Guide: Bertone Panther
Background
Scuderia Brescia Corse was a racing collective established in 1964 to prepare and campaign cars for its members. It attracted a legion of wealthy privateers that owned a wide variety of machinery.
By 1967, the team was running its own Ford GT40 in the World Sportscar Championship. That season, Scuderia Brescia Corse famously won round eleven at the Coppa Citta di Enna.
For 1968, big regulatory changes were brought in, the most significant of which was a new three-litre engine limit for Group 6 Prototypes.
Cars of up to five-litres were still permitted in the Group 4 Sport category, but 50 cars were required for homologation.
Enzo Ferrari considered the rule change to blatantly favour Porsche so withdrew his team and went Can-Am racing instead.
The 1968 three-litre Group 6 Prototype class was expected to be a battle between Porsche and Alfa Romeo with occasional appearances from Alpine and Matra. The Group 4 category Ford GT40 and Lola T70 Mk3 GT would also be in the reckoning for outright victories at certain tracks.
At the Turin Racing Car Show on March 1st 1968, another Group 6 challenger was unexpectedly thrown into the mix: the Bertone Panther.
On display was 1:5 scale model of the stunning new Prototype which had been commissioned by Dr. Alfredo Belponer who was Chairman of Scuderia Brescia Corse.
A full size car was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show ten days later. Along with Bertone’s newly designed Lamborghini Espada and Miura Roadster, the Panther was star of the show.
Scuderia Brescia Corse announced a plan to run a full European season with the Panther and, at the time, it was thought six cars would be built.
Chassis
The Panther was constructed around a stiff aluminium monocoque which made extensive use of titanium around the high stress areas.
It employed conventional wishbone suspension with radius rods at the rear and adjustable dampers all round.
Brakes were ventilated discs.
The special self-ventilating wheels used custom tubeless tyres.
Another innovation was a 24 volt electrical system that allowed the use of lighter conductors. Several hydraulic systems were also employed including one to operate the huge adjustable spoiler that was mounted directly above the rear bulkhead.
Bodywork
The Panther’s attractive body was painted orange with black lower sections.
Aside from the huge main spoiler, it was almost bereft of aerodynamic aids.
Engine & Gearbox
The new car was designed to accommodate a variety of different engines. Scuderia Brescia Corse originally planned to run a BRM-supplied V12 that had been suitably de-tuned from F1 to endurance racing specification.
This was to be coupled to a five-speed Hewland DG gearbox.
However, the BRM deal fell through and, with no luck sourcing an engine at Maserati, the Panther project was quietly abandoned.
With their hopes dashed, Scuderia Brescia Corse played little part in the 1968 World Sportscar Championship.
Instead, the racing collective refocused on GT and Touring cars. They secured no less than seven class titles that season.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Bertone - https://www.bertone.it
