1907 Panhard et Levassor Model U2 Transformable Town Car

Coachbuilders Audineau & Cie of Paris were commissioned to create this elegant seven-passenger town car body. Audinea & Cie were coachbuilders to Napoleon and a celebrated automobile carrosserie of the 20th century. This Panhard Et Levassor Model U2 has a dual-purpose body: it can be a fully open seven-passenger touring car with the added benefit of having an optional soft top for sunny days including dual roll-down windshields. It can be transformed into a fully enclosed town car for inclement weather.

This vehicle was originally purchased by a baron at the 1908 Paris Auto Show and has spent much of its life in French museums. Around the year 2000, it was given a sympathetic light chassis restoration only as needed in France before coming to the United States. In 2009, the five-bow two-tone Haartz top was restored. Inside is an incredibly preserved burgundy leather upholstery covering the entire lower portion of the body. Also original are the silk curtains, carpets, cord draw-pulls, side-window glass, and roof rack for touring. It features an authentic chauffeur communication system which is comprised of a small crochet-covered bulb and a speaking tube that squeaks when pumped to forewarn the driver that the passenger needs to give some direction.

This seven-passenger Town Car is finished in its original color of regal Bordeaux with a black molded body and black fenders accented with a golden pinstripe. There are self-generating headlamps, oil side-lamps, and taillamps.

Charles LeMaitre of Massachusetts purchased the car after it left France. John Moir of New Hampshire purchased it from Mr. Lemaitre before it came into the ownership of its present caretakers in 2004.

This Panhard has won awards at both the Newport Beach Concours d'Elegance and the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance.

In 2012, this car was offered for sale at the Pebble Beach, CA auction presented by Gooding & Company. It was estimated to sell for $250,000 - $325,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $264,000, inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012