1954 PACKARD PANTHER-DAYTONA ROADSTER (GRAY WOLF II) –

The Packard Panther, first called the Gray Wolf II, is a car with a strong fiberglass body (up to an inch thick) and impressive performance under the hood.

During the time when many show cars were just mock-ups with no working engines, Packard surprised everyone. They made a stylish car that not only looked great but also performed well on the road. Named Gray Wolf II, this car celebrated 50 years since the first Gray Wolf—a race car from 1903 based on Packard’s Model K. The original Gray Wolf had a powerful four-cylinder engine that produced 25 horsepower. Its aerodynamic aluminum body helped it win many races and brought fame to Packard.

The small size and narrow design of the Gray Wolf, which lacked a front grille, made it a strong competitor. Its radiator was made of copper tubes along the sides. In 1904, the Gray Wolf broke the land-speed record at Daytona Beach, completing a mile in 46.24 seconds with a top speed of 77.6 mph. Packard even offered to sell Gray Wolf race cars for $10,000, but no one bought them. Its two-year racing success included a fourth-place finish in the famous Vanderbilt Cup Race.

Fifty years later, the Gray Wolf II was introduced and lived up to its name. It had Packard’s new 359-cubic-inch straight-eight engine boosted by a McCulloch supercharger, producing 275 horsepower—impressive for the time. After touring as a show car, it competed at Daytona Beach. Racer Jim Rathmann set an unofficial speed of 131 mph and officially recorded 110.9 mph for one mile.

The Gray Wolf II had a unique style. Its design influenced some later features, like the 1955 headlight design, taillights, and two-tone paint. However, some elements, like the body line “flap” near the hood, were never used again. Features like the panoramic windshield and front bumper were similar to later models, though slightly changed. After its Daytona performance, the car was renamed the Panther-Daytona. The silver version of this car is owned by the Mitchell Corporation, which worked on the Panther’s bodies and interiors.