1901 Panhard et Levassor 2.4-Litre Four-Cylinder Forward Control Cab Phaeton | Bonhams | 30 Oct 2026

• Coachwork by attributed to Kellner
• Registration no. Not UK registered (previous UK registration BJ 227)
• Chassis no. 624
• Engine no. 2646

• Rare four-cylinder model

• Unusual cab-forward coachwork

• Displayed in a French museum for many years

• Formerly owned by Veteran Car Club past president, Brian Moore

• Offered from a large private collection in the Netherlands

No other single manufacturer can claim to have had greater influence on motor car design and more dominance and success in the infant days of the motor industry and motor sport than Panhard-Levassor. In 1886 René Panhard and Émile Levassor bought into a French company producing band saws and other woodworking tools. In that year Levassor's friend, Sarazin, acquired French rights to build German Daimler cars under licence. Sarazin died in 1887 and Levassor married his widow, leaving Panhard and Levassor to continue motor car manufacture. By 1892 they had settled on the classic Panhard design – La Système Panhard – which was to become the standard of the industry with a forward-mounted engine, transmission amidships and driven rear wheels. The company was at the forefront of early motor sport, notably in the great French city-to-city races, and inextricably associated with such European motoring pioneers, society notables and sportsmen as the Hon C S Rolls, Chevalier René de Knyff, Maurice Farman, Girardot and Charron.

Notable racing achievements included the first recognised major motor race, Paris-Bordeaux-Paris, in June 1895 when Émile Levassor drove his Panhard to 1st place. In the 1898 Marseilles-Nice race Panhards were 1st and 2nd, and claimed victory in the Paris-Bordeaux race and Paris-Amsterdam-Paris races that year. Girardot drove a 6hp car to victory in the 1899 Paris-Rouen-Paris race, while in the very first Gordon Bennett Cup race in 1900, Charron, Girardot and Chevalier de Knyff finished a triumphant 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Panhard. In short: Panhard dominated the very first decade of motor sport in Europe. Little wonder then, that businessman and gentleman adventurer, the Hon C S Rolls should favour Panhard-Levassor and become their British agent prior to establishing his own motor manufacturing business. Panhard's international agents were hand picked and their customer lists at the turn of the century read like a Who's-Who of European notables.

This exceedingly rare four-cylinder car with Cab Phaeton coachwork features – exceptionally - a forward control design with electrically operated gear change. The four-cylinder inline engine, in accordance with La Système Panhard, has bore/stroke dimensions of 80x120mm, displacing 2.4 litres. It drives through a cone clutch to a four-speed gearbox with final drive by side chains. Retardation is provided by band brakes operating on the rear wheels, combined with spoon brakes operating on the rear tyres. The Hansom Cab-style coachwork was a factory option, and this example features forward control, separating the chauffeur from the owner, who would sit snugly in the Hansom Cab rear, protected by a leather apron and a drop-down windscreen. Car number '624' was delivered, according to factory records, on 22nd April to 'Thorcy' of Avenue Friedland in Paris, this being dramatic artist Mademoiselle Thorcy, who lived next door to the aforementioned Panhard racing driver and company director, René de Knyff.

The next recorded owner lived for many years at 63 rue de Courcelles, Paris: this being noted art collector Arthur Weil-Picard, whose family were owners of the Pernod drinks company. It is noted in the records that an 'automatic' Krebbs carburettor and its controls had been fitted in 1903.

At some stage early in the car's life the steering controls were moved to a more conventional position, enabling the driver to steer the car from within the Hansom Cab, and generally updating its overall appearance. In this form the car was displayed in a French museum for many years before being acquired by Veteran Car Club past president Brian Moore. It subsequently changed hands at a London auction in July 1989. The new owner, to his credit, chose to reinstate the original forward control driving position and that is how the car is presented today. Subsequent owners have included noted collector William Wrather and two European collectors.

The coachwork is finished in black and the snug rear quarters furnished with black buttoned and pleated upholstery, with red cloth side panels. Passenger comforts are enhanced by railway carriage-style drop-down side windows, a vanity mirror and a net rack for parasol or umbrella, while ventilators in the roof at the rear provide extra comfort. Driving equipment includes oil side lamps and an oil rear lamp, while a 'boa constrictor' horn gives audible warning of approach. The minimal driver's instrumentation includes an Aries pressure gauge and a Smiths ammeter. The doughnut-shaped wheel beneath the steering wheel operates the electrical gear-change, the clutch operating like a pre-selector, giving noiseless and smooth gear changes. Further passenger comforts are provided by semi-elliptic front springs and fully-elliptic rear springs. The car rolls on Michelin pneumatic tyres, 860x85mm to the front and 1,000x65mm to the rear.

This car returned to the UK in 2004, joining the Ward Brothers' Collection following a period in Dutch ownership, during which it took part in the Centenary London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run in 1996. Daniel Ward drove this car to Brighton circa 2006/2007, reporting on its driving simplicity and rapid turn of speed. Arriving first at Preston Park, he was just pipped into 2nd place at the finish line on Madeira Drive – nevertheless a remarkably quick run for such an early car. In 2008 this Panhard was chosen for exhibition at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Élégance in California, attracting much interest and comment in the Veteran line-up. The car is offered today from a large private collection in the Netherlands where it has resided since circa 2021. It has been officially dated by the Veteran Car Club (Certificate No.1955).

Four-cylinder Panhards rarely come to the open market, and those that do rarely feature such dramatic coachwork or fascinating configuration as this example. Here is a car from Europe's premier manufacturer of its day, with Parisian-styled coachwork – eminently suitable for parading in the Bois de Boulogne – and yet capable of exciting performance on the open road. The car comes with a history file, including copied extracts from Panhard-Levassor build ledgers; old MoT certificates; and an old V5C Registration Certificate.

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Car Department.