PEUGEOT PETE'S COLUMN

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PSA History - PART ONE

by Peugeot Pete

History of The Peugeot Marquee (Part 1)

1810-1920

1810 Born into a family of millers near Montbéliard, France, the Peugeot brothers convert a grain mill into a steel foundry to supply the local clock industry with springs.

1818-1857 A patent for cold rolling is filed in 1818. New plants are opened and production is diversified to include band saws, springs, corset stays, metal crinoline hoops, tools and coffee grinders.

1858 The lion emblem begins to appear on Peugeot products. It has a dual meaning, since a lion is depicted on the coat of arms of the Franche Comtéé region and is also the trademark that is stamped on cold-rolled steel products. It symbolizes the qualities of steel saws, which have strong teeth and flexible blades for rapid sawing.

STARTING FROM A BICYCLE

1882 Construction of the first big Peugeot Grand Bi bicycle - a penny-farthing.

1885 At the initiative of Armand Peugeot, the company begins to produce bicycles, tricycles and quadric cycles.

1886 Series production of bicycles begins in Beaulieu.1886 Standardized production of the Peugeot series of bicycles featuring chain-controlled gear system starts in Beaulieu at the instigation of Armand Peugeot.

1888 Armand Peugeot (1849 - 1915) is fascinated by the first motor cars. He meets Gottlieb Daimler with Émile Levassor. It is Armand Peugeot who pushes Peugeot in the direction of the motor car. He anticipates the tremendous potential of this brand-new invention and attempts to develop links with like-minded individuals who have appreciated the significance of this invention.

1889 Armand Peugeot unveils a Peugeot tricycle equipped with a Serpollet steam engine at the World's Fair in Paris.
Serpollet-Peugeot (1 unit in 1889) A historical year with the introduction of the first car to bear the Peugeot name. The car, a three-wheeler, is made by Armand Peugeot in collaboration with the famous steam specialist, Léon Serpollet. The car, called the Serpollet-Peugeot, was shown at the World Fair held in Paris in 1889 to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution. By this time, the Peugeot factories employed a total of 1100 people.

1890 - 1895 FROM STEAM TO PETROL
Armand Peugeot, anticipating the motor car boom, experiments with steam before shifting definitively to petrol.

1890 Armand Peugeot quickly abandons steam for petrol and produces the first Peugeot petrol-powered four-wheel car, the quadricycle, Type 2, fitted with a Daimler engine, at the Valentigney factory. (4 units in 1890)

1891 The Peugeot company name is changed to Les fils de Peugeot frères. In September, a petrol-powered four-wheel car, driven by Messrs. Rigoulet and Doriot, travels from Valentigney to Brest and back again - a round trip of 1375 miles - at an average speed of almost 9 mph. Type 3, Type 4 four-wheel vehicule (64 units produced up to 1894), vis-à-vis (1 model for the Bey of Tunis).

1892 Peugeot produces 29 Type 3 quadricycles and the first Michelin tires are mounted on a Peugeot oil-burning tricycle. It is the first company to fit rubber tires to a petrol-engine four-wheel car. Peugeot's Type 4 is a unique model, ordered by the Bey of Tunis.

1894 Armand Peugeot diversifies his range and, practically simultaneously, brings out the Type 5 four-wheel 2-seater (14 units up to 1896, the Type 6 phaeton (7 units in 1894), 7 phaeton 4-seater phaeton (25 units up to 1897), the Type 8 Victoria 4-seater ( up to 1896), the Type 9 Vis-a-vis 4-seater (87 units up to 1897)and the Type 10 5-seater estate (3 units up to 1896). A Paris - Rouen Horseless Carriage Race sees Peugeot and Panhard share the first prize.

1895 The range is extended by the addition of the Type 11, 2-seater (27 units up to 1897) and the Type 12, 5-seater closed estate (2 units in 1895). During the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race, Édouard Michelin tries out the first pneumatic tires on the Éclair. The first prize is won by Koechelin in a Peugeot. Production of the first ball bearings bearing the Lion trade mark. Introduction of the first Peugeot commercial vehicle, the Type 13, a delivery van (5 units up to 1896) which will only be produced for two years.

1896 - 1901 THE EMANCIPATION OF ARMAND
Armand Peugeot sets up his own company, leaving the traditional industries to the rest of the family.

1896 Establishment of Société des auto-mobiles Peugeot in Lille by Armand Peugeot. It is to be devoted to the manufacture of touring cars and trucks while the sons of his cousin Eugène, Pierre (1871 -1927), Robert (1873 - 1945) and Jules (1882- 1959) as les Fils de Peugeot Frères turn their energies to tools, bicycles and motorbikes. The car remained the domain of Armand who had no male heirs. The Type 14 appears in the summer. It is the first model to have a Peugeot 2 cylinder horizontal engine (patented by Michaux). The Daimler engines that Armand Peugeot used to buy from Panhard and Levassor, the French importers of the engine, will not be used from the following year on. Type 18, 8-seater estate with Peugeot engine (26 units by 1901).

