• Copies of factory Panhard-Levassor records on file
• Copiously researched and extensively restored by noted specialists
• The definitive London-to-Brighton Run car with an early start time
• Dated by The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain

This A2 Panhard-Levassor was extensively researched by a former owner, enabling much of its fascinating history to be charted. Copies of the Panhard-Levassor records describe this car as built with 7hp engine number '3114' on 25th October 1901, with 'caisse carrosserie ordinaire' bodywork (a standard rear-entrance tonneau); 'garniture en cuir noir tendue, porte arriere montante jusqu'en haut' (tight black leather trim, rear door rising to the top confirming tonneau); and electric ignition. Today, the car carries a coachbuilder's plaque for La Carrosserie Industrielle, which it has worn since at least the 1960s. The car was sold to Palais de l'Automobile – an agency for numerous manufacturers, situated in Paris.

To whom the Palais delivered '3114' is not known, but documented through the French vehicle registration system its ensuing history starts as early as 1909, when the car was registered as '415 BB', a Bordeaux plate. Its owner at this point was one A Kossotty, a 'Constructeur & Mecanicien' in the town of Saintes. Beneath the annotation on the hand-written records, its next owner is listed as Paul Cureau, Kossotty's son-in-law. It is possible they were responsible for the minor revisions visible when the car was presented to the Association des Proprietaries de Vielles Voitures Automobiles 'Les Teuf-Teuf' on 30th July 1937, by which time it had had its rear seats removed.

The owner in July 1937 is listed in the 'Teuf-Teuf' as Albert Streit of Cachan, a Paris suburb. The Panhard was used in the club's events, notably as late as 25th June 1939 on a Paris-Rouen rally, and returned to use immediately after WW2. Period film footage exists of this and other 'Vieux Tacots' parading through Paris on 1st January 1947. Continuing in use through this period, it appeared on other newsreel footage of 1950s events in Pau and Paris, and in a magazine article of it in Clermont-Ferrand.

At some point it seems that the Panhard appeared on the radar of the Schlumpf brothers, who were amassing their huge collection in Mulhouse. Although best known for more than 100 Bugattis, their collection included many Veterans, and it is believed that this Panhard was one of them for awhile. A photograph on file shows the Panhard with another Schlumpf car in the 1960s. According to information supplied by a former owner when the car was purchased from the Mercedes-Benz Museum's reserve collection via their Classic Center, it had arrived in their collection described as an 1898 (sic) Panhard, on account of its Daimler engine, and had come from Schlumpf in exchange for the Silberpfeil - or Silver Arrow Grand Prix Mercedes-Benz - which remains in that collection today. Certainly, the Panhard resided with Mercedes from 1965, emerging when included in a group deal with the Louwman Collection in 2010. In 2012 it was sold as part of another group deal from that collection to noted Swiss enthusiast and dealer Christoph Grohe, from whom it was acquired by the immediately preceding owner.

While with the preceding owner the Panhard was researched thoroughly to ensure that its restoration would be as accurate as possible. The rebuild was entrusted to experts in their respective fields, the majority of this work being carried out by Tattersall's Veteran to Classic. The mechanicals were refurbished where necessary, including rebuilding the engine with new bearings; repair to one of its mountings; new drive pinions; and fitting a modern starter motor for convenience. Interestingly, during this exercise the pistons were found to have domed heads, suggesting an attempt at increasing its performance.

To match the car's build sheet, Tattersall's woodwork expert David Thompson ensured that the rear of the bodywork was rebuilt to its original rear-entrance tonneau design, using comparisons with a surviving factory 1901 car. At the same time the frame's bowed wood members were replaced (the originals remain with the car), and an additional transverse leaf spring, which had been fitted at the rear, was removed to return it to original specification. The upholstery re-trim was undertaken by esteemed trimmer Julian Taylor of Protectus, complete with a two-piece front/rear tonneau cover in double-duck. The whole car was brush-painted in period style in Brewster Green by Daniel Garner of Garner's Wheelwrights, while simultaneously the wheels were dismantled, repaired where necessary and refinished.

Ancillaries of period-correct BRC Alpha self-contained generator headlamps, a close match for units visible in the 1950s; a Bleriot tail lamp and 'Le Teste' three-trumpet horn were fitted. A period NilMelior trembler coil was sourced to match the ignition system present, although it currently utilises a pair of modern coils. The work was finalised during 2019/2020, including a test drive on the London-to Brighton Run in 2019. Our vendor purchased the Panhard in October 2020, since when further mechanical refurbishment has been carried out.

Dated by The Veteran Car Club (Certificate No. 4228/2020) enabling the Panhard to be used on their events and also, therefore, the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run. The VCC's report is on file, together with copies of the factory record and all research materials, which have been assembled into a book and are available for inspection.

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.