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| PEUGEOT PETE'S COLUMN
PSA History - PART TWO
by Peugeot PeteHistory of The Peugeot Marquee (Part 2) 1921-1975 1921 Peugeot acquires car maker De Dion Bouton. The Quadrillette is launched. The model is a three-speed, 4 hp, two-seater with a top speed of 60 km/h. Including remodeled versions, more than 60,000 units are sold through 1930. 1922 10 hp sports Type 163 BS (346 units up to 1923), 15 hp sports Type 153 RS (200 units up to 1923). 1923 4 hp Quadrillette Type 172 (8,705 units up to 1924), 10 hp Type 163 BR de luxe (2,230 units up to 1924), 10 hp sports Type 173 S (1,002 units up to 1925), 15 hp Type 153 BR and CA de luxe (1,505 units up to 1925), 15 hp sports Type 175 (303 units up to 1925), 18 hp sports Type 174 S (208 units up to 1928), 18 hp Type 174 (810 units up to 1928). 1924 5 hp Quadrillette GS Type 172 BS (100 units in 1924), 5 hp Type 172 BC (7,084 units up to 1925), 10 hp Type 177 B de luxe(16,039 units up to 1926). 1925 11 hp, Type 181 (9,259 units up to 1928), 12 hp valveless model (1,512 units up to 1928). 1926 Automobiles et Cycles Peugeot is separated into two companies: Cycles Peugeot and Société des Automobiles Peugeot. 5 hp Type 172 R (27,119 units up to 1928). 1927 9 hp Type 177 M and R (18,202 units up to 1929). 1928 5 hp long Type 172 M (11,970 units in 1928), 12 hp Six Type 183, 183 C and D (12,626 units in 1931), 22 hp valveless Type 184 (31 units up to 1929). 1929 - 1934 FROM THE ZERO TO THE ECLIPSE
The 201 starts the system of using model names containing a central zero and Peugeot invents the folding roof. 1929 The Peugeot 201 is launched, the car which quickly becomes known simply as the 201 makes its appearance at the Paris Show in October under the name 6 hp Type 201. It is the first car to have an 0 in the middle of its name - a policy still followed today. Peugeot registers a trademark based on having 3 digits with a central zero. 5 hp Type 172 S (2,112 units in 1929), 5 hp Type 190 S (33,677 units up to 1931). 1930 201 B, L, C and M (89,010 units up to Sept. 1937). 1931 Following the 1931 Motor Show, the 201 is the first car in the world to have independent front wheels as standard, a system that adopted by all car makers. This feature coupled with its fuel economy ensures that it enjoys broad success, enabling Peugeot to survive the economic crisis relatively easily. The same year, Madame Leblanc, driving a Peugeot 5CV, defeats her male rivals to win the Tour de France Automobile. 1932 The 301 is introduced and the 201 wins the Monte Carlo road rally. André Boillot sets an international record by driving a 301C a total of 2,650 km in 24 hours. 301 comfort, M, CL, CR & D (69,312 units Mar '32 - Sep '36). 1933 The first power tools are introduced. The Sochaux factory includes 250,000 sq. m. of workshops and employs 9,000 people. Housing facilities are provided, medical insurance is introduced, and sports associations are created. 1934 In May comes the introduction of two aerodynamic cars the 601 C, L, D, DL (4,004 units to July 1935), a top of the range six cylinder model. Appearance of the first car to feature a folding roof. The car is the 401 and the model name is the Eclipse. This world first, created in collaboration with the designer Paulin, the Peugeot concessionaire Darl'Mat and the Pourtout body construction firm, results in the standardized production by Peugeot of one of the most original cars in production worldwide. This idea was picked up by Ford in the Fifties and Mercedes-Benz in the Nineties and then reinvented by Peugeot to suit modern tastes in 1998 with the 20 Coeur shown at the Geneva Show in 1999. In October, launch of the 401, in response to Citroën's launch of a front wheel drive model, of which 13,545 units are produced in less than one year, at the Paris Show and adoption of the beaver tail type of body across the range. The 515, a 500 cc motorbike, breaks three world records. 1935 Peugeot introduces the 402, of which 30,800 units are sold. The model range includes the 402 Eclipse with a retractable electric roof. The 401 D, DL and DLT (13,545 units to August 1935). 1936 Sedan and convertible versions of the 302 are introduced, of which 25,000 units are sold. Other vehicles launches include 500 cc, 350 cc and 175 cc motorcycles and 100 cc mopeds., The 402 L, LT, light, B, BL (70,469 units Sep '35 - Occupation). 