Welcome, fellow automotive enthusiasts, to a thrilling exploration of one of the most iconic concept cars in automotive history – the Buick Wildcat II (1954). Join us as we delve into the captivating world of this visionary vehicle and uncover the secrets behind its legendary status. Unveiling a Vision of the Future The Buick Wildcat II, unveiled in 1954, represented a bold departure from traditional automotive design, embodying the spirit of American adventure and innovation. Chief Designer Ned Nichols described it as an "American adventure in tomorrow’s design," capturing the essence of Buick's vision for the future. Design Inspired by Freedom and Adventure Inspired by the allure of two-seater fiberglass cars, Nichols and Harley Earl crafted the Wildcat II with an eye-catching aesthetic that defied convention. The car's distinctive features, including its prominent front grille, wraparound windshield, and rocket-shaped taillights, evoked a sense of speed and motion
Spring Green, WI (October, 2013) – The De Tomaso Pantera created
quite a stir when it made its public debut at the New York Motor Show in
1970. Combining Italian styling with American horsepower, the Pantera
was both beautiful to look at and blindingly fast on the road. Now,
custom vehicle builder and billet parts manufacturer, Ringbrothers, is
poised to once again capture the attention of car enthusiasts worldwide
with the 2013 SEMA Show debut of ADRNLN – a re-imagined take on the
Pantera designed in collaboration with Nike’s innovation skunk works
team.
At the heart of the beast lies a Wegner Motorsports LS3 pumping out a healthy 600-horsepower through a ZF five-speed gearbox from Bowler Performance Transmissions with a B&M shifter handling the gear changes. The Pantera’s signature roar is created by a pair of Flowmaster stainless steel mufflers while Royal Purple synthetic oils keep everything running smoothly. Putting all that power to the ground is the job of a set of HRE forged wheels shod in Nitto tires with stopping power produced by Baer six-piston calipers at each corner. Subtle design cues like small wheel flairs and custom rocker panels with brake cooling ducts adorn the Pantera’s steel monocoque body which is finished off in BASF’s Glasurit 90-Line paint system to deliver the signature Ringbrothers look. Finally, the engine bay gets some added accenting courtesy of products from Hose Candy. But ADRNLN’s story goes deeper than its combination of parts and hand-crafted metalwork.
When Mike and Jim Ring first laid eyes on this particular 1971 Pantera, it was in rough shape. The car belonged to Randy Brickle who was diagnosed with cancer and passed away before the shop working on his beloved De Tomaso could finish the project. After Randy’s passing, his wife Cheryl was determined to build the car her husband had always dreamt of. In search of a shop worthy of making her late husband’s dream a reality, Cheryl was referred by a friend to Ringbrothers.
A chance meeting with Nike’s innovation skunk works design team brought a new direction to the project. Members of the Nike’s design team first met the brothers at the 2012 SEMA Show where they were quickly impressed with Mike and Jim’s level of craftsmanship, handle on materials manipulation, and keen eye for modern product aesthetics. After a trip to the Ringbrothers shop, the Nike’s team of innovators collaborated with the team at Ringbrothers to bring the car to life with an overall design that told the story of the Pantera through its current owner Cheryl and her late husband Randy. Thinking outside of the box, the team of Nike innovators worked with Ringbrothers to design an interior that presented individualized color and material experiences unique to driver and passenger – the driver’s highlighting performance fit and luxury excellence and the passenger’s emphasizing confident simplicity and superior comfort.
ADRNLN will make its official debut at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 in the Royal Purple booth (#23713 in the Central Hall) at the 2013 SEMA Show and will be on display from November 5-8, 2013.
At the heart of the beast lies a Wegner Motorsports LS3 pumping out a healthy 600-horsepower through a ZF five-speed gearbox from Bowler Performance Transmissions with a B&M shifter handling the gear changes. The Pantera’s signature roar is created by a pair of Flowmaster stainless steel mufflers while Royal Purple synthetic oils keep everything running smoothly. Putting all that power to the ground is the job of a set of HRE forged wheels shod in Nitto tires with stopping power produced by Baer six-piston calipers at each corner. Subtle design cues like small wheel flairs and custom rocker panels with brake cooling ducts adorn the Pantera’s steel monocoque body which is finished off in BASF’s Glasurit 90-Line paint system to deliver the signature Ringbrothers look. Finally, the engine bay gets some added accenting courtesy of products from Hose Candy. But ADRNLN’s story goes deeper than its combination of parts and hand-crafted metalwork.
When Mike and Jim Ring first laid eyes on this particular 1971 Pantera, it was in rough shape. The car belonged to Randy Brickle who was diagnosed with cancer and passed away before the shop working on his beloved De Tomaso could finish the project. After Randy’s passing, his wife Cheryl was determined to build the car her husband had always dreamt of. In search of a shop worthy of making her late husband’s dream a reality, Cheryl was referred by a friend to Ringbrothers.
A chance meeting with Nike’s innovation skunk works design team brought a new direction to the project. Members of the Nike’s design team first met the brothers at the 2012 SEMA Show where they were quickly impressed with Mike and Jim’s level of craftsmanship, handle on materials manipulation, and keen eye for modern product aesthetics. After a trip to the Ringbrothers shop, the Nike’s team of innovators collaborated with the team at Ringbrothers to bring the car to life with an overall design that told the story of the Pantera through its current owner Cheryl and her late husband Randy. Thinking outside of the box, the team of Nike innovators worked with Ringbrothers to design an interior that presented individualized color and material experiences unique to driver and passenger – the driver’s highlighting performance fit and luxury excellence and the passenger’s emphasizing confident simplicity and superior comfort.
ADRNLN will make its official debut at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 in the Royal Purple booth (#23713 in the Central Hall) at the 2013 SEMA Show and will be on display from November 5-8, 2013.
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