DB PANHARD HBR5

• An extremely rare DB Panhard, documented participant in the 1957 Mille Miglia race
• A participant in the 1957 and 1958 Tour Auto
• Participant in the 2006, 2016, 2023 Mille Miglia editions
• The opportunity to acquire a legend of French motorsport with desirable Mille Miglia history at a reasonable price
• Produced in 428 examples, there are less than 200 known to exist today
• Complete with FIVA certificate (and Dutch road registration)
• Registered in the Mille Miglia registro
• The manufacturer D.B. has won nearly 1,000 races and can boast of being the French manufacturer with the highest number of entries in the Le Mans 24 Hours to date!
• Ready to race the 2024 Mille Miglia as well as participate in other prestigious events
• Marque specialists Peter Breed in the Netherlands completed a comprehensive overhaul of the engine in 2021

The firm Deutsch Bonnet was formed in 1932 from the meeting of two car racing enthusiasts: Charles Deutsch, a polytechnic engineer and René Bonnet, an ingenious mechanic.

Les Automobiles Deutsch and Bonnet (D.B.) built profiled racing cars with Citroën mechanics before presenting their first passenger car at the 1950 Paris Motor Show.

But it was in 1954 that the idea of building a small French GT – which would thus benefit from the reputation acquired on the circuits – began to make its way.

Built on an extremely rigid beam chassis and equipped with a fibreglass body (1st French car in polyester glass laminate), the HBR 5 coach was produced until the end of the Deutsch et Bonnet association in 1961.

It benefits from the excellent flat-twin engine of 850 cm3 cooled by air. The engine was borrowed from the Panhard Dyna Z.
The engine produces 58hp which is a lot in comparison to the weight of the car which is only 620 kilo’s.

The proof that this engine offered a lot of power for the car could easily be found in the race results of this type of car. The HBR5 won many category victories in most major events such as the Tour de France Automobile, Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, Les 24 Heures du Mans, the Monte-Carlo rally and the 12 hours of Sebring.

The manufacturer D.B. has won nearly 1,000 races and can boast of being the French manufacturer with the highest number of entries in the Le Mans 24 Hours to date!

Road & Track tested the DB HBR5 in 1957, heaping praise on the roomy, well-furnished interior, the price in San Francisco that year was $3,850.

For perspective, the Porsche 1600 Coupé the magazine tested that same year had a list price of $3,790.

ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE

This specific DB HBR5 was delivered new on the 12th of April 1957 to French amateur driver Jacques Badoche from Paris.

The car was wearing a beautiful color of Blue Turquoise Metallic.
The car was originally delivered in it’s current color.

The second recorded owner was Mr. Thierry Robitaille who registered it ‘3470Sl68’ on 8th January 1985.
During his ownership the car is recorded to be in White.

Eight years later the car passed to a Mr. Lucien Renaud and was re-registered ‘7065VA74’ on 2nd July 1993.

On 26th March 1997 the car was sold and registered ‘4421VG72’.

In 2006 it was purchased by Mr. Bernard Deligny.

On stripping the body, traces of the original colour were found in numerous places and used to achieve a faithful match when the car was returned to its original Blue Turquoise Metallic.

This DB Panhard remained in France up until 2015, before being imported to a new custodian in Belgium.

In his ownership, the car distinguished herself with success such at the Antwerp Conours in 2017 where it was winner in its class and at the Concours Herk De Stad in Belgium where it was Best in Show.

Via this Belgian gentleman this stunning example came in our hands in 2021 and in December 2021, the DB Panhard passed into the ownership of the former American owner, who kept the car registered in the Netherlands.

Marque specialists Peter Breed in the Netherlands completed a comprehensive overhaul of the engine in 2021 and carried out other detailed work.

In 2023 the suspension has been rebuilt, the brakes have been fully rebuilt, a new clutch was installed and the carburetors and fuel system have been overhauled.

In 2023 the race and rally history continued as the DB Panhard successfully participated in the Mille Miglia.

Due to the purchase from the former American owner of a pre-war car in our collection, the DB Panhard is now waiting for a new owner who will continue the unique history of this car.

The car participated the 2006, 2016 and 2023 Mille Miglia races.

The DB HBR5 has been very well maintained and after every event the car has been fully inspected, checked and detailed when needed.

The car is in a very good technical condition and is ready to race the 2024 Mille Miglia as well as participate in other prestigious events.

RACE AND MILLE MIGLIA HISTORY

This specific DB HBR5 participated successfully in the Mille Miglia in 1957.

It was driven by the first owner Mr. Jacques Badoche and Mr. Ruprecht Hoppen.

It was the 11th of May 1957, its starting time was 23.38.38 and the starting number was 83.

The DB HBR5 finished at the 5th. place in its class and 142th overall.

Mr. Badoche was a driver in the 1954 and 1956 Monte Carlo Rally as well.

In April 1957 and September 1958 he participated with this specific example in the Tour Auto.

He is also known to have competed with this DB Panhard in the 1958 Rallye de Picardie and Rallye Lorraine-Alsace.

Period pictures and documentation from the Mille Miglia Museum Archive in Brescia provide indications of its beautiful Mille Miglia competition career.

CONDITION EXTERIOR

The body of the DB HBR5 is in a nice condition.

The paint is wonderful and the nice details of the hand painted original Mille Miglia race number is off-course amazing.

The glass, exterior emblems, lighting, exterior lenses, and turn indicators are all in a nice condition.

CONDITION INTERIOR

The interior of the DB Panhard is impressive. The seats have a beautiful shape and are in a nice patinated condition.

The interior of the DB Panhard is very attracting and in our opinion the colour suits the exterior color of the car very well.

The dashboard is like the seats. It has a beautiful design.

All meters on the dashboard are in a perfect functioning order. The wood rimmed steering wheel is in a nice order as well.

Little details such as the knobs and buttons of the lights and indicators are beautifully installed on the steering column.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE

A joy to race.

The car is driving wonderful, if unequivocally French, with a two cylinder engine ahead of the wheels driving a 4-speed, front-drive transaxle.

The handling of the car is impressive. Due to the low weight to power ratio the car is very fast. The steering is direct and we are told it is a joy to race, particularly in the rain.

All of this adds up to a very collectible automobile. The market is small and highly specific, but so is the supply.

This incredibly rare DB Panhard offers a unique opportunity to acquire a legend of French motorsport and a very special car that is eligible a whole host of events- including the Mille Miglia and is offered at a fraction of the cost of other models.

Its rarity, its history, but also its sporty and powerful appearance, make this vehicle a very good choice for a subscription in the Mille Miglia.

HISTORY FILE

The DB Panhard has a very impressive history file.

Included in the history file are amongst other papers:

– Pictures of the period Mille Miglia\

– Pictures of old races

– Copy of the subscription documents of the 1957 Mille Miglia

– Fiva Certificate

– Mille Miglia Registro Certificate

The Mille Miglia Registro is the official Certifying Body that registers and certifies all cars that are eligible to enter the 1000 Miglia Storico (the modern Mille Miglia).

This specific DB Panhard has been Certified confirming this car is indeed an original Mille Miglia Veteran car and has participated in the 1957 Mille Miglia.