1905 Panhard & Levassor Type Q

OHTM Registrar Jonah Carter and Ground Vehicle Conservator Warren Kincaid discuss the 1905 Panhard & Levassor Type Q.
Featuring one of the most opulent body styles of the coachbuilt era, this Panhard & Levassor is equipped with the luxurious Roi des Belges (King of Belgium) body, built by A.T. Demarest & Co. of New York. The name of the body style comes from its originator, King Leopold II of Belgium. As comfort was minimal in early automobiles, Leopold sought the council of Ferdinand Charles, chief designer for J. Rothschild et Fils, of Paris.
During the consultation, Cléo de Mérode, long alleged to be the King’s mistress, pushed two tub chairs together, commenting, “Why not make the seats of the car like these chairs?” The body styling is known as a Tulip Phaeton, featuring exaggerated curves and bulges, reminiscent of the shape of a tulip. Indeed, this is a car built for a King.
The chassis exhibits all of the features that set Panhard & Levassor apart as one of the first manufacturers to develop what is considered a modern automobile: front-engine, rear-wheel drive, steering wheel as opposed to tiller and front mounted radiator.
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