CD-PANHARD Prototype - the two 1964 Le Mans prototypes

[TOO LATE, both now SOLD]

Built for the 24 Hours of Le Mans by Charles Deutsch and Panhard

The CD prototype LM64 #64/1, pictured at the 24 heures du Mans 1964

The CD LM64 #01 is a scientific and artistic Masterwork

The Le Mans Prototypes:  the elite of Classic racing cars.

The CD offered for sale is part of the Autodrome Collection. This mythical car, with its unbelievable shapes is true and alive ...

During the fifties and the sixties, the 24 Hours of Le Mans used to mean much more than today : it was not a media and marketing business, but an absolute dream that only a handful of heroes could achieve... Those Vingt-Quatre Heures (24 Hours) used to be the toughest challenge that a car manufacturer could take. Designing and building a car for Le Mans was an incredible adventure.

All the most famous makes had to race at Le Mans : Bentley, Jaguar, Maserati, Ferrari, Aston-Martin, Lotus, Ford, Matra, Porsche... The scary speed records reached in the Hunaudières straight, still intact in the sixties, have fascinated the entire world, and the ultra-aerodynamic shapes of the best prototypes enabled their drivers to go beyond all limits: 250 kph for the clever, ultra-light CDs, 308 kph for the Maserati tipo 151/3, 380 for the Porsche 917 LH, ad even 405 kph for the French Peugeot-powered WM ...

The CD were part of this bunch of "monster cars" designed for speed and victory, such as the Jaguar Type C and D, the Aston-Martin DBR1, the Ferrari Testa Rossa, 250 P, the Maserati 151, the Ford GT40, the Porsche 917, and many others. Their record-breaking Cx (air penetration coefficient) of the CD-Panhard was as low as 0,12 - never equalled since then - and combined with a 560 kg weight, enabled record lap times with only a one-litre engine.

The cars for sale are the two famous CD Prototypes made for the "24 Heures du Mans" 1964

Only two CDs LM64 have been built by the Team of Charles Deutsch, especially for the legendary endurance race.

The history of chassis #64/1 is well known. It has remained about fifteen years in the hands of the manufacturer, before being sold to a French collector. It then became the property of another enthusiast and expert of the make, who decided the restoration of certain parts  - without deviating from the authenticity and integrity - . This work was entrusted to EPAF (see picture below), created by former experts and technicians of Matra-Sports.

Technical :

The structure is a rigid and light steel beam, supporting a Panhard twin-cylinder that has been tuned for performance and reliability (distribution gear in aluminium, forged pistons, double-ignition). Independent suspensions are associated with inboard disc brakes suspended at the front and drums at the rear.

It should be noted that this CD is still fitted with its original five-gear ZF box - overhauled and in perfect condition -, the ultra-long fifth gear for Le Mans high-speed is also available. The experimental tires (135x14) specifically developed by Michelin in 1964 are available, but for safety reasons the wheels are now fitted with "soft" Dunlop X-AS FF. Similarly, the period springs and shock absorbers have been replaced (but are still available) by recent adjustable devices. The gasoline tank is the original one, made of riveted Aluminium, filled for safety reasons, by a race-legal foam.

The cockpit is totally original, with the mechanical rev counter, and all instruments in running order. In order to meet the standards of the historical competitions, the safety roll-bar as well as the safety harness-type belt (four points) have been recently installed.

The glass fibre body, as described below in detail, is the result of extremely advanced theoretical studies, relating in particular to the interaction between the dynamic behaviour of the frame and the aerodynamics.

With this car, are also provided certain replacement parts, such as a windshield, its fabrication mould, and, on request, an additional engine can also be provided.

Dry Weight : 560 kg.

Dimensions: 1,07 X 4,25 m X 1,64 m, passo : 2,27m.

Ready to run... but also road-legal for an out-of-this-world driving experience.

This CD is the authentic CD Le Mans prototype #01, preserved in perfect condition. it will be the star of any great collection. It will also offer immense satisfactions and excitement to the driver, either in Historic Races, or on the road. This important Historic automobile is not only in compliance with current FIA regulations, and also legally registered for road use.

The 1964 Le Mans, one of the greatest Years.

Let's remind that the 1964 year is one of the best for the 24 Hours of Le Mans : that year, the "Ford the Giant" challenged Ferrari for the first time... At a period when, after four successive victories at le Mans, Ferrari was the most admired racing car manufacturer in the world. This first confrontation, strongly publicised by Ford,  was the focus of the whole world, and 300.000 spectators gathered around the Le Mans track.

The V8-powered Ford GT 40 had been designed - for the first time in history - based on computer programs, and their futuristic shapes draw enormous attention. Will the Italian genius Enzo Ferrari resist the overwhelming "dollar-powered" Ford ?

