From the Classifieds: 2000 Ford Laser Panther

Mention the name Howard Marsden and an older generation of motor sport enthusiasts will recall the tactician who guided Ford teams to victory in touring cars during the early 1970s and later in the 1990s.

Few, however, will remember that Marsden, who was equally well known for his successful stint with Nissan in that company’s respective race and rally campaigns, was also the brains behind the Ford Laser Panther, an upgraded version of the Ford Laser GLXi, a badge-engineered Mazda 323 sold at the time through local Ford dealers.

Just two of these cars were built to prove the concept – that the high-spec Laser GLXi could form the basis for a car with sportier aspirations, selling in small but lucrative quantities without Ford Australia’s engineering team doing the heavy R&D lifting.

Unveiled at the Sydney motor show in 2000, the Laser Panther rode on 17-inch Momo wheels fitted with Yokohama 215/40 R17 tyres and featured other aftermarket components such as adjustable Koni dampers with Eibach springs and larger front brakes. Momo also supplied the sports steering wheel, sports pedal pads and nickel-plated gear knob.

The engine gained a new engine management system chip, and upgraded camshafts, extractors and sports exhaust system with a high-flow catalytic converter. The engine drove the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.

Inside, the Laser Panther featured exclusive leather and Alcantara upholstery combination and a short-throw gear lever. Finally, the Laser Panther was finished in black metallic paint with a green pearl highlight.

The car was named Panther in tribute to the Penrith Panthers, the NRL team, a deal arranged by Ford’s small car brand manager Stephen Kruk.

“It’s fantastic to see what the Ford Racing Team have done in conjunction with some of our suppliers,” Kruk was quoted as saying in a press release issued at the time.

“It highlights the enormous potential for Laser which will be enhanced even further when the 2.0-litre engine arrives in March.”

Ford’s plans to build the Laser Panther with the 2.0-litre engine in 2001 were shelved after the company committed to introducing the European Ford Focus to replace the Laser in 2002.

One of the show cars is now up for sale. It has racked up a few more kilometres than one would normally expect of a show car, but is in original condition and practically unblemished.

Howard Marsden bought this particular car from Ford Australia just after the 2000 Sydney show and passed it to his daughter Samantha, who has owned it ever since. Marsden sadly fell victim to cancer not long after and passed away in August of 2003.

So don’t be fooled by the Laser badge, this car is rare – a one-owner machine with a glamorous history and driven by a member of Marsden’s family. Despite its road-car status, this particular Laser Panther bookends a colourful period in Ford’s racing and motor sport history in Australia.

See previous carsales From the Classifieds