Registration No. BK379
Model Type. A
Chassis No. 6213
Engine No. 6213
VCC Dating Cert No. 1437
Currently with its 2nd owner from new
Unrepeatable History
Driven by Sir Stirling Moss
Unrivaled Originality
£POA
A once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a truly exceptional piece of automotive history. A 1903 Panhard Et Levassor with 1 Previous keeper, in completely correct, original condition.
Looking into the Panhard Levassor Archives, of which a copy is present in the history file, we can see that Engine number 6213 was supplied new to The Marquis de Rambures on 6th May 1903. The car was uniquely fitted with bodywork in the form of a detachable limousine body by Beuzelin Paris. This is the only surviving bodywork of this type today. Photos can be seen or the Marquis with his car at the point of delivery in 1903, where his Chauffeur is also present.
The Marquis used the car everyday until 1926, keeping the car in exceptional condition, housing it in the courtyard of his chateau in the Somme. Remarkably, the car was put away in 1926, where it had made it through the First World War in totally original condition, with its original lamps, tyres and bevelled glass windscreen and windows still totally intact. Quite incredibly it was in this condition that the current custodian found the car in 1973, up on blocks, in the same chateau and the same courtyard.
Unbelievably, the car presented in incredibly original condition. The original lamps were still present, the original tyres still on the rims and despite a thick layer of dust and chicken feathers the original bevelled glass was totally intact. Photos of the car being exhumed are present and it is from these images that we can truly start to see quite how special and unique this story really is. A find that must have felt like winning the lottery, the current custodian was first notified of the cars existence in 1967 at which point the original family owners did not want to sell. However after 6 years of trying, their stance softened and the car was purchased without even seeing an image. Incredible.
Upon removal from the courtyard tomb, the car was seen to be in remarkably original condition. The original headlamps and horn were present, along with all the oilers and trim. The only deviation from originality was the replacement of hot tube ignition to electric in 1906, where the car went back to Panhard Levassor and has been documented. The original Beuzelin Paris bodywork was completely intact with its incredibly pretty split bobbin style decoration that is made entirely of French walnut. Even more incredibly, the roof skirt and front doors made from Elephant hide were totally intact and presented well.
24 hours later, the car was back in Cuckfield, East Sussex, where a very special and sympathetic restoration began. Such was the condition of the car, a cleaning and repainting was the only cosmetic restoration required and this was matched to the original colour scheme and subsequently hand painted to exceptional standard. Later that day, just 24 hours later, the car was up and running and upon inspection appeared to be in excellent, mechanical condition with very little wear, a testimony to the Marquis attention to detail and care for the car.
Several years later, after a full mechanical rebuild, the car returned to the Chateau de Rambures where the present Count de Blanchard de Rambures (grandson of the Marquis) and was photographed back in the courtyard where it was exhumed at which point he confirmed that the car was a true 1 owner example.
Perhaps the most incredible part about this story was that the Chateau de Rambures was located in the Somme and somehow had survived through out 2 World Wars in immaculate original condition without being damaged in anyway.
The car first ran in The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run in 1975 and continued to complete every subsequent run until 2016 an incredible feat in itself, let alone the fact the current owner would drive the car home a further 20 miles once completing the event. Some beautiful history accompanies the cars London to Brighton adventures, most notably where it was driven on 3 occasions by the late Sir Stirling Moss and Lady Moss.
Presenting today in exquisite condition, this Panhard Et Levassor is undoubtably the finest example of its Marque in the world and presents an opportunity for a new ownership to write their name into its history. Supporting the sale of the car are over 35 London to Brighton finishing medals, over 200 period images and restoration images. Original archive documents, press photos and even letters back to the first ownership. The car is in as close to perfect mechanical and cosmetic order as possible and would make the centre piece of any collection worldwide.
