1959 DB PANHARD HBR5 - Lot 60

Lot n° 60
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Estimation :
40000 - 60000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 44 400EUR
1959 DB PANHARD HBR5 - Lot 60
1959 DB PANHARD HBR5 Serial number 1094 Old restoration French registration Eligible Charles Deutsch, a Ponts et Chaussées engineer, and René Bonnet, a keen mechanic, met in 1932 when the latter's family workshop was put up for sale. They soon came up with the idea of designing lightweight but ingenious cars for competition, all based on Citroën powertrains. Thus, in 1938, the two friends managed to enter a car in the 12 Hours of Paris. However, the war put their projects on hold, and it wasn't until 1945 that Deutsch and Bonnet took up their tools again to pursue their racing car dreams. In 1947, Automobiles DB was founded, and in 1949, the duo took part in the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time with a Citroën-powered "tank". In the end, the ingenious enthusiasts turned to Panhard for the mechanical components of their future automobiles. As early as 1950, they entered a Dyna-powered two-seater cabriolet in the Manche race. It wasn't until 1952 that the Champigny-based firm launched small-scale production of a car: the Coach. With a small Panhard-origin air-cooled twin-cylinder engine and just 460kg, the car delivered exceptional performance for its time, winning the 1952 Tour de France Automobile. This was followed by an incredible series of class wins, if not overall, at least in the performance index, at Le Mans and Sebring. The latter victory put the brand on the map across the Atlantic, and around a hundred Coach HBR5s were exported to the USA and even Venezuela. Our example was delivered new in July 1959, then resold in 1970. Our owner acquired it in 1985 in a complicated state, and undertook a restoration that spanned more than 20 years, a file of photos and invoices testifying to the work undertaken. Today, this DB is in excellent mechanical condition, with a beautiful patina on the bodywork. Over the years, the mechanics have always been well maintained and the bodywork has been well cared for. The test drive revealed a pleasant car to drive, with no major faults. Eligible for numerous events, this car is ideal for historic racing. 1959 DB PANHARD HBR5 Serial number 1094 Old restoration French registration Eligible for Mille Miglia, Tour Auto, Le Mans Classic Charles Deutsch, a Ponts et Chaussées engineer, and René Bonnet, a keen mechanic, met in 1932 when the latter's family workshop was put up for sale. They soon came up with the idea of designing lightweight but ingenious cars for racing, all based on Citroën powertrains. Thus, in 1938, the two friends managed to enter a car in the Paris 12 Hours. However, the war put their projects on hold, and it wasn't until 1945 that Deutsch and Bonnet took up their tools again to pursue their racing car dreams. In 1947, Automobiles DB was founded, and in 1949, the duo took part in the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time with a Citroën-powered "tank". In the end, the ingenious enthusiasts turned to Panhard for the mechanical components of their future automobiles. As early as 1950, they entered a Dyna-powered two-seater cabriolet in the Manche race. It wasn't until 1952 that the Champigny-based firm launched small-scale production of a car: the Coach. With a small Panhard-origin air-cooled twin-cylinder engine and just 460kg, the car delivered exceptional performance for its time, winning the 1952 Tour de France Automobile. This was followed by an incredible series of class wins, if not overall, at least in the performance index, at Le Mans and Sebring. The latter victory put the brand on the map across the Atlantic, and around a hundred Coach HBR5s were exported to the USA and even Venezuela. Our example was delivered new in July 1959, then resold in 1970. Our owner acquired it in 1985 in a complicated state, and undertook a restoration that spanned more than 20 years, a file of photos and invoices testifying to the work undertaken. Today, this DB is in excellent mechanical condition, with a beautiful patina on the bodywork. Over the years, the mechanics have always been well maintained and the bodywork has been well cared for. The test drive revealed a pleasant car to drive, with no major faults. Eligible for numerous events, this car is ideal for historic racing.
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