1932 Panhard & Levassor X66

1932 Panhard & Levassor X66 torpédo ponté

At the end of the 1920s, the French automotive landscape changed a lot. The manufacturers are still numerous but some are out of the lot by evolving towards the big series with a “modern”, “scientific” organization of their factories. New players have also emerged, such as Citroën, bringing with them many industrial innovations, often coming from the United States.

Since 1926 Panhard & amp; Levassor is committed to the six-cylinder engine, without any valve! The 10CV X59 is much too expensive compared to competitors like the Citroën C6. It will be a commercial failure but its engine will be the basis of all the subsequent evolutions until the Dynamic.

Panhard & Levassor began a rationalization of its range by abandoning the intermediate models for which the competition is too harsh. Very quickly the 4-cylinder engines disappear (and forever) cars of the mark.

At the 1930 show, the new Panhard & Levassor 6DS X66 20CV impresses. It is probably one of the most beautiful cars presented with its very elegant low-profile due to the new stylist house Louis Bionier.

This is a total break with previous productions. Panhard & Levassor is entering an era of modernity, but also of crisis that the dean brand will never really succeed in overcoming.

The new 6DS is designed with great care and immediately becomes a reference.

Apart from the engine, derived from the all-new six-cylinder, everything is new! The chassis has an elaborate structure, forming a very low-profile, indeformable frame. The floor has double walls, providing multiple storage spaces for batteries or tooling. The 6DS is the first car equipped with an anti-roll bar, still known today as the “Panhard bar” …

The gearbox is a new four-speed transmission, all “silent”.

The 6DS is quickly backed by an exclusive eight-cylinder 8DS 29CV type X67 and the smaller 6CS 13CV, type X68 and 6CS Special 14 CV type X69

At entry-level a project of 4CS equipped with a small engine with four cylinders of 11CV will be considered but will not have a continuation. The page of the cars equipped with a four-cylinder engines is definitely shot at Panhard & Levassor.

The “small” 6CS will obviously represent the bulk of production, while the production of the old models ceases rapidly.

In 1932, the series “S” evolved with a system of freewheel and servo disengagement acting on the clutch by the sole effect of the accelerator. Then a new front suspension with pendulum was introduced in 1933. But it is nothing beside the revolution of 1934: the body “Panoramique”.

This series then represents the pinnacle of automotive elegance and will be produced until 1938.

Note : The picture of the engine is not for this Particular car, but it uses the same engine.

Descriptions & pictures by Wikipedia & doyennes-panhard-levassor.fr & flickr & other