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Technology in race cars (14): CD Panhard LM64 - winged flounder with a backbone

Created on February 14, 2022

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Bruno von Rotz

Porsche AG

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Bruno von Rotz

Porsche AG

Archiv

CD Panhard LM64 (1964) - Class G 92 - Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2019

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CD Panhard LM 64 (1964) - Chassis 64/2 took part in Le Mans as number 44 - Rétromobile Paris 2020

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Panhard CD LM64 (1964) - registered for Le Mans 1964, with 850 cm3 Panhard engine with supercharger, not dissimilar in form to the Panhard CD

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Panhard CD (1962) - Presentation at the Paris Motor Show

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Panhard CD (1963) - the series version in the see-through drawing

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CD Panhard LM64 (1964) - in action at Le Mans 1964

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CD Panhard LM64 (1964) - supercharged two-cylinder in front of the driven front axle

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CD Panhard LM64 (1964) - conspicuous fins at the rear to reduce crosswind sensitivity

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CD Panhard LM64 (1964) - Diffuser at the rear

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CD Panhard LM64 (1964) - View into the cockpit

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CD Panhard LM64 (1964) - the roof light also had to bow to aerodynamics

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Porsche 917 LH 1971 - developed for the high speeds at Le Mans

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Matra MS640 (1969) - Prototype that never raced

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Summary

In 1964, two sports cars competed at Le Mans that were far ahead of their time in terms of aerodynamics. Despite having less than 100 hp, the CD Panhard LM64 ran at over 220 km/h on the Hunaudières straight. However, the greatest progress was hidden on the underside of the car. This episode of the series "Technology in racing cars" looks at the special features of this plastic-bodied racing car.

This article contains the following chapters

Central tube design
Aerodynamic miracle
With diffuser
Failed because of the drive technology

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The years 1958-1978 were the two most creative decades in the history of racing technology. This series portrays the most innovative, pioneering and exotic designs of Formula 1, Indy cars, sports cars and CanAm, and at the same time traces the major lines of development that still have an impact today. The series started with Lotus, one of the most important innovation drivers of these two decades. And the series will also finish with Lotus: With the first ground-effect Formula 1 to win a world championship in 1978; the Type 79. More than 220 km/h on the Hunaudières straight at Le Mans with a two-cylinder engine with 78 hp? Not impossible with a featherweight of 560 kg and, above all, when the drag coefficient (cw) is only an incredible 0.12 (contemporary passenger cars at the time came in at around 0.4).

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