1937 Emile Darl'Mat, a Peugeot dealer since 1923, develops the version of the 402 that bears his name and which wins the Le Mans 24-hour race the following year. The 302 and 302 SS (25,103 units from August 1936 to April 1938). 1938 The 202 B and BH (104,126 units from Jan. 1938 to July 1949) is introduced. Through 1949, more than 1.6 million units, both sedans and commercial vehicles, are produced. Annual output reaches 500,000 cars, one-fourth of France's total automobile production. 1941 The VLV, a three-wheeled electric city car, is developed, of which 377 units are produced, from May 1941 to February 1944. 1943 The Sochaux plant is occupied, then bombed in July. Later, the other plants are ransacked and the staff is dispersed. Getting the facility up and running again is a challenge; the new model Peugeot 203 will not roll off the lines until 1948. 1948 - 1959 THE GREAT RECOVERY
In the middle of its reconstruction, Peugeot brings out a totally new monocoque saloon in 1948: the 203. 1948 At the Paris Motor Show in October, Peugeot unveils the 203, its first totally new postwar car, and adopts a unique model policy. The 203 has a rare feature for a standardized production car, 4 cylinders with hemispherical Alpax cylinder heads and V-inclined valve heads with spark plugs fitted in a central well. Structurally, this is the first time that Peugeot offers a monocoque shell. 1948 The 203, the marquee's first unibody, is introduced. (685,628 units from October 1948 to February 1960). 1949 203 découvrable, 203 familiale (to 1954), and commerciale, (to October 1956) 1951 203 convertible 1952 Peugeot produces its one-millionth vehicle. 1953 203 coupé 1955 On 20 April, Peugeot unveils the 403. For the first time, Peugeot calls on the services of the Turin-based Italian designer, Pininfarina, to design one of its models. This is the start of a fruitful collaboration that still endures today. The 403 is the first Peugeot to have a convex wind-screen and the first model to reach the million mark. For the first time, Peugeot's annual output exceeds 100,000 units, reaching a figure of 112,223 vehicles. Cycles Peugeot has 3,500 workers and produces 220,000 bikes at the Beaulieu plant. 403 saloon (1,214,100 units from April 1955 to December 1966). 1956 403 convertible (from June 1956 to July 1961). The first computer appears at Sochaux -an IBM-650 designed to handle the stock. Crisis in the cycle industry. Turnover at Cycles Peugeot drops by 50%. 1958 In order to contain the crisis in the bicycle industry, Cycles Peugeot turns to the production of car components and becomes an equipment manufacturer. Peugeot Motors of America opens headquarter in New York. 1959 Peugeot begins series production of its first mass-produced diesel-powered, Indénor engine, the 403. Peugeot cars reach a major milestone, with two million cars built. The 403 is the first mass-produced car in the world to have an automatic fan which is controlled by engine temperature. This year sees the last lions in relief on the bonnet of the 203 and 403, as it is considered too dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. Peugeot builds its first test circuit at Belchamp (a site including 400 hectares of forest), close to Sochaux. 1960 The 404 is introduced, of which 1.5 million units are produced in France through 1976. Peugeot begins producing clothes irons again, a product it had stopped manufacturing in 1910. During the 1960s, production is restructured, with parts outsourced to suppliers, transfers among Peugeot plants, and cycle plants converted to automobile production. 1961 Construction begins of the Mulhouse production center, which will later become the marquee's second-largest manufacturing facility. March 1961, 404 injection saloon, 404 convertible, (from 1961 to 1968). 1962 October, 404 familiale and commerciale. 1963 Negotiations are launched with Citroën to cooperate in the purchase of raw materials and equipment. Talks are broken off in 1965. Peugeot rolls out its three-millionth vehicle. October 1963 404 coupé. 1965 - 1973 FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE COMES TO THE FORE
