1954 Devin Panhard

William (Bill) Elbert Devin Junior was born on November 13, 1915, in Rocky, Oklahoma. His father operated an automobile repair shop and later a Chevrolet dealership. In 1939, the family moved to California, and soon after, Devin (Jr.) went to work for the Douglas Aircraft Company. He later became a crew chief on the flight line for the Douglas A-20 Havoc light bomber, earning his experience in hydraulic and electrical systems as well as aircraft structures, designs, and engines. During World War II, Devin worked with the United States Navy as a machinist's mate until being assigned to an assault transport unit where he became a motor mechanic responsible for maintaining the landing craft.

When peacetime returned, Devin returned to California but soon relocated to Montour, Iowa, where he opened a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership, a Crosley dealership, and two farm equipment dealerships. These business ventures were successful, but Devin returned to California in 1949 and established a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership in Fontana the following year.

Bill Devin was an avid racer and would campaign several Ferraris. In 1949, he acquired a newly released Crosley Hotshot and modified its CIBA SOHC 750cc engine, increasing its output and performance. His first automobile race was at Santa Ana in 1950. A year later, he brought the modified Hotshot to Buchannan Field, California, and won in the novice race on his first outing as a racing driver. During the main race that same day, he placed fifth overall. He would go on to race the Hotshot at various other tracks like Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Palm Springs, and elsewhere.

Devin ordered a new 3.0-liter 250MM coupe for the 1953 Le Mans 24 Hour race. Unfortunately, the 250MM (chassis 0312MM) was not ready in time, so Devin bought a two-liter Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta (chassis 0050M) and a 4.1-liter 340 America with coachwork by Vignale. Devin soon sold the 166 MM, but he drove the 340 America in a few races before selling it. Devin later raced cars from OSCA, Porsche, Arnolt-Bristol, and Deutsch-Bonnet. The Deutsch-Bonnet and its horizontally opposed two-cylinder Panhard engine inspired Mr. Devin to build his own race cars.

The first Devin-built was based on the Dyna-Panhard and endowed with numerous unique features. The body was clothed with fiberglass using a body mold from the Deutsch-Bonnet. It had a ladder frame designed and built by Devin, had a front-wheel-drive configuration, and was powered by a two-cylinder, four-cycle, air-cooled pushrod Panhard engine with a displacement size of 750 cc. The engine had overhead camshafts (instead of a pushrod system), Manx cylinders, pistons, and heads, and each cylinder received horizontal twin-throat Weber carburetors and a custom Devin manifold. Approximately 15 examples were produced, and they proved high competition during the 1955 and 1956 seasons, earning four podium finishes in the SCCA H-Modified class.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2009