if you are getting a "pure" panther from a particular local, you'll end up with an animal that fits within the norms for that local. Which means males will look a fair bit like the father, in terms of colouring (of course the genetics of the mother play a big role too). Assuming youre buying from an honest breeder
if you get a panther of mixed heritage (nose be crossed with ambibole for example) its more of an exciting dice roll - you wont know what it will look like as and adult and indeed it will likely change a fair bit as it ages.