Monopoles X88
The Monopole X88 was a sports car that was built by Monopole in France in 1954 .
Development history
In 1952 , the small French racing car manufacturer Monopole celebrated its greatest success to date at the Le Mans 24-hour race . With the small X84 , whose two-cylinder Panhard - boxer engine 0.6-liter engine had won Jean HEMARD and Eugène Dussous so important for the team of Performance Index.
The X88 was developed in 1954 and was a closed racing car in the class for racing cars up to 0.75 liter displacement. This closed body, which was built at Monopole, distinguished the car from the Panhard X88 , an open Spider . In the literature, however, these two vehicles are not infrequently confused. One reason for this is the fact that the Panhard & Levassor racing team also used racing cars from Monopole. This monopole model was also powered by a Panhard boxer engine. In 1954, this was still the tried and tested 0.6-liter unit, which was replaced in 1955 by a 0.7-liter engine from the same manufacturer.
Racing history
Like almost all other Monopole models, the X88 was driven almost exclusively in Le Mans. In 1954 the two Chancel brothers Pierre and Robert drove the X88 but could not finish the race. After 157 laps, the car retired after an engine failure. In 1955 two X88 were registered. Pierre Hémard and Pierre Flahault started in the car with the number 52, Francis Navarro and Jean de Montrémy in the racing car with the number 53. Number 52 retired after an accident, the number 53 had an irreparable oil leak.
Also in 1956 there was no finish, this followed in 1957 when Robert Chancel and Pierre Flahault finished the race in 20th place in the overall ranking.
