1899 Clément-Panhard Voiture Légère Type VCP Two-Seater

• The lowest known chassis number of any surviving Clément-Panhard
• Formerly part of the Malartre and Barry Hon private collections
• Present family ownership since 2003
• 'Tuf-Tuf' and 'Creepy Crawly' participant

"The hit of the (Paris) show... appeared to be the introduction by Panhard and Levassor of a new type of light carriage, certainly a very handsomely-finished vehicle, and selling at £180, and it is not be wondered at that, with the name the firm possesses, it should have taken orders for 300 vehicles before the completion and exhibition of the first... The motor used is the Krebs, which largely resembles a De Dion motor placed horizontally. Still, in competition with other vehicles which are catering for the cheaper lasses of the trade in the French markets, the new type will undoubtedly have a big run..." - The Autocar, 24th December 1898.

Already a successful maker of bicycles and pneumatic tyres – he owned the Dunlop patents in France - Adolphe Clément diversified into automobile manufacture, taking an interest in the existing Gladiator concern. In 1897 he joined Panhard et Levassor's board and in 1900 became the company's chairman. According to the Beaulieu Encyclopedia: "This led to the first car to bear his name, the Clément-Panhard which was introduced at the Paris Salon in December 1898." These cars were sold in the UK by S F Edge's Motor Vehicle Company, while later on the agency passed to the Scottish Daimler agents, which marketed them as Stirling-Panhard or Clement-Stirling. Stirling built their own bodies, which differed considerably from those of the French version.

Full scale production appears to have commenced in 1899 with car number '101' and continued until 1902 when the planned 500-or-so cars had been completed. This example dates from the first year of production, and has the lowest known Car Number ('117') of any surviving Clément-Panhard.

A well-restored example of a significant voiturette, this Clément-Panhard once formed part of the famous Malartre collection at Rochetaillée, Lyons. The car is finished in red and black with varnished wood mudguards and yellow wheels; its design is distinctive, featuring a tubular chassis-frame with a horizontal 4hp single-cylinder engine mounted at the rear. Drive is taken through an open, constant-mesh gear train, with side-chain transmission to the rear wheels. A wheel controls the centre-pivot steering, while the transmission brake is augmented by a handbrake working on the tyres. It would seem that the only departure from the original specification is the change from hot-tube to electric ignition (a later option).

In 1998 the Clément-Panhard was sold at a London auction, its purchaser being Barry Hon of the USA, who acquired the car for his prominent private collection. Subsequently the car was purchased by the current vendor's parents at an auction in Phoenix, Arizona in January 2003, joining an enthusiast's collection of early Veteran and Vintage touring cars. Following acquisition, the car was first registered in the UK as 'PX 98' in March 2003 and then recommissioned and made ready for the road by well known North of England specialist engineer, Chris Petty. Following extensive research carried out by the late Malcolm Jeal, former chairman of the Veteran Car Club of GB's Dating Committee, the car was dated by the VCC as of 1899 manufacture. The VCC Dating Certificate is on file and the car also comes with its V5C registration document.

Since acquisition the Clément-Panhard has completed one London to Brighton Run, the owner preferring to use one of his more powerful multi-cylinder cars thereafter, and has been used on 'Tuf-Tuf' rallies and 'Creepy Crawly' events. The car has not been used in recent years but has shared its motor house with some delightful and important early automobiles. Guaranteeing an early start on future London-Brighton Veteran Car Runs, this unique survivor also enjoys the advantage, at least as far as UK residents are concerned, of right-hand drive and a passenger seat.