• Year of manufacture 
    1960
  • Car type 
    Coupé
  • Chassis number 
    1224
  • Competition car 
    Yes
  • FIA Papers 
    Yes
  • Drive 
    LHD
  • Condition 
    Restored
  • Number of seats 
    2
  • Location
    France
  • Exterior colour 
    Blue
  • Drivetrain 
    2wd
  • Fuel type 
    Petrol

Description

French registration document

- Fully restored car, known history
- Eligible for the Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic and Tour Auto
- Historical Technical Passport valid until 2026

A symbol of a bygone era when a few talented craftsmen could start in the world's greatest events, the manufacturer D.B. has won nearly 1,000 races and can boast of being the French manufacturer with the highest number of entries in the Le Mans 24 Hours to date!
Born in 1932 from the meeting of two car racing enthusiasts: Charles Deutsch, a polytechnic engineer and René Bonnet, an ingenious mechanic and mechanic, Les Automobiles Deutsch and Bonnet (D.B.) built profiled racing cars with Citroën mechanics before presenting their first passenger car at the 1950 Paris Motor Show. But it was in 1954 that the idea of building a small French GT - which would thus benefit from the reputation acquired on the circuits - began to make its way. Built on an extremely rigid beam chassis and equipped with a plastic body (1st French car in polyester glass laminate), the HBR 5 coach will be produced until the end of the Deutsch et Bonnet association in 1961. It benefits from the excellent 850cc flat-twin air-cooled 850cc flat-twin from the Panhard Dyna Z, reworked by René Bonnet. The latter has equipped it with special intake manifolds, a more efficient camshaft, reinforced valve springs and a new exhaust system. With a higher compression ratio and a dual-body Zenith carburetor, it develops 58 horsepower compared to 42 in the standard sedan. The HBR5 will also be supported by a more advanced version, the "Super Rallye", with a twin engine pushed to 954 cm3 giving 72 rides. This coach was a great success because he had exceptional roadholding and enduring braking at the time. The HBR5 coach will win many category victories in most major events such as the Tour de France Automobile, Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, Les 24 Heures du Mans, the Monte-Carlo rally and the Liège-Rome-Liège.

Purchased in 2012 by its current owner, who is none other than the grandson of Gérard Laureau, official pilot of the D.B. brand from 1954 to 1964, this coach was completely restored by the best French craftsmen and specialists of the brand in order to engage it in historical competition. Nothing is left to chance, Mr. Bareau was in charge of the restoration. Specialist of the René Bonnet, it is to him that we owe the restorations of the D.B Antem and the René Bonnet Aerodjet present at the Musée de l'Automobile Club de l'Ouest in Le Mans ! The engine has been completely rebuilt by a specialist of the brand and will be released on the day of sale. It has a reconditioned crankshaft and a double cooling housing. The gearbox with the gears used at the time during the 24 hours of Le Mans (1st, 2nd and 4th long) is also overhauled, as well as the front braking system and the clutch. In perfect condition of presentation and functioning, this coach is ready to participate in the historical events where he has already distinguished himself with some success such as Le Mans Classic 2016 and 2018 and the Tour Auto 2017 and 2019. Still at the finish with a 2nd place in the performance index ranking in the Tour Auto 2017 and the best times of the D.B. in Le Mans 2016 and 2018!
Sold with its FIA Historical Technical Passport valid until 2026, the car is fully compliant with its four-point roll bar and two harnesses, its on-board extinguishing system, circuit breaker, buckets, side windows, rear and rear windows in Macrolon. It has a set of Michelin XAS FF tires, its specific aluminium drums (ALFIN), a NARDI period steering wheel, a Tripmaster and a PELTOR intercom.
From 1938 to 1961, D.B. is still to this day the French manufacturer with the largest number of participations in Le Mans. Produced in 428 copies, there are less than 200 today. Rare and efficient, this HBR5 D.B. coach will lead his future owner directly to the lists of competitors in the most beautiful races on the calendar.
Note that the following parts are part of the package: racing exhaust, a dual carburettor D.B. racing pipe, the engine cooling turbine, the cabin heating system and a rally gearbox.

Gérard started on D.B in 1954 with the Tourist Trophy on the Dundrod circuit replacing Claude Storez. In heavy rain, when he was only supposed to do one lap of the 18 kilometers, René Bonnet left him on the track and won the race. Convinced by Laureau's speed, Bonnet offered him a wheel in the team where he drove for 10 years with no less than 10 participations in the Le Mans 24 Hours, including 3 victories in the Indice, but also in the Tour de France Auto, the Mille Miglia, the Sebring 12 Hours, the Nürburgring and the Targa Florio. In the end, he won 61 races and 3 French Champion titles in Sport!

This car will be sold by auction by AGUTTES Auction House, in Lyon, France, on November the 9th, 2019.

The digital catalog will is available on our website
https://www.aguttes.com/en/sale/96041

Please contact us for any further details.
By phone :
+33 437 242 423
+33 147 459 301
+33 668 362 622
By email :
[email protected]


Aguttes
164 bis, avenue Charles de Gaulle
Neuilly-sur-Seine
92200Neuilly-sur-Seine
France
Contact Person Kontaktperson
Title 
Mr
First name 
Gautier
Last name 
Rossignol

Phone 
+33-147459301
Fax 
+33-147455431
Mobile phone 
+33-616914228