Labourdette

Key facts

Founded

1858¹ Independently researched

Founder

Jean Baptiste Labourdette¹ Independently researched

Headquarters

Paris, France¹ Independently researched

History

Jean Baptiste Labourdette (1826–1895) founded the firm in Paris in 1858 as a maker of carriages. His son Henri continued it and the firm built its first automobile body in 1896; Henri's son Jean-Henri inherited it in 1910. By 1912 Jean-Henri had developed the Skiff, a lightweight boat-shaped body without doors, first built on a 20 hp Panhard chassis for René de Knyff using boat-building methods. Skiff bodies later appeared on Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, Renault and Peugeot chassis. A closure date was not found in the sources consulted.

Milestones

1. 1858
   Jean Baptiste Labourdette founded the firm in Paris as a carriage maker.¹
2. 1896
   The firm built its first automobile body.¹
3. 1912
   Jean-Henri Labourdette created the Skiff-Torpedo body on a Panhard chassis for René de Knyff.²

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Freewheeling: The advent of coachbuilding Level C STIR World

   • "in Paris in 1858"
   • first automobile body in 1896
   • "founded by Jean Baptiste Labourdette (1826-1895), in Paris in 1858"
   • "founded by Jean Baptiste Labourdette (1826-1895)"
   • founded "in Paris in 1858"
   • 1858 founding; 1896 first body; 1910 inheritance; Skiff 1912; marques

   Accessed 2026-11-13
2. 2
   Jean-Henri Labourdette (Skiff-Torpedo) Level C The Old Motor

   • "In 1912 French coachbuilder, Jean-Henri Labourdette created an exciting new automobile body style."
   • 1912 Skiff-Torpedo on Panhard for René de Knyff; boat-building methods

   Accessed 2026-11-13