Charles Deutsch (1911–1980) was a French

aerodynamics Aerodynamics, from grc, ἀήρ ''aero'' (air) + grc, δυναμική (dynamics), is the study of the motion of air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dyn ...

engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the l ...

and

automobile A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...

maker, founder of the brand " DB" with

René Bonnet René Bonnet ( Vaumas, 27 December 1904 – 13 January 1983) was a French driver and automobile constructor. Early life The young René first learned about machines working with his father, a carpenter. By 1915, with most teachers conscripted, ...

, and later of the "CD".

Early history

Deutsch was born at

Champigny-sur-Marne Champigny-sur-Marne (, literally ''Champigny on Marne'') is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Name Champigny-sur-Marne was originally called simply Champigny. The name Champigny ulti ...

on 6 September 1911. His father was a cartwright who had also expanded into manufacturing automobile bodies on a small scale in the early 1900s. The young Deutsch proceeded to learn his father's business from the ground up, a knowledge set complemented by a degree from the prestigious

École Polytechnique École may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * École, Savoi ...

. Borgeson, p. 55 Deutsch senior died in 1929, leaving the eighteen-year-old Charles in charge of the business while also pursuing his studies. This proved unfeasible, and in 1932 he sold the business to a

, while continuing to live upstairs and maintaining a day-to-day involvement in the ''charronnerie-carrosserie''. Charles Deutsch himself states that he was only fourteen when he designed his first car, which was built in his father's shop. After a promised ride for Bonnet in the 1936

French Grand Prix The French Grand Prix (french: Grand Prix de France), formerly known as the Grand Prix de l'ACF (Automobile Club de France), is an auto race held as part of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One World Championsh ...

failed to materialize, Deutsch and Bonnet proceeded to design their own car - using Citroën parts - which they competed with some success. Borgeson, pp. 56-57 This was D.B. 1, which gave rise to the DB company which lasted until 1961. After the breakup of the company, Deutsch proceeded to build a small number of lightweight, aerodynamic, front-wheel drive sports cars under the CD (sometimes referred to as CD-Panhard, since they depended on Panhard engines). Together with

Jean Bertin Jean Henri Bertin (5 September 1917 – 21 December 1975) was a French scientist, engineer and inventor. He was born in Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines and died in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He is best known as the lead engineer for the French experime ...

, Deutsch also worked on solving the Facellia's cooling problems as well as on a more powerful twin-carburetted version. In 1935 Deutsch began working for the '' Ponts et Chaussées'', the French highway and bridge authority. He continued working full-time as a civil engineer, becoming chief engineer in 1951, while also running a competition car company and raising a family. In 1966 Deutsch retired from the ''Ponts et Chaussées'' and proceeded to dedicate his entire time to his engineering firm. Borgeson, p. 71

Career

Educated at the

, Deutsch was a pioneer in the field of aerodynamics, and founded the Sera-CD vehicle engineering Research and Development Company (Société d’Etudes et de Réalisations Automobiles - Charles Deutsch). He used the ground-effect on race cars ten years before

Chaparral Chaparral ( ) is a shrubland plant community and geographical feature found primarily in the U.S. state of California, in southern Oregon, and in the northern portion of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. It is shaped by a Mediterranean c ...

and his #53 entry from "Autombiles Deutsch et Bonnet" won the "Index of Performance" trophy at the

1961 24 Hours of Le Mans The 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 29th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 10 and 11 June 1961. It was also the 4th round of the 1961 World Sportscar Championship. Ferrari and Maserati were the main title contenders, with Porsche an outs ...

. The Alpine M64 which won the Index of Thermal Performance at the 1964 Le Mans also had bodywork designed by Deutsch. Deutsch served as President of the

Société des ingénieurs de l'automobile The ''Société des ingénieurs de l'automobile'' is an association of French engineers, managers, technicians and automotive professionals working in the automotive sector in France. This association is regulated under the '' loi de 1901''. It ...

from 1971 until 1975, followed by holding the presidency of FISITA, the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies, until 1978. He was also the director of the

24 Hours of Le Mans The 24 Hours of Le Mans (french: link=no, 24 Heures du Mans) is an endurance-focused Sports car racing, sports car race held annually near the town of Le Mans, France. It is the world's oldest active Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance r ...

(from 1969 until 1980) and of the

Grand Prix of Monaco The Monaco Grand Prix (french: Grand Prix de Monaco) is a Formula One motor racing event held annually on the Circuit de Monaco, in late May or early June. Run since 1929, it is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigiou ...

. French aerodynamics engineer

Robert Choulet Robert Choulet (born 28 February 1935) is a French aerodynamics engineer influential in race car dynamics. Career A disciple of aerodynamics pioneer Charles Deutsch, Choulet worked for Deutsch's Société d'Études et de Réalisations Automobile ...

(

École Centrale Paris École Centrale Paris (ECP; also known as École Centrale or Centrale) was a French grande école in engineering and science. It was also known by its official name ''École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures''. In 2015, École Centrale Paris mer ...

) is Deutsch's most famous disciple. Although Deutsch died in 1980, Sera-CD continues research and development to this day, from light to heavy vehicles using conventional and hybrid propulsion technology. On 23 April 2007 it was acquired by Sogeclair.

References

External links

SERA
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deutsch, Charles 20th-century French engineers 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers 1911 births 1980 deaths Aerodynamicists