La Perla: the 1903 Panhard KB Roadster

Where the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is often associated with gentle speeds and steaming pioneer machines, that is only half the story. Early motoring also had a distinctly competitive edge. At the dawn of the twentieth century, racing was already pursued with fervour — and not without risk or ambition.

A striking example is the legendary Paris–Madrid race, initiated by the Automobile Club de France. In December 1902, King Alfonso XIII granted approval for the Spanish leg of the route, paving the way for what would become one of the most notorious races in automotive history. The announcement acted as a catalyst in Spain, where enthusiasts united under the newly founded Real Automóvil Club de España.

Among the founders were Ricardo Soriano and his friend De la Torrecilla, two men driven by speed and innovation. Soriano soon decided to take his ambitions seriously and, on 26 January 1903, ordered a Panhard & Levassor KB Roadster. The factory records describe a lightweight chassis powered by a 15 hp four-cylinder petrol engine (no. 6042), coupled to a KB four-speed gearbox — advanced engineering for its time. Even with a discount, the price amounted to 17,640 francs, a substantial sum in those days.

According to historical accounts, the car was delivered via the Parisian Palais de l’Auto and collected by De la Torrecilla, presumably on Soriano’s behalf. In the archives of RACE, Soriano is listed as “Viajero” — driver — of the car on 3 April 1904. The car soon earned the nickname La Perla, a name reflecting both its elegance and its performance.

After passing through a modest number of owners in the post-war period, this remarkable machine has now resurfaced. La Perla is being offered through Broad Arrow Auctions — a rare opportunity to acquire a tangible piece of early motorsport history.

Details:

Event: The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d’Este Auction 2026
Date: 17 May 2026
Estimate: €520,000 - €580,000
More info >>

Published:

Wednesday May 6th, 2026

Keith Kuehn

23 May, 18:37

well, how far above the clouds was my estimate? But lalanne, I think your spot on. those that have the money aren't spending....

lalanne

18 May, 07:14

I think the verdict is in. Those who dream of buying this sort of car don’t have the money,
and those who have the money don’t dream of this sort of car.
I’ve been in this business for over 50 years and there’s no going back.
We’ll just have to accept it…… ..................

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je crois que le verdict est tombé .Ceux qui rêvent d'acheter ce genre de voiture n'ont pas l'argent
et ceux qui ont l'argent ne rêvent pas de ce genre de voiture
Cela fait + de 50 ans que je suis dans ce milieu et on ne reviendra plus en arrière
Il faut se faire une raison .........................

Bruno Mazzei

11 May, 17:27

It's fabolous ! If i had the money, i would buy it right away.....

henri lalanne

07 May, 10:26

You're very optimistic—maybe even TOO much
But anyway, let's hope you're right, because I have the exact same car

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Vous êtes très optimiste voire TROP
Mais bon ,espérons que vous dites vrai car je possède une voiture identique

Keith Kuehn

08 May, 16:12

A huge part of my optimistic projection Henri is the historical context of the car. That seems to push prices up all the time, but we will see. Sure hope yor having a great time being caretaker of yours!

Keith Kuehn

06 May, 02:09

I'm going to stick my neck out and say that I am willing to bet it goes for much more than it's estimated price. say, close to if not more than 1.1 million.....come on all, lets here your estimate! No prize, just fun.....!

La Perla: the 1903 Panhard KB Roadster

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