Plate 01 (view from the drivers seat) A Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Ausf.G (Sd.Kfz.171) while in the final phase of construction at the NMH (Maschinenfabrik-Niedersachsen-Hannover) plant. This picture is most likely around the introduction of this variant of the Panther. We can deduce this by the fact it has Elfenbein RAL 1015 as its interior color. An order issued by the Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen December 1944 all production vehicles have all oxide primer interiors. In February 1945, NMH received notification to again start painting the interior of the turret with Elfenbein (ivory).
Plate 02: The drivers and radio operators positions inside the Panther Ausf.D (Fgst.Nr. 210042 completed at MAN in early May 1943) minus the fittings for the fighting compartment and the radio racks for the . The radio operator was expected to fire his MG34 through the MG port in the 80 mm glacis plate.
The Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen produced AK 7-200 synchromesh’s transmission drive shaft can be seen facing immediately to the viewer in the middle of the photograph, in front of the transmission is the housing for the 37MnSi5 tempered steel final drive spur gears as well as elliptical breaking system. The drive train combination of the Maybach HL230 V12 engine coupled with the AK 7-200 transmission proved to be too weak and this became a teething problem that was never resolved. To further illustrate this point, in Normandy, about half of the abandoned Panthers were found by the French to have broken final drives. However, at least the final gear housing was eventually replaced with stronger one, while final gear problem was never solved.