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14 THE CONCEPT OF CONCEPTS
DALTON WATSON FINE BOOKS
1948 PANHARD DYNAVIA Panhard’s chief designer, Louis Bionier, produced this small, economical four-seater as a
successor to Panhard et Levassor’s Dynamic model range, to address the post-war economic and industrial situation. Drawing inspi-
ration from the bionic animal world and post-war aeronautics, the Dynavia featured a tapered rear. Made of Duralinox, a light alloy of
aluminum, magnesium, copper and manganese, the car was a lightweight 650 kg with a Cd of just 0.265. Powered by a 28bhp, 610cc
air-cooled flat twin, the Dynavia managed a top speed of 131 km/h, as well as 28.6 kms for each liter of petrol. XAVIER DE NOMBEL
1952 SOCEMA-GRéGOIRE
The SOCEMA Grégoire, first shown in 1952 at the
Paris Motor Show, was notable for its innovative
features: an aluminum body, a pioneering turbine
engine (a first for a French car), and collaboration
between SOCEMA and engineer Jean-Albert
Grégoire. Originating from the aviation industry’s
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1951 BUICK LESABRE
One of the most famous of GM’s ‘dream
cars’ from the 1950s, the LeSabre was a
two-seat cabriolet with styling that was
part aviation-inspired, part spaceship and
part military, with the name a reference to
the F-86 Sabre jet fighters. A supercharged
V8 of 3.5 liters generated an impressive
maximum power of 335bhp. Bumper,
tailfins and wraparound windshield designs
found their way to subsequent Cadillacs, as
did the name for an upmarket Buick model.
PATRICK KELLEY COLLECTION
move toward turbines, SOCEMA sought new
markets, leading to the car’s development. To
achieve a speed record, SOCEMA created a small
turbine, “TGV 1 Cema Turbo,” with 100bhp. Using
a Hotchkiss-Grégoire base, the car featured an
aluminum-silicon alloy frame and independent
suspension. Challenges included integrating the
turbine with front-wheel drive, which was solved by
placing it in the front overhang and using a Cotal
electromagnetic transmission. Designed by Carlo
Delaisse, its teardrop shape contributed to a low
drag coefficient of 0.20, showcasing the fusion of
aviation and automotive technology in post-war
France. GAUTAM SEN
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DALTON WATSO