Beschrijving
Deutsch- Bonnet HBR5 Coach Luxe 1957 Chassis 933 428 examples Exceptional history Original purchase invoice Rally record Eligible for the most prestigious competitions René Bonnet, a keen mechanic and motor sports enthusiast, met Charles Deutsch, a French aerodynamics engineer, in 1932. Together they developed the "DB" project, a brand of sports cars. Together, they developed the "DB" project, a brand of sports cars whose aim was to develop a range of cars combining small displacement and aerodynamics to optimise rally performance. The first "DB" coupés appeared in 1947, and they enjoyed intense participation in rallies and international circuits: the Mille Miglia, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 12 Hours of Reims, the Tour auto. After working with Citroen on the mechanicals for the first models, Panhard was finally chosen to equip the HBR5 coach, which came out in 1954. HBR 5 stands for the codes of the international sports federation at the time: H corresponds to the category of sports cars with a cubic capacity of between 500 and 750 cm3; B corresponds to two-seater cars; R corresponds to cars that can be driven on the road; and 5 stands for 5 fiscal hp. Only 428 examples of the HBR5 were produced.
A coach that is therefore rare on the market! Its characteristics: a beam chassis, a triangulated front axle and a fibreglass body for a total weight of less than 600 kilos. As for the engine, a Panhard 851 cm3 twin-cylinder with 52 bhp for the 'luxury' version. Now that's something! Our example was delivered new on 22/ 10/ 1957 (705 DR 29), in the same red colour as today, to Mr Thuaud of Quimper.
The car was then sold to André Garnier in 1960 (186 - EZ - 68), then to Julian in 1965 (50 GE 30), then to Guy Meozzi in 1985, to Michel Bellarbre in 2015 and finally to its current owner since 2016.
In terms of racing, it took part in the Rallye de Touraine - Poitou - Bretagne - Normandie on 15/ 16 March 1958, the 1st Rallye de Pentecôte at La Baule on 15/ 06/ 1958 with car no. 20 (1st in the 500/ 1000 CM3 section) and the Tour de France Automobile from 14 to 21/ 09/ 1958.
To this day, the car is strictly consistent with that of the 1958 Tour de France: super 400 aluminium drums at the front, 4 reinforced rims, No. 114 in red, no air vents on the sides and an engine fitted with an aerodyne air sump. A major restoration was carried out in 2016 by its current owner. On the body side, the work included repairing the beam chassis with epoxy paint, stripping the entire hull, fitting a canvas before applying the resin, installing a marine plywood floor to improve the rigidity of the floor, re-chroming the door window frames and painting the wheel rims the car's original colour.
On the mechanical side, the most significant work included change of engine rings and seals, cleaning of drip rings, polishing and fitting of aluminium crankcases with aerodyne turbine, ultrasonic rebuilding of the carburettor, fitting of a revised dynamo with a new bearing, complete overhaul of the starter motor, restoration of the steering column, complete check of the gearbox, phosphating of the fuel tank with a Restom kit resin treatment, fitting of a race-style fuel tank cap, change of the brake drums to super 400s at the front, which was an option planned by René Bonnet, and fitting of reinforced rims as in the old days to prevent twisting...
A full list of the work carried out and a photo file of the restoration are available.
The car is now configured for regularity rallies, with a removable roll bar and safety harnesses, towing hooks, a fire extinguisher, an internal and external circuit breaker, a trip master and 2 bucket seats in keeping with those of the era. This is the opportunity to own a rare and iconic model, with a complete history and listed in the "DB" club. This magnificent "DB" is also eligible for all historic rallies and is ready to drive. A car that is rarely seen these days. Visible by appointment Valid technical inspection Non-collector's French registration document
