Legendary boat brand Pantera Boats is back on the scene.
The reinvigorated company, now owned by Voltari Marine Electric and overseen by Canadian-based Carbon Marine, has unveiled a reimagined 24-foot design with three variations - a Classic sterndrive model, a Classic Sport model with Mercury Racing outboard power, and an upgraded Carbon Elite 24 variation.
The announcement comes after eager fans were thrilled to see the brand's revival in 2020 when two prototypes emerged. Our BoatDealers.ca team was on hand for the relaunch and tested the initial Pantera 260CC. (*Editor's Note- we recently tested the new Carbon Elite 24 and will be publishing video/print reviews soon).
The new 24-foot offering has thus far been built in three variations for customers in Ontario, Michigan, and Florida.
The design uses Pantera's original 24-foot, 24-degree V-bottom hull with an 84" (7') beam and can be ordered with sterndrive or outboard power. The first Classic 24 version can be powered by a 570 HP (MV8) Ilmor engine or a 6.2L Mercury Racing sterndrive. The Sport 24 version is offered with a Mercury Racing 450R outboard and a stretched cockpit. The upgraded Carbon Elite 24 can be offered with either a big block Mercury or Ilmor engine.
“We expect that if this deep-V hull was still racing, with our re-design, light and strong carbon fiber construction and power-to-weight ratio, it would again be a champion,” said Jeff Howat, the vice-president of Carbon Marine, in a press release.
“We are bringing a true love of performance and respect for the brand in bringing Pantera back to life—the life it deserves with racing heritage and now a technological advantage,” he continued. “We are proud to be the steward of this iconic go-fast brand.”
For Allan “Brownie” Brown, legendary offshore racer and boatbuilder: “The heart of these boats, the hull shape, was drawn by a small number of visionary architects. Some were ugly, some ‘wet,’ some fell apart. The survivors, Formula, Cigarette, Magnum, Apache, Cougar, Donzi, and Pantera, are all still existent in one form or another. I just learned that Pantera was rescued by a young and willing builder who intends to integrate today’s space age materials with the well-known ride and performance of the Pantera. Should be a good fit!”
The new 24-footer platform will use an aerospace-grade carbon fiber with infusion and pre-preg carbon parts. The resulting hull is significantly lighter, stiffer, and stronger than other performance constructions on the market. A wide range of customization options are available for the upgraded 24 Elite Carbon version, including a fully-exposed carbon fiber hull coated with a semitransparent gelcoat that shows the fiber weave. Various color and gelcoat—or even paint options--are available at owner's request. A colored translucent gelcoat was used on the first boat to match the owner’s selected McLaren blue.
The revamped interior was changed from its original bare bones racing layout to an ultra-luxury speedboat configuration with high end finishes. Standout perks include a Nardi steering wheel, Sileather and Alcantara upholstery, and racing-style suspension seating from Ullman Dynamics. Other perks include a Rockford Fosgate stereo, dual Garmin GPS touchscreen units, and Lumitec lighting.
The most prominent change to the overall design is a rear teak deck offered with the Carbon Elite 24 version. Both natural teak and synthetic teak decking with mahogany trim are availabe, while the hull is offered with gelcoat or painted graphics. The upper deck was reconfigured by yacht designer, J. David Weiss, who incorporated styling cues inspired by Singer Definitive Design, made famous by its Singer 911 Porsche restorations.
Future plans for the reimagined brand include an all-new 28 foot design, as well as a larger 36-footer. Prospective buyers looking to acquire a Pantera can find them available through UNRIEHL Performance in Michigan, Marine Unlimited in New Jersey, and through Carbon Marine in Canada.
The company also anticipates relocating once again to its original Miami base.
“Pantera belongs in the Miami area,” says Howat, “Real estate is tough in Florida, but we’re confident we’ll find the right spot soon to begin building here where Pantera has roots.”
Pantera Boats is a part of America’s powerboat racing history, started by Pepe Nunez in 1974. The family business operated out of Miami’s Thunderboat Row on 188th Street and is now seeking a manufacturing facility in South Florida, as well as a national network of dealers.
You can get the first look at the Carbon Elite 24 from our test drive in the video below:
