Émile Levassor
Émile Constans Levassor (born January 21, 1843 in Marolles-en-Hurepoix , Département Essonne , † April 14, 1897 in Paris ) was a French automobile pioneer and racing driver .
life and career
Émile Levassor completed his engineering studies at the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures (now École Centrale Paris ) in 1864.
He was working in a sawmill when he met René Panhard and they decided to build automobiles. The first car from their joint company Panhard & Levassor was completed in 1890 and operated by an engine from Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft .
As an automobile developer, you made some innovations. Among other things, they were the first to combine a front- mounted engine with driven rear wheels .
Émile Levassor also took part in the first car races on his own vehicles, he was fifth in the Paris – Rouen race in 1894 and won the Paris – Bordeaux – Paris race in 1895 with Panhard & Levassor, but had a serious accident in the Paris – Marseille – Paris 1896 race . The accident made him apathetic and loss of appetite. He died of the consequences of the accident the following spring, which is why he is considered the first death in motorsport.
The Levassor Nunatak in Antarctica is named in his honor.
Web links
- Émile Levassor. www.motorsportmemorial.org, accessed on May 14, 2020 (English).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Levassor, Émile |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Levassor, Émile Constans (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French automobile pioneer and racing driver |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 21, 1843 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Marolles-en-Hurepoix |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 14, 1897 |
| Place of death | Paris |