Panhard PL 17
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Panhard PL 17 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Production | 1959 - 1965 |
| Predecessor | Panhard Dyna Z |
| Successor | Panhard 24 |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive |
| Engine(s) | 848 cc - 851 cc Flat-twin |
| Wheelbase | 2,570 mm (101.2 in) |
| Length | 4,580 mm (180.3 in) |
| Width | 1,660 mm (65.4 in) |
| Height | 1,550 mm (61.0 in) |
| Curb weight | 805 kg (1,775 lb)-830 kg (1,830 lb) |
| Related | Panhard Dyna Z |
The Panhard PL17 was a motor car made by the French manufacturer Panhard from 1959 until 1965.
Presented on June 29, 1959, as successor to the Panhard Dyna Z, the PL 17 was a development of the older car, but with an even more streamlined body than its predecessor. The four door saloon was joined in April 1963 by a five door estate version, followed two months later by a two door cabriolet.
[edit] Model name
The model's name was derived from "PL" for "Panhard et Lavassor" (the original full name of the company), with the "17" coming from 5 CV (fiscal horses, in the French power rating system) plus 6 for the car's six seats, plus 6 for the car's economy — 6 litres per 100 kilometres (47 mpg imp/39 mpg US) .
From 1963 or 1964, the letters PL were dropped; this approximately coincided with the takeover of the passenger car part of the company by Citroën.[citation needed]
[edit] Technical specifications
The car continued to use the engines of the Dyna Z, both of 851 cc. The standard one gave 42 hp (DIN), the "Tigre" gave 50 hp (DIN). Engines were twin-cylinder air cooled "boxer" types, mounted unusually by the gearbox at the rear and by the two exhausts at the front! From July 1963 engines decreased in size to 848 cc, but performance went up to 50 hp (37 kW), and 60 hp (45 kW), respectively.
The front wheels were driven through a four speed gearbox with column shift, and synchromesh on the upper three gears.
The standard car weighed approximately 805 kg (1,775 lb), the Tigre 830 kg (1,830 lb). This light weight combined with the car's streamlining (with a co-efficient of drag said to be Cd 0.26)[citation needed] gave top speeds of 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph) and 145 kilometres per hour (90 mph) for the Tigre.
Suspension at the front by two transverse leaf springs, at the back by three torsion bars each side.
It was possible to remove the back bench to enlarge the already considerable luggage space to 527 litres (18.6 cu ft). This space was available from model year 1964, when the spare wheel was moved from beneath the luggage space to under the bonnet, where it fitted around the air filter. This was possible because the wheels have no centre — that is formed by the finned aluminium brake drums.
A break version was also made in small numbers.
[edit] Demise
In 1965 Citroën ceased production of the car. The 24 model carried the name for two years more, and from then only military transport was made under the Panhard name, by the division not owned by Citroën.
