FEATURE
Stanley White with the Panhard – still in its original colours – in Newquay in 1903 .
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Not many entrants on the Veteran Car Run have been in the same family ownership from new . Simon Charlesworth takes a look at one that has
Soon the 1903 Panhard will leave for the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace . This tickles Sir George White ’ s sense of humour : ‘ There ’ s something rather absurd about taking it to the concours … it ’ s certainly not a concours car . What ’ s lovely about it is , it ’ s just grown . It ’ s just been used ... and when things have needed to be fixed , they ’ ve been fixed or slightly modified .’
The White family ’ s 10hp Panhard certainly doesn ’ t fit in with the recognised concours template — a contest to worship the automotive ideal . A celebration of the flawless , of deep paintwork lustre , unmarked handstitched interiors and chrome-plated perfection .
Next year this Panhard will have been in the same family for 120 years . Bought new for the 21st birthday of Sir George ’ s grandfather , Stanley White , by his father – the founder of the Bristol Aeroplane Company – the car was collected from Paris by its enthusiastic young owner . Costing £ 750 , it ’ s powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder , bi-block engine driving the rear wheels via chain-drive and a four-speed gearbox , and is fitted with a four-seater tonneau body by Labourdette of Paris . Capable of 40mph , and described by Car Illustrated as ‘ an ideal touring car ’, Stanley ’ s homeward journey demonstrated his penchant for being somewhat exuberant with the throttle .
‘ To see , touch and inhale the warm brass , slightly chipped paint and faded oily glory of the Panhard today , is to relish the lived-in originality that makes unrestored veterans so alluring .’
When new , it was painted white with subtle red detailing , but this was changed to the family ’ s dark green and black livery — the same year number plates
16 The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run