Panhard PL 17 History

Presented on 29 June 1959, the PL 17 (the name encoded Panhard et Levassor's initials plus the sum of its fiscal rating, seating, and economy figure) was essentially a restyled and updated Dyna Z on the same platform. The panoramic wraparound windshield and pillarless four-door saloon body gave it a more contemporary look, while the drag coefficient remained an outstanding 0.26 thanks to careful retention of the predecessor's aerodynamic principles.

The 851 cc air-cooled flat-twin — later reduced to 848 cc for French tax reasons — was offered in two states of tune: the standard unit producing 42 hp, and the Tigre ('Tiger') version producing 50 hp (and later 60 hp in hotter tune). In 1961 a PL 17 won the Monte Carlo Rally outright; PL 17s also finished second and third, an extraordinary result for a sub-900 cc economy car against much larger machinery.

A cabriolet joined the range in 1961 and a five-door estate (Break) in April 1963. By 1965, Citroën — which had taken a 25% stake in Panhard in 1955 and steadily increased its holding — absorbed the automobile division fully, and PL 17 production ceased. The model remains a celebrated example of what French ingenuity could achieve with minimal displacement.