Panhard CD Buying Guide

The Panhard CD is a coupé designed by Charles Deutsch and built by Panhard from 1963 to 1965, and the Wikipedia entry describes GT and Rallye trim levels. Confirm the offered Panhard CD matches its paperwork, then book an inspection that covers its construction and fitted equipment.

I used the Wikipedia Panhard CD entry when preparing this November 6, 2026 guide. Its specifications describe the model, not every surviving chassis. So, the checks below turn that background into questions for a seller and a workshop; they do not assign a failure rate or current market value.

Confirm GT or Rallye and the build record

The Panhard CD is a coupé designed by Charles Deutsch and built by Panhard from 1963 to 1965, and the Wikipedia entry describes GT and Rallye trim levels. Ask which version this is and get the build and registration papers. Compare chassis identifiers with the documents. A GT upgraded with Rallye parts is a different car from a factory Rallye.

Match the 848 cc flat-twin to the trim

The entry lists the 848 cc Panhard M5-T Tigre air-cooled twin, with a single carburettor and about 49 hp in the GT and two carburettors and about 59 hp in the Rallye. Ask which engine is fitted and who has rebuilt it. Request invoices. Have a specialist check compression, oil leaks and cooling airflow.

Inspect the fibreglass body and backbone frame

The entry describes a fibreglass body on a steel backbone frame and a one-piece front section that tilts up to expose the front chassis and drivetrain. Ask a specialist to check the frame for corrosion and the body for cracks, poor repairs and hinge wear on the front section. Get written answers about replacement panels and glass.

Ask about racing links, parts and import papers

The entry ties the road car to the CD Dyna that raced at Le Mans in 1962. Ask the seller to separate the history of those race cars from this road car. Ask who supplies Panhard engine and gearbox parts now. If the car is coming from France, show the import file to your registration authority and insurer before a deposit.

Put the identity and import file beside the inspection

The physical chassis identifier must agree with the sale documents before a report is ordered. Use our VIN identity checks to organise that comparison and our imported-car report guide to understand why foreign history may be thin. Ask for original registration, import and ownership papers as applicable. NMVTIS offers a U.S. title-history route with defined coverage; it does not certify a bespoke build or replace foreign records. A fake PDF can disguise an ownership gap, so verify evidence through the issuing source rather than accepting a seller screenshot.

Agree the specialist work before leaving a deposit

Tell the shop which version and components it will see, then agree lift access, a controlled road test and a written description of limitations. Our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps frame the appointment, while NYC used-car guidance recommends an independent mechanic. Ask the specialist to separate immediate safety work from cosmetic preferences and optional upgrades. Look, a repair estimate is useful only if a supplier will actually provide the required part. Have the shop obtain a response for any known missing item.

Keep the offer conditional on the findings you care about. Put any seller repair promise in the purchase agreement. If the workshop cannot establish structural condition or a route to a needed safety part, defer the deal rather than inventing a discount. The final decision should reflect the documented car and your intended use, not a figure copied from a launch story.

Write down what the viewing showed

Keep a dated note of what you saw on the Panhard CD: chassis identifiers, warning lights, fluid leaks under the car, tyre dates, panel gaps and any part the seller could not show. Photograph each item. Send that list to the specialist before the appointment so the inspection starts from facts, not from the advert. If the seller will not allow photographs or lift access, ask why before you go further. A rare car rewards slow, written checks more than a quick decision made because another buyer might appear. If the seller pushes for a quick deposit, offer a refundable one tied to the inspection date, and put that condition in writing before any money moves.

We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Wholesale reports cost a few dollars; confirm current coverage and the total at checkout. A quiet report can miss unreported repairs. Keep the independent inspection even if the seller sends an impressive PDF.

Sources

• Wikipedia Panhard CD entry
• U.S. DOJ NMVTIS
• NYC used-car buying guidance