1901 Panhard et Levassor Tonneau Rear-Entrance Tonneau

In the early 1900s, many of the Panhard Levassor automobiles imported into the United States were by Messieurs Charron, Girardot, and Mr. Voight (later manufacturers of their own C.G.V. cars), working with Smith and Mabley. Although the presence of Panhards in America may be predominantly contained to after the turn of the 20th Century, in France their existence was approaching a decade. Système Panhard pioneered many of the concepts of how a car was operated, including being the first to encase their geared transmission in a 'box'. The engine was moved to the front, beneath a 'bonnet' or 'hood.' Instead of transferring speed by belt, it was mechanical, and piano-style pedals were used for operating transmission brakes and clutch.

This Panhard et Levassor 5hp Twin Cylinder Rear Entrance Tonneau was ordered on August 30th of 1901 to regional Lyon Panhard and Renault agent Christy, Médecet et Cie. The car received 6 layers of undercoat paint, with the topcoat and color being left for the end user to have chosen. The order did request Caisse Carroserie Ordinaire, a factory term for Tonneau.

As it was retailed by an agent, its original owner is not known. By the 1980s, it was the property of Professor Jean Tua, a Swiss entrepreneur and scientist based in Geneva. In 1983, it was sold to car collector Brian Garner, who brought it to his home in Jersey in the British Channel Islands and treated the car to a sympathetic restoration. In the late 1980s, it passed through a succession of owners before being sold to the former owner, Philip Tillyard in 1992. The current caretaker acquired it in October 2016. A comprehensive restoration soon followed. The completed product was finished in a deep blue scheme for the main bodywork, accented by black moldings and cream coach-lining in the correct period style. The upholstery was done in black hides and in a button-back pattern. The rebuild was completed in 2017.

In 2017, the car ran in the French 'Rallye des Ancetres', and it traveled to Brighton in 2017 and 2018.

The car is powered by a 1,280cc side-valve inline two-cylinder Phenix engine with a single Phenix carburetor and deliverered 5 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission with chain drive, two-wheel contracting band brakes, and an additional transmission brake.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2019