This Mint ‘79 Arctic Cat Panther Has Stood The Test of Time!

[RodFox-qp]

Well taken care of beautiful condition my hat is off to the owner.

[camarogreen]

If you look at the snaps on the seat sides they should have embossed Cat heads on them.... crazy details for the day, awesome.

[matthewbegin]

I thought that trunk was for your wobbly pops? Great video Rocky

[michaelhoobler]

My first sled was a 79 Pantera 5000 twin carb was my first sled I remember when Dad pulled it out the garage the snow was so deep. It was just sink and we had to go around and around and pack it down and stay in the same tracks. Those are some good times. Got all the old pictures to prove it the rest of history as they say bunch of old sleds old parts you name it I got the bug keep up the good work 😊

[norm]

My uncle had a Panther and Cheetah + a 250 alouette. I drove that alouette day and night non stop, I was maybe 8 or so. We went riding one day and he stoped, waved me over to take the Panther and he took the alouette. You can’t take the smile of a kids face driving that beautiful machine.

[DavidIngalls-nf]

My first sled was a 1971 Puma 440, my second sled was a 1973 Puma 440 wished I still had them I'm 69 yrs young.

[BLKXJ]

The 79, 80, 81 Arctic Cats were my favorite years, they had great styling were super dependable and there is no mistaking the sound of that hex-drive clutch. I've got my eyes peeled for an 81 el Tigre' 6000.

[stics]

I love listening to the whine of that hex clutch when you are idling! 17" track is the order of the day!

[joshgessinger]

Hope cat makes it ur support can only help.
Thanks Rocky.

[kevinferger]

I had a 1980 trail cat 440. One of the most dependable sleds I've owned. I bought it used. It had a track conversion kit on it that went from a created track to an all rubber track. No more cleats flying. It had a speedo and head temp gauge. It handled better than leaf spring but was a little crude for the first independent suspension sold publicly. Wish I still had it.

[Larry_longo]

Love that old sled! One of the coolest in your fleet!

[michaeljohnson]

Thanks Rocky for keeping the dream alive! I own a 79 panther as well, almost as mint condition as yours, I bought it at heydays swap about 10 years ago for 700 bucks! 400 original miles, it came from Utah. I snatched it up and we've enjoyed it ever since! Keep gas mixture plenty rich and don't hold throttle wide open for too long and she'll keep those pistons in tact!: :it is a dependable and beautiful looking machine with a nice long seat. Great family sled, and once studded, a great ice fishing machine. Others we've owned. 72 panther440. 72 panther 340. 76 Jag 3000. 80 Pantera 5000. All fan cooled kawasaki early then Suzuki spirit motors. We switched to polaris indys in the 80s but those old cats still bring back memories of me and my dad out in a blizzard, cracklin down the lakes and trails. So fun as a kid. Love your stories, information and vids Rocky Thanks man!

[camarogreen]

Love your videos. I'm part of a large AC family as well. My Dad's first Cat was a brand new 1974 Panther 440. It was the king of the hill for sure with all the families that He and we snowmobiled with on the weekends. After Dad bought the Panther there were dozens more in the riding groups the next few years as it was that good compared to all the other machines. Next was a 79 Panter 5000 (basically the same as you have in this video), then the 81 El Tigres came along and the Panthers were for sale. We had 3 81 El Tigre 6000's and 2 84 El Tigre 6000's. Now those were literally untouchable. Such great sledding days for sure.

[fasterdura]

Thanks Rocky!!! You just made my morning🙏🙏. You hit on the dude who still has his kitty cat suit that’s still hanging in my closet. 45 years later I’ve got it still. Arctic Cat is so special to me. You are correct on Cat being a family built company. We can thank Roger Skime for countless hours in a basement crying on his knees reviving Arctic Cat back to life in the early 80’s. I imagine he had help.BUT on another note. I have the exact same sled you’re talking about here. Actually I’ve gone through about 4 of them in past 20 years. One is sitting up in my shop with 384 miles. It’s just a show piece. They only made these in 1978. This was a 1 year coloured model. A 4000 and 5000. Unless someone can correct me because I then would have learnt something today. 😂. Keep these vids coming man. You really know how to put a smile on us older gens. 🚀🚀

[billreichheld]

my first of many cats was this exact sled loved that sled thanks for sharing

[jftrottier]

I rode on the Panther 74...In my mom's belly. An era when everybody were riding the local trails 4 months per year and meet at local relay. My dad sold it and bought a Jag 3000 1980 and next year a 81. We still have the 80 in our museum,

[robmatte]

Back in the 80's when I purchased my first Cat. It was a 72' Panther 399cc which I replaced with a 440. Mine had no issues getting out of it's own way. Stopping on a hill was not an issue and going up hills was awesome. I used mine to break the trails. It loved the fresh powder. I would love to find another one and share that experience of the classic sleds with my children.

[joshsmith]

I feel the gods have spoken, out of nowhere me and my buddies started getting into leaf spring sleds for beaters and old racers. I happened to come across a old panther 78-79 and I absolutely fell in love . For some reason that bull nose looking front end caught me and I have been on the hunt ever since, I have a 79 enticer and 78 jag 3000 so the panthee is gonne be next for sure

[Poppinwheeeeellllllieeeeez]

That compartment was for your beer. It was the 70s.

[Moto-Hobo]

I love waking up to the uploads lol. Awesome content!