Solved - NEH 4999: Proposed Panther 400B Giardinetta

[Carnut]

What's this, from when - for 1 point?:

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

[Carnut]

Experts?

[tobytwirl]

Anything to do with the Panther Diesel? Those wheels look similar.

[Carnut]

Anything to do with the Panther Diesel? Those wheels look similar.

Yes!
Locked for you just to fill in the detail..

[tobytwirl]

Lucky break ..... but detail is quite hard to come by for the Panther. As I understand it, the first (1954 400d for diesel) version had the RUMI engine and a 'plastic' body by Colli. By 1957 and under new ownership the 400b (for benzina-petrol) version had a smaller engine and a larger body by Zagato. This second version had the wheel discs seen on the pictured car so I deduce that it was a 400b proposal - but by whom? I have never seen this car before and can find no reference to it. Period advertising mentions a Pantherbus, but that also yields no google response.

My shortlist, based only on style, is Monviso, Monterosa, Scioneri or Viotti. I hope this was a Viotti proposal for ISCA, who took over the Panther development.

[Carnut]

Well done!
I think you've answered it really.
It was a proposed Utility Estate Car variant of the 400B, which was itself designed by Zagato, but I don't think one was ever actually built.
Below is the only picture of it, but it's probably a fore-runner of a photoshop picture!