Panhard 850 Coupé Frua

Vehicle Overview

The Panhard 850 Coupé Frua was a limited-production sports car resulting from a collaboration between the French manufacturer Panhard and the Italian coachbuilder Pietro Frua. Developed in the early 1950s, the model was based on mechanical components derived from the Panhard Dyna X, particularly the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout and lightweight construction principles that characterized Panhard engineering in the postwar period. The vehicle was equipped with an air-cooled, horizontally opposed two-cylinder engine with a displacement of approximately 745 cubic centimeters. Mounted at the front and paired with a manual gearbox, the engine was notable for its compact dimensions and modest output, which were offset by the car’s low mass and streamlined bodywork. The overall performance characteristics were consistent with lightweight European sports cars of the early 1950s, favoring agility and efficiency over outright power. Pietro Frua’s design for the coupé employed a restrained interpretation of early postwar Italian automotive aesthetics. The proportions were compact and balanced, featuring a gently sloping roofline, integrated front fenders, and a distinctive frontal treatment marked by horizontal grille elements and recessed headlamps. The design emphasized aerodynamic efficiency and visual elegance, with minimal decorative embellishments. The two-seat cabin offered a spartan yet considered arrangement, incorporating simple instrumentation and materials appropriate to the vehicle’s weight-conscious construction. The Panhard 850 Coupé Frua followed a series of earlier DB models, some of which had been bodied by the French coachbuilder Antem. The Frua-bodied variant, produced in significantly smaller numbers, was distinguished by its international origin and more refined stylistic execution. Total production is believed to have remained below one hundred units, reinforcing its position as a rare example of Franco-Italian postwar cooperation. The model exemplifies a transitional moment in European automotive history, when small-displacement vehicles were elevated through design and engineering into viable sports machines. Its limited production, distinctive styling, and connection to prominent figures in the coachbuilding and engineering spheres contribute to its enduring historical significance. It remains a testament to the aspirations of postwar automotive reconstruction and the pursuit of elegance within material constraint.