• Delivered new to the UK
• Known ownership history
• Restored in the 1980s
• Formerly part of the Dolleschel Collection
• London to Brighton Run participant

One of the better-known examples of the marque, this handsome Panhard et Levassor has benefited from seclusion in Wales for much of its 120-year existence. It is from the third generation of their voiturettes, which was powered by Panhard et Levassor's own Centaur engines instead of the Daimler Phenix used hitherto. The series of Centaur-powered cars began with chassis number '5001', this being the 142nd produced, although they shared the nomenclature of the previous year's A2 models.

Panhard et Levassor factory records show that they delivered this chassis to their British agent Harvey du Cros, whose showrooms were at 14 Regent Street in London; its order date was 1st March 1902. The factory records confirm its specification in their usual style: 'Châssis de voiture automobile actionné par 1 moteur à pétrole de 7 chevaux No. 5142, mouvement KA à 3 vitesses, jantes métalliques pour pneus 770 x 65 AV, 870 x 90 AR'. Most likely the car was supplied to the UK in chassis form for du Cros to arrange its coachwork and sale.

As new the car would have had hot-tube ignition (the fuel reservoir is still in the back of the front seat). This ignition system would have been updated, most probably very early in the car's life when the more usable Krebbs carburettor system was introduced, with its steering wheel-mounted controls. Its coachwork is in the distinctive style of the British 'tonneau', which has three shapely mouldings to the outside of the rear seats and is arguably better looking that some of the coachwork turned out by the French factory in this period.

We know precisely where this car was eventually delivered, for following the Roads Act of 1903 it was registered in Glamorganshire where it was the 39th car registered for the road, as designated by its original registration, 'L 39'. Copies of the original vehicle registration records on file list the car to have been first registered by John Percy Player on 28th December 1903 (it should be noted that this date relates to the fact that the aforementioned Roads Act only came into force in 1903; it does not indicate the car's age). 'L 39' is described as a '7hp Panhard Petrol motor, with Tonneau body to seat 4, Dark Green'. The record is updated on 17th March 1916 to the effect that the owner is now E Martin Player, John's brother.

This John Player is not a member of the eponymous tobacco-business family, but of an altogether different walk of life, for he was the proprietor of John Player & Sons, a tinplate business. Player was also a trustee of the Ynystawe Estate, along with solicitors Strick and Bellingham of Swansea. This closely intertwined family managed the assets of the late William Martin, including land and mining concerns in the region. A letter on file dating from the 1990s to a former owner suggests that by the 1920s the Panhard was long laid up, as its writer recalled playing on the car in that period and wondered if it existed any longer.

In fact, while the Panhard may well have been laid up in the 1920s, it had resurfaced in the 1950s when the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain encouraged enthusiasts to get such cars back on the road. The Panhard et Levassor had been inherited by a group of people, one of whom, G Bellingham, presumably related to the solicitors still managing the Ynystawe Estate, ultimately took custody of the car and returned it to the road. A copy of the old-style buff logbook for this period records the car's ownership by Bellingham from 1955 onwards. For a few years it participated in the London to Brighton Run and VCC events, before disappearing again.

In 1984, the Panhard was acquired from the Bellingham family by noted British collector John Bentley, who would keep it for the next four years. Initially, he undertook a comprehensive restoration of the car, taking the mechanicals apart in their entirety and rebuilding wherever necessary. It would be nearly two years before the car returned to the road, and today he recalls it being used on one or two of the next London to Brighton Runs. From Bentley the car passed briefly to a then prominent trader, Paul Benton, who fitted a windscreen and re-covered the original top with tan canvas in order to improve weather protection. In November 1991, the car was purchased by the Manfred Dolleschel Collection, where it joined a growing group of fine automobiles, many of French origin. Copies of V5 registration documents from this period are on file together with a copy of its VCC Dating Certificate issued in 1955. Successfully exercised once by Dolleschel on the London to Brighton, but more routinely on the Schnautrefel Wunderfahrt in Germany and other local tours, the car was very much cherished and enjoyed.

Viewed today, this is clearly one of the best of its type to survive: it retains its original matching-numbers engine; the factory build plates are original and in their correct locations; and oft missing details such as factory hubcaps remain in place. The coachwork appears to also be totally original, and better still, it is most likely that the leather trim is for the most part original to the car, as are details such as the patterned Rexine rear door lower panel. Very few Veteran Panhard et Levassors can make this claim.

Largely unseen for many years, this little jewel of a car has all the hallmarks of its type and the stance that makes them so popular. The twin-cylinder Panhard has long been considered the perfect balance of age, performance and style with which to undertake the London to Brighton Run, and this unique UK-delivered example is unquestionably one of the best.

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 Motorcar Department.