron Jones actually built the hull and it was displayed at a couple of boat shows.

    Thanks David!
    Cheers,

    Mugs
    (Racing on the pavement these days...)

  7. Likes David - WI liked this post
  8. #7
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    Somebody will come along that knows about it:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    http://www.pantherjet.com/

    Part number 8810 on their price list is "Panther Boat Poster Color - $18"... maybe they have some left???

  9. Thanks Mugs914 thanked for this post
  10. #8
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    WTF did I just watch?

  11. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Capt.Insane-o View Post
    WTF did I just watch?
    Video evidence that chemical entertainment was reasonably priced and readily available in 1977...
    Cheers,

    Mugs
    (Racing on the pavement these days...)

  12. Likes David - WI liked this post

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