Complete Description
- Engine of nearly 5 litres
- Original bodywork
- History known from new
- No reserve
With 242 examples built from 1924–1927, the type X49, or ‘20 CV Sport’, was one of Panhard’s most refined models and certainly the quickest, with its reduced weight and powerful engine of almost 5 litres. It served as the basis, moreover, for the record-breaking car which set several world speed records in 1925. The history of the car presented here is recounted in the May 1970 issue of Motor Sport: imported into Australia when it was new by a Mr. Lock, it was fitted on arrival with its elegant and sporty two-door ‘torpedo sport’ body by Victoria Carriage & Co. It was then sold to a railway engineer from Newport, who kept it for many years before selling it, after one last trip of 1400 miles, to Murray Reiney, who imported it into England and took part in two concours d’élégance. Photographs from the period show that it had kept its original bodywork, and it was in this condition that it was found by Jean-François Dumontant, who registered it in France in 1985. It was acquired by its current owner’s family 27 years ago, when the chassis, body and upholstery had just been carefully restored. In 2002, the anti-friction metal in the conrod assembly was refurbished, and then in 2017/18, the engine was completely stripped down to be overhauled. More recently, at the start of 2025, the clutch was overhauled, but its operation remains typical of the period. Our road test with the car’s owner confirmed the performance and high-quality restoration of this rare motorcar, which is faithful to its original specification and to its exceptionally clear history, which connoisseurs will appreciate.
