Messrs. René Panhard and Émile Levassor are true pioneers of the motoring industry. When the two men built four identical cars in Paris in 1891, Panhard & Levassor became the world’s first continuous production automobile concern. Germans Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz may have been first on the road, but their early efforts came in fits and starts. With fellow countrymen Peugeot, Serpollet and De Dion, Panhard & Levassor were first in the world to give rise to the new automobile industry.
An early adopter of the front-engine, rear-drive configuration, with the name Système Panhard given to the layout – although another important ingredient, shaft-drive, was not universally adopted by the company until 1913. Panhard & Levassor were also pioneers in wheel steering (1896) and tubed radiators (1897). Production of Panhard automobiles grew rapidly, topping 1,000 in 1902 when American automakers were still struggling to find footing. Panhard & Levassor were among the earliest motor sport competitors, entering cars in the Paris races as early as 1894 and continuing each year of the series, expanding into the Gordon Bennett races which followed. The cars did not always win but were nearly always competitive in the field.
Panhard continued its innovative tradition as the automobile grew in popularity in France and beyond. The firm adopted sleeve valves for some models in 1910, the same year that the name of Levassor, who had died after an 1897 racing accident, was dropped. By 1924, all models had four-wheel brakes. In the 1930s, Panhard bodies became aerodynamic, with rounded contours and curved glass in the windshield pillars. Panhard design reached its zenith in the Dynamic model of 1936, with flamboyant baroque styling, backbone chassis, torsion bar suspension, and a revolutionary central-oriented driving position – some 55 years ahead of Gordon Murray’s McLaren F1. Just like the F1, the Dynamic’s central steer gave an unincumbered view of traffic ahead. The arrangement was abandoned on later models, due to customer complaints about sliding across the seat. Performance of the Panhard, however, is comparatively sedate but pleasantly refined thanks to its 2,516cc sleeve valve inline-six.
The winner of several awards from its days in Europe, this striking 1937 Panhard X76 Dynamic, chassis number 200128, is the subject of an older restoration finished to a good standard and carefully maintained in the ensuring years. Painted in claret on ivory, it is nicely complimented by a tan wool interior, appropriate for the era. In 1997, this car was honored at Poitiers Élégance Automobiles, a vintage car rally in the Poitou-Charentes region of western France, and in 1998 at Concours d'Elegance d'Automobiles Sarlat in Dordogne. The following year it received accolades at Circuit International des Remparts d'Angoulême. In 2011, it was acquired by the most recent owner – a US-based collector with a keen eye for the finest examples of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne design. The dramatic Dynamic undoubtedly fits that bill with its flowing heavily skirted fenders, deco-inspired fluted grille and headlamp covers, and clever three-piece windscreen arrangement. Since its 2011 acquisition, it has been on display in a private museum, making very few public appearances. In preparation for sale, it has undergone recent servicing, though due to extended display, it may require additional attention before embarking on tours.
The distinctly French Panhard Dynamic is not only a prewar technological wonder, but also an Art Deco design masterpiece. The styling is notably eccentric and while it can be polarizing to some, the impact is undeniable. Few could deny that the car's dramatic embellishments and intricate details are the height of the Art Deco era and thus will surely be the center of attention wherever it takes its next custodian.
