Emile Levassor

Emile Levassor (born the January 21st 1843 with Maroilles cheese-in-Hurepoix, dead the April 14th 1897 with Paris) was a French engineer.

After studies with the central École it was engaged at Cockerill, in Belgium, and quickly at “Perrin-Panhard”. It joined Rene Panhard to manufacture Automobile S under the mark Panhard & Levassor. The trademark of this manufacturer was a monogram associating the letters P and L, initial of the patronyms of the two founders. Whereas post-war period the trucks, cars and other vehicles produced by the company bore nothing any more but the name of Panhard, this monogram " PL" remained of use until the end of the production of private cars in 1967, thus preserving the memory of Emile Levassor.

He invented, improved and did not hesitate “to test” in race. It gained one of the first races motor, Paris Bordeaux - Paris of 1895 but it was disqualified, its car not being one 4 places, as the payment required it. Wounded at the time of an accident to avoid a dog in the race Paris Marseilles of 1896, it was remained tired and fragile. He died in his table of drawing.

Monument with the oil car

November 26th, 1907, a stone monument was inaugurated public garden Parodi, boulevard of the Admiral Buix in Paris XVI°, in the honor of Emile Levassor and of the pioneers of industry and the automobile sport. In the taste of the time, the Dalou sculptor represented Levassor at the wheel of the car on which it had gained the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race. This monument, financed by a public subscription, had been offered to the town of Paris. Dalou had drawn the monument, but died before its realization which was carried out according to the plans of its Master by Camille Lefevre.

External bond

seniors of Panhard and Levassor

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