Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Panhard
Panhard, originally Panhard et Levassor, is a French automobile manufacturer. It was established in 1889, making this the first automobile manufacturing company. From 1965 on it has only made armored vehicles - The civil branch has been absorbed by Citroën in 1965.
The company was founded when Rene Panhard and Emile Levassor decided to move from making woodworking machines to automobiles. Their first car used a Daimler engine and was offered in 1890.
These first vehicles set many modern standards, but each was a one-off design. They used a clutch pedal to operate a chain-driven gearbox. The vehicle also featured a front-mounted radiator. A 1895 Panhard is credited with the first modern transmission.
The company's Systeme Panhard consisted of four wheels, a front-mounted engine with rear wheel drive, and a sliding-gear transmission. This was to become the standard layout for automobiles for most of the next century.
Panhard shared their Daimler engine license with Armand Peugeot , who formed his own company, Peugeot, in 1891.
Panhards won numerous races from 1895 to 1903. Panhard developed the Panhard rod, which became used in many other types of automobiles as well.
A 1920s Panhard
From 1925 the motors didn't have valves. That year a 4.8 litres got the world record for the hour fastest run at an average of 185.51 km/h.
After World War II it produced light cars such as the Dyna X , Dyna Z , PL 17 , 24 CT and 24 BT . The company managed to get around a steel-saving government regulation forbidding new car models by making the bodies and several other components out of aluminium. The Dyna X and the Dyna Z 1 had an aluminium body. The later Dyna Z and the PL 17 were made in steel. The bodies had smooth rounded forms which made the cars stand out in any post-war parking lot. The 24 CT was a beautiful 2+2 seater; the 24 BT with a longer wheelbase had enough space for four persons. The last Panhard car was built in 1967.
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