The rebuild engine is back in the car and after 37 years on inactivity this is the moment! With the starter motor connected, temporary ignition wiring and some hand pumped fuel in the carburetor, the engine fires almost instantly. A major step in the restoration of this 1955 automotive antique.

The engine has been rebuild by Panhard specialist Peter Breed (https://peterbreed.nl/). New pistons, valves, springs, oil pump, distribution, rebuild crank, etc was done and an oil filter was added to enhance the durability of the engine. Everything was done with quality materials to make this a top performing engine. The gearbox needed repairs. The crown and pinion wheel were missing a tooth, probably the reason the car was immobilized and put in a barn some 40 years ago. The gearbox was rebuild with a new differential and new synchro rings and bearings were fitted.

This is an early Z1 with serial # 15868. Some parts are from later cars.

The car is a genuine 1955 Dyna Z1. The Panhard Dyna Z is a lightweight motor car produced by Panhard of France from 1954 to 1959. It was first presented to the press at a Paris restaurant named “Les Ambassadeurs” on 17 June 1953 and went into production the following year. In 1959 it was replaced by the Panhard PL.
This first series Z1 car has an aluminium body on steel subframes. Later cars have steel bodies and carry a weight penalty.
The motor is this car is not original. It is a later PL unit with a more robust and powerful engine.

The car is a 1955 Panhard Dyna Z1. serial # 23902 first registered in Belgium on 20/09/1955 and last registered with license plate ETC898. On older registration still visible on the car: 3777M. This is probably the first registration of the car. Last technical check was on januari 30th 1982 in Verviers, indicating that the vehicle wasn’t used again after 1983 and was stored since then. If it is on the road again in 2023, the car would have been 40 years in hibernation!

25/10/2016 – Afters years in hibernation, the Panhard is out in the daylight and transported from Vaals (NL) to it’s new home in Antwerp (BE).

After many years in hibernation a Panhard Dyna Z1 is rescued from a barn. The car is in original condition with original paint and bare aluminium showing through the paintwork in places.