1962 : Panhard CD - n°53


 The Panhard CD was designed by Charles Deutsch, one of France's greatest automotive engineers. A graduate of Polytechnique, Mines, Ponts et Chaussées and Supélec, he founded the famous DB brand in the late 1930s with René Bonnet. After their separation in 1962, Charles Deutsch continued with the engineers Bertin, Romani and a working group of the S.I.A. the study and development of the Panhard CD, a coach intended for road use but capable of high performance and equipped with running gear and the flat-twin of the Panhard PL17. In less than 70 days, the impossible bet was won by an extremely motivated and competent team, managed by Etienne de Valance.


For the 24 hours of Le Mans, three cars out of the four scheduled take the start (numbers 53, 54 and 55). The engine is reduced to 702 cm3 by reducing the bore from 84.85 to 77.2 mm. Number 53 was entrusted to the crew of André Guihaudin and Alain Bertaut (who would later become one of the main leaders of the ACO at Le Mans).


In practice, the car qualified in 58th position (out of 60 cars qualified) with a time of 5'47.4, far behind the two other Panhard CDs. Running without any incident, number 53 was in 30th position at mid -race and in 16th place three hours from the end, a position that she will retain until the checkered flag falls.

It won the performance index at the average of 142.793 km/h having completed 255 laps with only a half-lap ahead of René Bonnet number 46.

text : slot-racing.fr




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