*Influential French make *Extensively restored *VCC dated *Early London to Brighton Run starter René Panhard was a qualified engineer whose Paris-based business made woodworking tools and built Deutz engines under license.

With his partner, Émile Levassor, he experimented with horseless carriages using engines licensed from Daimler.

In 1891, Panhard et Levassor offered for sale what was arguably the world's first production car, using a built-under-license Daimler engine.

Both Daimler and Benz had made automobiles before Panhard but these had been individual 'prototypes' rather than models intended for series production.

Above all, the firm was responsible for bequeathing the automobile world the Système Panhard , which embodied the now familiar layout of a front-mounted engine driving the rear axle via a clutch, gearbox and differential.

The modern motor car had been born.

After Emile Levassor's death in 1897, René Panhard reorganised his company as a joint stock corporation to ...