Panhard 24CT Coupe Tigre

France’s oldest car manufacturer and one of the greatest names in motoring history, Panhard et Levassor was founded in 1887 by Rene Panhard, Emile Levassor and Belgian lawyer Edouard Sarazin. Well equipped and beautifully engineered, the cars pioneered many inventions that we now take for granted including the first effective transmission and the famous Panhard rod suspension brace. A range of increasingly majestic and innovative cars were produced until the outbreak of war put a temporary halt to production in 1939.

 

In the desolate climate of the post-war years a complete rethink was in order and the Panhard became a utility car of considerable ingenuity and performance with the advent of the Dyna series. These were front-wheel drive, air-cooled, 610cc flat-twin engined machines with light alloy bodywork by Facel-Metallon, independent front suspension and four-speed overdrive gearing.

 

New for 1964 was the Panhard 24, a compact two-door coupé with a strikingly low and modern steel body with a prominent waist level groove reminiscent of the then fashionable Corvair Corvette. At a time when monocoque construction was becoming mainstream, the 24 sat on a separate and very strong tubular steel chassis: it was therefore possible to keep the window pillars relatively thin which gave the car an airy cabin and outstanding all-round visibility, while retaining class-leading structural rigidity thanks to the pleating and reinforcement of the roof panel. The twin headlights were set back in the body of the car and covered by a single glass cover, a styling cue that would be adopted for the Citroen DS in 1967, and the bumpers were in stainless steel.

 

Power came from a larger 848cc version of the front-mounted air-cooled flat-twin Dyna engine which, in its hottest Tigre form, as here, produced a startling 60bhp. Cylinder-for-cylinder this put it on a par with a Porsche 911 and gave it a top speed of 100mph thanks in part to its exceptionally slippery shape and low frontal aspect.

 

The interior was very well appointed for its class and was one of the first to offer the option of seat belts. The front seat backs were adjustable for rake and also – unusually at this time – adjustable for height. The passenger’s sun visor included a vanity mirror with its own light and the steering wheel was adjustable. The car also boasted an unusually elaborate heater.

 

At first two versions were offered, a four-seater C and a 2+2 CT, both on a 90-inch wheelbase, but from 1965 a longer  100-inch wheelbase model was also offered in B and BT formats, all with two doors only. Production finally came to an end in 1967 when Citroen, who had taken an increasing share of the business since 1955, decided they were too much of a rival for their own brand and diverted the Panhard name into the manufacture of light military vehicles. By this time some 28,500 Panhard 24 models had been sold, of which just 14,181 were in CT form. Survivors are now rare and sought after.

 

First registered in December 1965, this particular 24CT is an especially rare right-hand drive model that boasts the top spec Tigre engine. An early ‘Star’ model, it also has distinctive alloy brake drums and is painted in the special grey-over-plum colour scheme of the launch cars (most production cars did not have two-tone paint). Put into storage in 1973, the car has recently been fully restored by the current owner including new sills and a bare metal respray. The vinyl interior has also been reconditioned.

 

On the mechanical side, the suspension, brakes and exhaust have all been renewed, along with new tyres, battery and alternator. The engine, a replacement Tigre unit, has been rebuilt by a French Panhard specialist and a supplementary electric fuel pump fitted to aid starting. The car has only covered a few hundred miles since the restoration was completed and is said to be in very good order throughout and to drive very well with an MOT until June 2010 and taxed until next May.

 

It comes with a workshop manual and a fully illustrated parts manual along with a quantity of useful spares. Altogether a most fascinating and appealing car that is sure to prove a real talking point wherever it goes.