The Nostalgia of Forgotten Gods: Panhard & Levassor, France, 1886-1967

In automotive history, few names evoke as much nostalgia as Panhard. Founded in 1886, this pioneering French car manufacturer left an indelible imprint on the industry, shaping its early evolution and setting benchmarks that would resonate for decades to come. René Panhard and Émile Levassor, both talented engineers, joined forces to create the first automobiles in history.

A Panhard & Levassor on the streets of Paris in 1891. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration took the name "Systeme Panhard".

One of Panhard & Levassor's most significant innovations was the introduction of the front-engine and rear-wheel drive, which eventually became the worldwide automotive standard. This configuration was called the "Systeme Panhard" and offered superior handling and stability compared to the prevailing rear-engine and front-wheel-drive schemes of the time. The first car was built in 1889 thanks to an agreement with Daimler to supply engines and after little over a year of testing and trials, the Type A was marketed, making Panhard & Levassor the first brand to go into mass car production.

In the early 1900s, Panhard & Levassor cars were characterised by elegance and luxury. Pictured here is a 50 HP Type Q from 1905.

René Panhard, despite the death of his partner Émile Levassor in 1897, continued to refine and improve their cars, incorporating innovations such as the sliding gear transmission, four-cylinder engine and steel chassis. Their vehicles became synonymous with luxury, elegance and precision craftsmanship, attracting a demanding clientele that included royalty and industrialists. Between 1929 and 1940, the DS, CS and Dynamic models were luxurious and successful saloons, coupes and cabriolets.

The Dynamic was a success for Panhard & Levassor. Presented in 1936, it was characterised by futuristic and aerodynamic "flamboyant" lines.

After the end of the Second World War in 1945 during which the established brand produced military vehicles, Panhard abandoned the Levassor name and, in line with the needs of the time, turned to industrial mass production. Lacking a modern engine, the Dyna X and Z as well as the 24 CT and BT used a small twin-cylinder, flat-twin engine, which was incredibly potent and powerful. To reduce weight, the company relied on the use of aluminium, but the high cost of the raw material did not help sales. The choice of engine, wrongly considered of little prestige, also did not exactly help.

In the post-war period, the styling of Panhards changed radically through a more modern design with rounded lines. Pictured here is a 1953 Dyna Z.

Mindful of the fine pre-war sporting experiences, Panhard tried the racing route by entering into an agreement with DB (Deutsch & Bonnet) to collaborate for the production of innovative cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, competing with its small engine in the performance index classification. The LM64 version for the 1964 edition had a drag coefficient of just 0.12. A real record. But all this was not enough: On the brink of bankruptcy, Panhard was saved by an agreement with Citroën, which took over the company in 1965.
The brand, however, exited the automotive world in 1967.

Panhard also took a leading role in racing by entering into an agreement with DB for the production of racing cars. In 1964 the LM64 CD was entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a cx coefficient of just 0.12 - an incredible value for the time.