1897 Armand builds a motor car factory (with a total floor area of 50,000 sq.meters, 4,000 of them covered) at Audincourt in the Doubs region and another one at Fives-Lille in the north of the country, the first Peugeot site outside Franche-Comté. From now on, Armand Peugeot will manufacture his own 2-cylinder horizontal engine and he updates practically his whole product range with the Type 14 2-seater (18 units up to 1898), Type 15, 4-seater phaeton (several hundred up to 1901), the first model equipped with an engine produced entirely by Peugeot. Type 16 4-seater vis-à-vis (87 units up to 1900), Type 17 (a very small car requiring no license) 2/3-seater small car (182 units up to 1902) and Type 19 4-seater victoria (75 units by 1902), Type 20 8-seater bus (14 units up to 1900), all fitted with Peugeot engines. From this date on, Peugeot cars are available with optional Michelin tires with tubes, instead of the old solid tires.

1898 The catalogue continues to grow, with Type 21, 4-seater coupé (9 units up to 1901), Type 22, 2-seater pickup (5 units up to 1900), Type 23 6-seater wagonette (10 units up to 1901), Type 24 2-seater car (20 units up to 1902), Type 25 3-seater coupé-conv (2 units up to 1902), supplementing the earlier Types 14 to 20. In July, Peugeot takes part in the First Paris Motor Show.

1899 Type 26 2/3-seater small car (419 units up to 1902), Type 27 landaulette (29 units up to 1902), Type 28 4-seater phaeton (8 units up to 1900), Type 29 8/10-seater estate (5 units up to 1900). The Peugeot catalogue now covers fifteen models, ranging from 2 to 12 seaters and weighing between 720 and 1250 kg. The most popular model is the Type 15 phaeton. Three-wheelers are built in the Beaulieu factory. Peugeot makes its first Capitaine Gérard folding bicycle, a model that forms part of every soldier's kit in World War One.

1900 Type 30 3-seater small car (84 units up to 1902), Type 31 light 2-seater car (7 units up to 1902), Type 32 6-seater wagonette-tonneau (21 units in 1900), Peugeot's car output reaches 500 units per year. But it also produces 20,000 bicycles, 100 tonnes of boning for corsets and 6 tonnes of springs for pincenez.

1901 Automobiles Peugeot headquarter is located in Levallois, near Paris. The Audincourt factory has 800 employees, while Lille hires 600 employees. Type 33 4-seater small phaeton (84 units up to 1902), Type 34 and Type 35 commercial vehicles, The Type 36, available as a 3-seater spider convertible or a 4-seater tonneau has a new single-cylinder vertical engine (111 units by 1902). It's the first Peugeot to have a bonnet at the front and, in place of the handlebars, it has a steering wheel (with an inclined steering column). It also marks the move to chainless transmission systems. Appearance of the first Peugeot 1.5 h.p. motorbike with a top speed of 25 to 40 km/h.. December: the first 4-cylinder Peugeot cars are shown at the Paris Show.

1902 Type 37small car (100 units in 1902), Type 39 first 4-cylinder Peugeot (100 units in 1902), Type 48 4-seater tonneau (131 units in 1902), Type 49 tonneau or double phaeton (162 units in 1902).

1903 Type 42 double phaeton (79 units in 1903), Type 43 double phaeton (43 units in 1903), Type 44 4-seater double phaeton (58 units in 1903), Type 50 4-seater tonneau (138 units in 1903), Type 54 small car (250 units in 1903), Type 56 tonneau (16 units in 1903).

1904 Type 57 small 2-seater car (149 units in 1904), Type 58 4-seater tonneau (121 units in 1904), Type 61 double phaeton (147 units in 1904), Type 62 tonneau or phaeton (96 units in 1904), Type 63 4-seater tonneau or limousine coupé (136 units in 1904), Type 65 tonneau (12 units in 1904), Type 66 limousine (20 units in 1904), Type 67 tonneau (235 units in 1904).

1905 Type 69 a series production begins of the Bébé Peugeot, the first popular model for the general public (400 units in 1905). Les Fils de Peugeot Frères develops a car named the Peugeot Lion. Type 68 tonneau or phaeton (276 units in 1905), Type 71 double phaeton (103 units in 1905), Type 72 double phaeton or limousine coupé (138 units in 1905), Type 76 double phaeton (32 units in 1905), Type 77 tonneau (306 units in 1905).

