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History of the French automotive industry

While in Germany Benz worried crisis, and the Daimler, despite of everything, aspired to perfection of the models, France has accepted relay race of the technical initiative. The firm "Panhard et Levassor" which first specialised on release of tape saws and processing machine tools was the strongest. In 1890 it has started manufacture of a two-cylinder V-engine "Daimler" and then has presented to public two crews, in each of which instead of animal-drawn pull-rod engine "Daimler" installed in the middle of a body was used.

The next year there was one more car with the vertical engine, but located already in front. Such design raised stability of the car, as well as character of steering (with rotary cams and a trapeze), however other technical decisions still remained from horse crews.
The car had also lacks: clutch represented the rough gear though in a gear box unknown earlier sliding pinion gears were used. The final drive was chain, and the differential was the most simple design.

Despite conservative technical decisions, in 1891 "Panhard" has put in pawn a basis of a design of the easy car to which could become almost multiple-purpose for sixty next years: the engine located in front and rear driving wheels. "System Panhard" in the first embodiment was the unhandy car, in comparison with unpretentious "slow mover" "Benz". But it had a potential for infinite perfection.

Modernisation process passed in the following sequence: at first there were lateral chains and differential with conical pinion gears, then - a bevel clutch, similar that was used on lathes. Then, in 1898, there was a steering by means of a steering wheel which puts in action system of levers, pull-rods and the hinges, transferring movement from a steer to steered wheels. Designers have gradually learnt to select an axle pin inclination in a longitudinal plane, doing the car obedient to a wheel. Such the germ of the modern car appears at us.

Almost at the same time count De Dion (Comte Albert de Dion) (1856-1946) unites efforts with engineer Georges Buton (1847-1938). Result of such tandem was the firm "De Dion-Bouton".

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