Despite previously specializing in traditional saloon cars, Peugeot embraces front-wheel drive on the 204. 1965 In April, in an unprecedented move, Peugeot introduces the 204, its first front-wheel drive vehicle. It has a light alloy engine with overhead camshaft, four independent wheels and disc brakes on the front wheels(1,604,290 units). On 14 June, a special single-seater diesel 404 coupé beats 40 world records in its class, on the Montlhéry ring. Launch of the ZF automatic gearbox on the 404. The industrial and commercial assets of société des automobiles Peugeot and société Indénor (which builds diesel engines in Lille) are brought together to form "Société des Automobiles Peugeot" changes its legal status to become the "Peugeot SA" holding company, which controls all the Group's companies and is responsible for managing the production and sale of the automobiles built in factories in Sochaux-Montbéliard, Bart, Mulhouse, Dijon, Lille, Saint-Étienne, Vesoul and La Garenne. 1966 In April, Peugeot signs a technical cooperation agreement with Renault to develop joint projects, including Française de Mécanique and STA. Peugeot et Cie changes its name to Aciers et Outillages Peugeot. A subsidiary is set up to build engines for the two partners. A factory will be constructed in Douvrin near Lille, with engine production starting there in 1972, after the Swedish carmaker, Volvo, joins the two French manufacturers. 204 estate, 204 coupé, October and convertible. 1967 At the Paris Motor Show in October, Peugeot introduces the smallest diesel engine in the world, a 1200 cc model fitted to the 204 estate. 1968 The marquee's premium model, is introduced, 504 saloon at the Paris Show in September (3,689,166 units to end 1999) Construction of a 1,424m developmental race track at its technical centre in Belchamp. 1969 The coupe and convertible versions of the 504 and the 304 - 4 cylinders are launched , March (1,178,422 units) October Launch of the ZF automatic gearbox on the 504. Peugeot becomes the second largest French maker of private cars. 1970 Peugeot's annual production exceeds 500,000 units. March 304 coupe and convertible. 1971 A technical agreement is signed in June between Peugeot, Renault and Volvo, a Franco-Swedish engine company, is created to design a V8 engine for use by the three manufacturers, but with economy then, they chopped off 2 cyl. The engine takes the final form of a V6 engine, called the PRV. The man involved with building that engine, Jim Hawker, of Melbourne, Australia, went ahead and finished the engine and put it in a 403, the only, all Peugeot,V8 403 in the world. The 504 range is broadened to include an estate, a family model and a commercial vehicle. 1972 At the Paris Motor Show in October 1972, Peugeot unveils its small mass market saloon car, the 104 (1,624,990 units). This is the smallest 4-door car in the world. It will be built in Mulhouse, with a total of 1.2 million units produced through 1987, which has 9,000 workers while Sochaux employs 35,000. In all, the automobile operations of the Peugeot group and its subsidiaries represent 57,000 jobs out of a total of 71,000. Acquisition of the factory at Romilly-sur-Seine, where all the manufacturing operations of Cycles Peugeot will be centred from 1987 onwards. 1973 Automobiles Peugeot adopts the form of management and administration of a European public company, with a supervisory board and executive board. The total number of vehicles built by Peugeot over the years reaches the figure of 8 million. The 104 coupé is launched. 1974 - 1984 THE APPETITE OF A LION
The petrol crisis shakes the automobile industry but Peugeot nevertheless absorbs Chrysler-Europe followed by Citroën. 1974 On 24 June, following negotiations with Michelin about control of Citroën, Peugeot SA acquires a 38.2% interest in Citroën SA, with each marquee maintaining its model range and sales network. Peugeot takes over the direction and management of Citroën. Peugeot manages the combined organization, notably shared operations, such as research, purchasing and investments. In October, Peugeot unveils the new V6 PRV engine, the fruit of its agreements with Renault and Volvo, seen in the 504 coupé and convertible at the Paris Motor Show. 1975 Peugeot unveils its top of the range 604 saloon at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Construction of the Bavans technical centre close to Montbéliard, to carry out research and trials into motor car exhaust and anti-pollution systems.
A plant is built in Kaduna, Nigeria. The 604 V6 coupe is launched. 153,252 units are produced before its 1986 phase-out. Compiled and Authored by
PEUGEOT PETE
peugpete@aol.com
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