DB HBR5
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The DB HBR5 , also a sports car, was built by Deutsch & Bonnet between 1954 and 1961 and was used in sports car races until 1963.
Development history
With the HBR5, René Bonnet and Charles Deutsch wanted to create a French Gran Turismo car in the small displacement classes that could be used on the racetrack and sold as a road vehicle. The model was presented to the public at the Paris Motor Show in 1954. A total of 430 chassis were built of the HBR5; the technology of the car was largely based on Panhard developments. The air-cooled two-cylinder boxer engine with 851 cm³ came from the Dyna Z , but had been equipped by René Bonnet with special intake pipes, modified camshaft, reinforced valve springs and a new exhaust. The engine developed 58 hp (43 kW) at 5700 rpm instead of 42 hp (31 kW) at 5300 rpm. 1-liter engines were also used later.
The car had front-wheel drive and, according to similar statements from drivers, good road holding. The car was compact and very light, weighing 584 kg. This was mainly due to the body made of glass fiber reinforced plastic . The HBR5 was only available as a coupé. A special form of the HBR5 was the HBR4 with the smaller 0.75 liter Panhard boxer engine. This model was also available as a Spyder.
Racing history
HBR5s were entered in sports car races 107 times. The model recorded four overall and 13 class wins. The racing debut was at the Sebring 12-hour race in 1956 . Paul Armagnac and Guillaume Mercader finished 16th in the overall standings and won the racing class for sports cars up to 0.75 liter displacement. There was one retirement at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year . This was followed by involvement in the Mille Miglia , the Tour de France for automobiles and other sports car races in the late 1950s. But especially in Le Mans, the vehicles were always among the favorites for victories in the registered racing class, which were almost always achieved by the HBR4.
Howard Hanna celebrated the overall victories in US sports car races.