Ferrari won again, and it took two more years before Ford could finally win in 1966. In 1964, all categories where packed with fabulous cars, that have become legends since then : Maserati 151, Porsche 904 GTS, Abarth, Iso-Rivolta, Cobra Daytona - winners of the GT category and defeating the legendary Ferrari  GTO - , Alfa-Romeo Tubolare Zagato, Jaguar E Type Lihtweight, but also Alpine M63, René Bonnet and CD LM64.

Left.: the first Ford GT built for the 24 H of Le Mans 1964 ; note wire wheels, and last-minute added spoilers. Right: legendary Porsche 904 GTS, also created in 64.

The dawn of modern aerodynamics

Extremely complex studies were conducted for the design and construction of the CD, including high-level mathematic calculations about the interaction between the air flows, the cross-wind effects, the suspension flexibility, and many other parameters leading to a whole new conception of the aerodynamic science for racing cars development. The famous rear fins were developed following very advanced theories, and enable the car to combine an extremely low drag and a high stability at full speed. We have copies of notes and comments from Charles Deutsch himself in the history file of this fabulous car.

The CD of Le Mans still represent today, together with the Porsche 917 LH - designed mainly by CHarles Deutsch - a major step in the History of the "24 Hours" but also in the History of racing cars in general. A few years after, due to serious accidents in the Hunaudières straight, the race track was modified to ban ultra-high speeds, and putting an end to a fabulous era of legendary hand-made prototypes, and opening the computer-designed racing car period.

One of the most beautiful racing cars in History - and a memorable aerodynamics statement

A daring concept, associated with innovative theories about aerodynamics produced an incredible machine,

combining Science and Art : indeed the CD-Panhard is a work of Art as well as a technological masterpiece

The famous rear fins remain a source of fascination, as much as the extremely elaborated bodywork shape...

A new era in racing cars design

It is important to observe that this CD-Panhard opened a new era in racing cars : until the beginning of the sixties, engine and chassis were the key resource to win, whilst aerodynamics was seen as merely a way to decrease air resistance. But in the modern era, aerodynamics became essential and more particularly its interaction with road-handling, suspensions, down-force, stability, and any recent racing car takes inspiration in these early developments, when ground effect was put in practice for the very first time (see picture below)...

One understands better this irreversible change and the birth of the "modern" sports cars by looking at the  Chaparral 2E and 2F with their wing directly linked to the wheels, followed by the 2J with its aspiration device, the Lotus 78 and 79, systematically taking advantage of the ground effect pioneered by CD, or even the most recent Formula 1 and prototypes, which are designed from the first sketch with aerodynamics and its interaction on suspension and chassis, in mind..

This central "tunnel" channels air flow to generate ground-effect, stabilising the car without penalising drag.

The high-tech EPAF experts have restored this CD, together with a Matra F1

Panhard was, for half a century, one of the leading road and sports car manufacturer ; with over twenty Grand Prix wins, and advanced road models like the drop-tear shaped Dynavia, or the two-door coupé Panhard 24. Specialising in innovative, high-tech solutions, Panhard also used - like Voisin -  valve less engines (Knight patent).

The Le Mans 1962 CD (left picture) and the 1964 LM64 chassis#01. Right : production GT model bby CD.

Charles Deutsch was one of the best Automotive Engineers, with degrees from all the best Universities and Schools (Polytechnique, Mines, Ponts et Chaussées and Ecole Supérieure d'Electricité). He founded with René Bonnet the famous DB make, winning many races including the Energy-Challenge at Le Mans.

Coach DB type HRB5

A Formula 1 was developed in by Charles Deutsch in 1955 but the super-charged 850 cc Panhard could not really make it, in front of much bigger aspirated engines.

the DB Formula 1 designed by Charles Deutsch and René Bonnet.

In 1962 the Panhard-CD scored remarkable results at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1962: 16th overall, and winner of the Energy-Challenge, beating the René Bonnet, in spite of their last generation Renault Gordini twin-Cam engine.

In 1963, the new CD, based on a DKW chassis, crashed unfortunately very early in the race.

The CD-DKW at Le Mans 1963 : a first approach for the memorable masterpiece of 1964.

We own both fabulous prototypes CD-PANHARD of le Mans 1964, in excellent restored condition, both road-legal and available in Paris.

(*) To learn more about Charles Deutsch, one can refer to the very complete book "DB 1932-1962", by Alain Gaillard (600 pages).

CHASSIS #64/1 HAS BEEN DISPLAYED ON OUR STAND AT THE 2009 PARIS RETROMOBILE MOTOR SHOW