The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
1934 Lancia Astura.
Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
For the world’s best regularity run drivers, the Mille Miglia is THE race of the year, not to be missed. This year saw the third victory in a row of Andrea Vesco, with co-driver Fabio Salvinelli, aboard a 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport. This is the first time since 2000 that a driver managed to triumph in three consecutive editions. Below, we continue our presentation of the 2022 Mille Miglia, from Lancia to the French entries.
By David Beare
From the VeloceToday Archives, November 2013
It is unlikely that Louis Delagarde, the designer of Panhard’s flat-twin engine, could have foreseen the scale of competition successes his diminutive power-unit would achieve when he began work at his drawing-board during the dark days of World War II.
1948 Panhard Dynavia.
By Gijsbert-Paul Berk
Since the mid-thirties, when he had developed the body of the Dynamic, Bionier had been interested in aerodynamics. He loved to watch birds in the air and fish in aquaria. Their movements and shapes fascinated him. During the war years he had studied and even made some scale models to determine how the postwar Panhards should look. [Read more…] about Louis Bionier, French Designer, Part 3
By David Beare
From the VeloceToday Archives, November 2013
It is unlikely that Louis Delagarde, the designer of Panhard’s flat-twin engine, could have foreseen the scale of competition successes his diminutive power-unit would achieve when he began work at his drawing-board during the dark days of World War II.
Panhard, the Flat Twin cars 1945-1967 and their origins
11.5 by 8.25
336 pages Softbound, approximately 1000 illustrations, B&W
$38.75 USD, £25 plus shipping
Order from https://stinkwheel.co.uk/shop/
Review by Pete Vack
This is one of the most important and well-researched books this year, in fact, in the past several years. For not only does it address a rare topic, but does so with immense authority based on superb research, a confidence that comes with deep understanding of the technical issues that are so much a part of the subject, a love of the marque that is both overwhelming and yet balanced and the ability to take relevant side roads that delightfully amplify the main subject. We are pleased that it is entirely in English.
The author, noted Panhard historian David Beare, gives us a brief historical look at the Panhard-Levassor firm from its beginning in 1891, enough to set the stage for the tiny and amazing post-war Panhards.
If ever there was a misunderstood and underrated car (at least outside of France), it was the Dyna Panhard. Even the name is confusing, often Panhard Dyna, and also seen as Dyna-Panhard with a hyphen. Born under the reign of Nazi Germany during WWII, the project was encouraged by Jean Panhard, the son of the founder, Paul Panhard, and two remarkable engineers, Loius Delagarde and Louis Bionier. (Remarkably, Jean Panhard reviewed the text of Beare’s book and last month appeared at a Panhard club celebration of his 100th birthday!) [Read more…] about Panhard, the flat twin cars 1945-1967: Book Review