No other single manufacturer can claim to have had greater influence on motor car design and more dominance and success in the infant days of the motor industry and motor sport than Panhard-Levassor.

In 1886 René Panhard and Émile Levassor bought into a French company producing band saws and other woodworking tools.

In that year Levassor's friend, Sarazin, acquired French rights to build German Daimler cars under licence.

Sarazin died in 1887 and Levassor married his widow, leaving Panhard and Levassor to continue motor car manufacture.

By 1892 they had settled on the classic Panhard design – La Système Panhard – which was to become the standard of the industry with a forward mounted engine, transmission amidships and driven rear wheels.

The company was right at the forefront in early motor sport, notably in the great French City-to-City Races and inextricably associated with such European motoring pioneers, society notables and sportsmen as the Hon.

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