I have given up the hope to be normal and have now fully embraced that I am a car collector. Meaning that say 20 cars is not weird at all. And everyone can agree that keeping money in the bank isn't as it used to be.
So the collection at this point:
1973 Saab 96 V4
1982 Suzuki Whizzkid
1988 Corvette C4
1997 Alfa Romeo 164
To celebrate this realization I'm preparing/dreaming something of a garage expansion. But also I came to the realization that with some shuffling and clean-up I could move my wife's motorcycle out of the way and free up a garage. If need be I could add another car. And so it happened that when a long time favorite showed up I jumped on it.
I've always had a thing for the last model that Panhard made; the 24. It has such a modern styling for an early 60's design and it is full of smart/different technology. Problem is that Panhard stopped existing in 1967 which makes part availability a problem. Engine and gearbox are ok as they are shared with older Panhards and clubs started reproducing them. Body, interior etc. is much more tricky. I was once alerted on a project car that missed a windshield. That did not seem smart to take on. Besides there already is a project for which I struggle to find time.
Good ones or decent ones however never seem to be sold; they are kept in a collection. I had a little hope that some of these collectors would have to start selling because they would become too old. And then that is exactly what happened. A classic car trader not far from home suddenly had a nice looking 24 that was properly running and driving. Source; a car collector that had it for some 25 years but was now moving into a elderly car home. It has a lot of the documentation even.
So this car has a special story. It was build in 1965 (May) and then set off to the Netherlands to be sold by a Citroen dealership. Just like so many other Panhards however the Citroen dealership had little interest in selling a Panhard. So it just sat there. And just as so many other Panhards it sat for a very long time. It wasn't until 1978 (March) that someone bought this new-old car. The brand Panhard already stopped existing 11 years prior.
In the early 90's it was restored which for that time was pretty well done. In the restoration they started modifying. The 24 had left the factory has a simple B(erline) - so the longer wheelbase but with reduced luxury levels, different instrument cluster and 50hp. After the restoration it was lifted to a BT spec which meant it got a Tigre motor (60hp) and the sporty instrument cluster and such.
It gets this 60hp out of an air-cooled 2-cilinder boxer engine of only 850cc - thanks to things like roller-bearing crank and connecting rod and torsion-bar valve spring system. It's Front-wheel drive and had dual wishbone suspension at the front where the wishbone arms are formed by the (leaf)springs; a little bit like a Corvette or Volvo. Rear end is torsion bars again - but without a Panhard rod which is the only thing this company is remembered from. This version has all-round drum-brakes which from the center of the wheels to allow for increased cooling. They were also available in some years and specs with all-round disc brakes but they look less cool.
So, now some pictures from the seller as it has not arrived yet.
If you get some Chevrolet Corvair vibes from it; correct, that was a inspiration source.
If you get Citroen DS vibes from it; also correct, this car inspired the Citroen DS (facelift) design
So the collection at this point:
1973 Saab 96 V4
1982 Suzuki Whizzkid
1988 Corvette C4
1997 Alfa Romeo 164
To celebrate this realization I'm preparing/dreaming something of a garage expansion. But also I came to the realization that with some shuffling and clean-up I could move my wife's motorcycle out of the way and free up a garage. If need be I could add another car. And so it happened that when a long time favorite showed up I jumped on it.
I've always had a thing for the last model that Panhard made; the 24. It has such a modern styling for an early 60's design and it is full of smart/different technology. Problem is that Panhard stopped existing in 1967 which makes part availability a problem. Engine and gearbox are ok as they are shared with older Panhards and clubs started reproducing them. Body, interior etc. is much more tricky. I was once alerted on a project car that missed a windshield. That did not seem smart to take on. Besides there already is a project for which I struggle to find time.
Good ones or decent ones however never seem to be sold; they are kept in a collection. I had a little hope that some of these collectors would have to start selling because they would become too old. And then that is exactly what happened. A classic car trader not far from home suddenly had a nice looking 24 that was properly running and driving. Source; a car collector that had it for some 25 years but was now moving into a elderly car home. It has a lot of the documentation even.
So this car has a special story. It was build in 1965 (May) and then set off to the Netherlands to be sold by a Citroen dealership. Just like so many other Panhards however the Citroen dealership had little interest in selling a Panhard. So it just sat there. And just as so many other Panhards it sat for a very long time. It wasn't until 1978 (March) that someone bought this new-old car. The brand Panhard already stopped existing 11 years prior.
In the early 90's it was restored which for that time was pretty well done. In the restoration they started modifying. The 24 had left the factory has a simple B(erline) - so the longer wheelbase but with reduced luxury levels, different instrument cluster and 50hp. After the restoration it was lifted to a BT spec which meant it got a Tigre motor (60hp) and the sporty instrument cluster and such.
It gets this 60hp out of an air-cooled 2-cilinder boxer engine of only 850cc - thanks to things like roller-bearing crank and connecting rod and torsion-bar valve spring system. It's Front-wheel drive and had dual wishbone suspension at the front where the wishbone arms are formed by the (leaf)springs; a little bit like a Corvette or Volvo. Rear end is torsion bars again - but without a Panhard rod which is the only thing this company is remembered from. This version has all-round drum-brakes which from the center of the wheels to allow for increased cooling. They were also available in some years and specs with all-round disc brakes but they look less cool.
So, now some pictures from the seller as it has not arrived yet.
If you get some Chevrolet Corvair vibes from it; correct, that was a inspiration source.
If you get Citroen DS vibes from it; also correct, this car inspired the Citroen DS (facelift) design
