Non-P&M Panthers
German
Panthers
French Panther
Korean Panther
Taiwanese Panther
Indian Panther
Leyland Bus Panther
Isuzu Panther
| P&M exported large parts of lightweight Panthers to Sweden where they were built into complete bikes using local components, particularly frames. They were sold under another name. I believe that the 350cc Model was known as Svalan. The 250cc Model 65 was also rebadged but I don't recall the name. I believe they were made in Falun by "Maskinaktiebolaget John Ericsson". |
 According
to its owner, P.O.Jonsson, this is a "1952 model 75 Svalan 350
cc....
The guitar like sitting utensil is most probably not standard, but it
has
been on as long as any owner of the bike can remember. It appears to
come
from a model 75 Lyx (luxurious = rear suspension). I have been told it
was quite popular to "modernise" the Svalan, and from the finish
it appears to have been done by the local blacksmith (with an axe and a
hammer)." |
These are a couple of pictures of Mats Berglind's friend's unrestored 1950 Svalan Matcher and a close-up of the engine. and a scan of the right tank transfer from Mats Berglind's 1950 Svalan.  |
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Albert Ohman Company in Stockholm marketed a range of machines under the name Tiger. In 1952 they badge-engineered the Svalan 75 to produce this Tiger 75. A restyled variant, the Tiger Competition, is shown in this advertisement (copied from a letter from Bosse Jansson in the 03/99 issue of Sloper, the magazine of the Panther Owners Club). |  |
PANTHER AG , GERMANY, BRAUNSCHWEIG
A famous bicycle firm from about 1900 to approximately 1980. Motorcycle manufacturing from 1933 to 1959. Made motorcycles exclusively with built-in engines from SACHS, Germany. Several engines during their production period with 73cc (1937), 98cc, 125cc, 150cc and 175cc (up to 1959). Further they built a large range of mopeds (49cc Sachs) named Bobby 1 to 10. Sold in England as LEOPARDS (to avoid conflict with P&M Panther name / trademark). In the early fifties they also made bicycles with a small engine, named Baby ( a 32cc BERINI licence engine).
 This picture was supplied by Tom Norman who took it in a German
motorcycle
museum. Whilst I cannot positively identify it, it seems consistent
with the above description. It is also very similar to the Sachs
Panther on a web-site on Sachs
motorcycles brought to my attention by Tobias Kreutz. |
 This is the model KS152,
presumably a 150 cc machine. I imagine the picture
is taken from period advertising material. (Sorry, I forget who sent me this picture.) |
 This is the model KS175S,
presumably a 175 cc machine. Again, I imagine the
picture is taken from period advertising material. (Sorry, I forget who sent me this picture.) |
 This is a 1951 model KS-89 (Thanks Harri Rosenqvist for picture.) |
 Volker's 1953 KS175 |
For more details look at Panther page ... Bibliography, there are some books including articles about german Panthers.
There was a second german manufactor named PANTHER, Germany, Magdeburg but this was a pioneer veteran from 1903 to 1907. The firm was owned 1905 by PANTHER AG see above. I think only few are surviving, one ruin I know.
The above is from Volker (there should be pictures on the
Panther-Binaries
email list page - I'll check and link). All I can add is that I believe
P&M Panthers were sold under the name P&M in Germany (and
Argentina).
Apparently launched in 1928, La Panthère as a marque lasted only until 1932. A short but turbulent period in which a number of solidly built models were produced.
The manufacturer may have been called S.M.A.C. and appears to have been based in St. Etienne. They have been making these models before 1928.
Volker sent me the following pictures of an early S.M.A.C. La Panthere;
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The following bike was on sale on Alltimers - motorcycle classics, from where these pictires and text come (with kind permission). This La Panthère is complete and original. Apparently it is a model A2 which is a 250cc single. The original paint and the beautiful panther painting on the tank are still there. {Thanks to Hans van de Geer who brought my attention to this and Volker for original information on La Panthere}
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There is a Korean owned company which sells (sports?) cars under the Panther name. There is no connection with the motorcycles.
James Greff has a non-Cleckheaton Panther, and provides the
following
information:
I have what appears to be a late to
mid 60's single cylinder two stroke It is painted in what appears to be that most common Honda red from the same time, except that the tank and side covers seem to have been repainted with Krylon. The decals look to have been put on over the crappy repaint. While it is missing the headlight assembly the broken taillight looks as if it may have used a Lucas type lens.
Murray Barnard provides the following suggestion:
Tom Churchill provided the following information and these adverts:
As far as I can glean from the website, an Indian company called Majestic Auto offer a 2.5 h.p., 49 cc. two stroke single machine called a Panther. I'll not post any more information here because if you are really interested you can check out the website. (Murray Barnard spotted this one.)
Jordan Princic reported seeing a badge from a Leyland bus which
indicated
that the model was a Panther.
Apparently Isuzu made a Panther minibus/MPV in Japan in the early / mid 1990s.
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