1906 Type 78 double phaeton or tonneau (261 units in 1906), Type 80 sport car (3 units in 1906), Type 81 torpedo, limousine or double phaeton (251 units in 1906), Type 82 double phaeton (200 units in 1906), Type 83 limousine (71 units in 1906), Type 85 double phaeton (6 units in 1906), Lion VA (1000 units up to 1908), Lion VC and VC1 (1000 units up to 1910).

1907 Type 88 double phaeton or tonneau (450 units up to 1908), Type 91 (339 units up to 1908), Type 92 A, B, Cand D (527 units up to 1908), Type 93 (164 units in 1907), Type 95 (30 units in 1907), Type 96 (55 units in 1907), Type 99 (324 units in 1907), Type 103 (45 units in 1907).

1908 Automobiles Peugeot and Fils de Peugeot Frères together produce 2,200 cars. Type 104 sport (17 units in 1908), Type 105 double phaeton, spider or limousine (23 units up to 1909), Type 106 double phaeton (109 units in 1908), Type 107 bus (12 units in 1908), Type 108 taxi (301 units in 1908), Type 120 double phaeton (11 units in 1908), Lion VY (142 units up to 1909).

1909 Type 101 phaeton or spider (75 units in 1909), Type 111 coupé (200 units in 1909), Type 112 double phaeton (60 units in 1909), Type 113 (95 units in 1909), Type 116 torpedo or double phaeton (500 units in 1909), Type 117 landaulette (104 units in 1909), Type 118 taxi (150 units in 1909), Lion VC2 (1175 units up to 1910).

1910 Automobiles Peugeot and Les Fils de Peugeot Frères merge to create Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot, which is headed by Robert Peugeot. However, two separate model ranges continue to be produced until World War I.
Type 122 double phaeton (34 units in 1910), Type 125 landaulette or phaeton (150 units in 1910), Type 126 double phaeton (350 units in 1910), Type 127 phaeton or torpedo (1226 units in 1910), Type 129 landaulette or torpedo (180 units in 1910), Type 130 torpedo (85 units in 1910), Type 131 torpedo (50 units in 1910), Type 133 double phaeton or coupé-limousine (50 units in 1910), Type 134 (16 units in 1910), Lion V2C2 torpedo (680 units in 1910), Lion V2Y2 (300 units in 1910).

1911 Type 135 and 135 A (376 units up to 1913), Type 136 and 136 A 16 hp sport (235 units up to 1913), Type 138 (925 units up to 1912), Type 139 and 139 A 16 hp standard (551 units up to 1913).

1912 A body shop comes on stream in Mandeure. Peugeot acquires the land on which the Sochaux-Montbéliard factory will be built. Type 143 (300 units up to 1913), Lion V4C3 (653 units in 1912).

1913 Peugeot manufactures half of the cars produced in France, wins the Indianapolis 500, and sets a world speed record (from a running start) of 170.5 km/h. Peugeot wins again at Indianapolis in 1916 and in 1919. The Peugeot Bébé Lion, Lion 6 hpType BP1 and Type B3P1, designed by Ettore Bugatti, is introduced. Through 1916, 3,095 units are produced. Type (1,799 units up to 1915), 14 hp Type 144 and 144 R, 18 hp sport Type 145 (135 units up to 1914), 18 hp standard Type 146 (428 units up to 1914), 18 hp long Type 148 (83 units up to 1914), Lion 10 hp Type VD (800 units in 1913).

1914-1918 The Peugeot plants support the war effort, supplying 1,000 motorcycles, 63,000 bicycles, 3,000 cars, 6,000 trucks, 1,400 tank engines, 10,000 airplane engines and 6 million bombs and shells. 40 hp Type 147 standard (45 units in 1914), 40 hp Type 150 sport (49 units in 1914), 12 hp Type 153 and 153 A (800 units up to 1916), Lion 10 hp Type V4D (700 units in 1914).

1915 Armand Peugeot, founder of the company's automobile business, dies. Lion 10 hp Type VD 2 (480 units in 1915).

1919 Peugeot decides to adopt production methods introduced by pioneering US management consultant Frederick Taylor and introduces the eight-hour workday in 1919. France's first company newsletter, Le Bulletin des Usines, is created.10 hp Type 159 (502 units up to 1920), 10 hp Type 163 (9,349 units up to 1924).

1920 4 hp Quadrillette Type 161 (3,500 units up to 1922), 14 hp Type 153 B (1,325 units up to 1922), 25 hp Type 156 (180 units up to 1923).

Compiled and Authored by
PEUGEOT PETE
peugpete@aol.com
Pedigreed Junk Yard Dog

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