Panhard 24

The French auto industry has always been distinguished by an extravagant approach to design. On the streets of French cities, there have always been plenty of cars of unusual appearance. A special riot of forms occurred in the early sixties. The legendary Citroën DS immediately comes to mind. But in terms of extravagance, the Panhard 24 was not inferior to it.

Panhard is one of the oldest French car manufacturers. In the mid-fifties, Panhard began to slowly merge with Citroën. This moment immediately affected the pace of development of the company. And to be completely precise, the merger with Citroën buried Panhard.

But finally, Panhard made its mark with the Model 24. This car was unusual in many ways. The Panhard 24 went into mass production in 1964. In terms of design, the car stood out among its contemporaries. The car body had not only a beautiful design but also excellent performance in terms of aerodynamic drag coefficient. This was a long-standing feature of Panhard.

Engine and Technical Highlights

Since the company could not afford a powerful engine for a number of reasons, in the mid-fifties, Panhard engineers began to pay great attention to the aerodynamics of the body. This made it possible to obtain greater speed and reduce fuel consumption.

If you look under the hood of the Panhard 24, you could find a two-cylinder air-cooled boxer engine. Engine displacement is 52 ci (850 cc), and power is 42 or 50 hp, depending on the modification. The gearbox is four-speed. Front-wheel drive.

The technical highlights of the Panhard 24 did not end with the engine. The car had a backbone frame, which makes it similar to the Czechoslovak Tatras. The front suspension is Panhard 24 on transverse springs, and the rear is a torsion bar. The car originally had drum brakes on all wheels. Later, disc brakes were installed on the front wheels.

Production and Sabotage of Citroën

The Panhard 24 was produced in only one body version: a coupe. But despite the fact that the car had a coupe body, the interior was quite a five-seater, especially in the version with a long (2290 mm) wheelbase. Panhard 24 was produced in five versions: C, CT, B, BT, and BA. They differed in the level of equipment.

When creating the Panhard 24, high hopes were placed on the car. It was supposed to replace the popular Panhard PL 17. Unfortunately, the model 24 had modest sales results. From 1964 to 1967, approximately 30,000 copies were produced.

Photo: "AL-90-00 1965 Panhard 24 BT" by kitmasterbloke

The results would have been better if not for the sabotage of Citroën managers. Fearing internal competition, they killed the idea of a four-door version of the Panhard 24. But that’s half the problem. The main Achilles heel of the Panhard 24 was the engine.

The power unit had been in production since 1947 and was clearly not suitable for a car of this class. The project of a new four-cylinder engine was again shelved thanks to the sensitive management of Citroën. Naturally, the weak engine had a negative impact on demand.

The dimensions of the Panhard 24 were 4,267 mm or 4,550 mm in the extended version, but it lost power (42 or 50 hp). With such a weak engine, the speed characteristics of the Panhard 24 are amazing. The maximum speed is 84 mph (135 kph). If you remember that the Panhard 24 weighed only 810 kg, then a lot becomes clearer.

The End of Panhard

If in France, with its specific taxation and gasoline prices, the low-power Panhard 24 engine could be competitive, then in Germany and Britain, the car’s chances were minimal.

In 1967, the production of passenger cars at Panhard was completely stopped. The production facilities were used for the production of Citroën commercial vehicles. Panhard was transferred to the production of army equipment.

Where to Find Panhard 24 Today?

If you are looking to find a Panhard 24 today, your best bet would be to search online marketplaces, such as eBay or specialized car collector websites. Additionally, joining car enthusiast forums or clubs dedicated to vintage vehicles could provide valuable connections and information about the availability of Panhard 24 models.

You could also explore local classic car shows or auctions that might feature these rare vehicles. Remember to conduct thorough research and inquiries to ensure the authenticity and condition of the car before making any purchases.