Peugeot 301
Encyclopedia
The Peugeot 301 is mid-size four cylinder engined automobile produced by Peugeot
between 1932 and 1936.
It is also the name of the car which will replace the Peugeot 308
in the mid-2010s, since 309
has already been used for a previous model.
The original 301 can be seen as a belated replacement for the Peugeot 177, although the 177 had not been offered for sale since 1928: the 301 can therefore also be seen as a return by Peugeot to a market segment which it had in recent years left to other auto-producers. The much more modern looking Peugeot 302
, introduced in 1936, replaced the 301.
lines after the summer break of 1933 was fractionally less boxy, but the principal change to the look of the saloon came with the introduction in 1934 of the 301D. This was still a six light saloon, but now featured a sloping tail which cautiously adumbrated the streamlining of the Peugeot 402
and 302
which appeared during the next two years.
It is clear that a wide range of four door bodied 301s constructed on the same standard chassis were also produced. There were in addition various two door versions which in modern parlance would be described as coupes and cabriolets.
Also offered was the 301T a commodious looking commercial version with a tall boxy van body replacing the usual passenger cabin section directly behind the B pillar.
remained.
, originally introduced in 1929. The rear wheels were driven via a three speed manual transmission. There was no synchromesh.
The drum brakes were cable operated. The lights, controlled from a knob in the middle of the steering column, operated on a twelve volt electrical system.
, and in this context sales of approximately 70,000 during a four year model run were more than respectable.
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
between 1932 and 1936.
It is also the name of the car which will replace the Peugeot 308
Peugeot 308
The Peugeot 308 is a small family car produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot. It was unveiled on June 5, 2007 and sales started from September 2007. Its development code was "Project T7", and is the first car of the X08 generation of Peugeot models. The 308 features a range of petrol and...
in the mid-2010s, since 309
Peugeot 309
The Peugeot 309 was a small family car manufactured between 1985 and 1993 in England and France.The 309 was originally intended to be badged as a Talbot and, as development progressed, to be called the Talbot Arizona...
has already been used for a previous model.
The original 301 can be seen as a belated replacement for the Peugeot 177, although the 177 had not been offered for sale since 1928: the 301 can therefore also be seen as a return by Peugeot to a market segment which it had in recent years left to other auto-producers. The much more modern looking Peugeot 302
Peugeot 302
The Peugeot 302 is a mid-weight saloon introduced in 1936 Paris Motor Show by Peugeot and sold until 1938.-Background:The 302 was effectively a shortened version of the Peugeot 402 with a smaller engine...
, introduced in 1936, replaced the 301.
The body
The 301C saloon produced in 1932 and 1933 featured a six light (three windows on each side) four door boxy body, with space at the back for a separate luggage box / trunk. Slightly longer boded versions without the separate luggage box were also available. The 301 CR introduced to the SochauxSochaux
Sochaux is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:Inhabitants are known as Sochaliens.-Economy:...
lines after the summer break of 1933 was fractionally less boxy, but the principal change to the look of the saloon came with the introduction in 1934 of the 301D. This was still a six light saloon, but now featured a sloping tail which cautiously adumbrated the streamlining of the Peugeot 402
Peugeot 402
The Peugeot 402 is a family car produced in Sochaux, France from 1935 to 1942 by Peugeot. It was unveiled in Paris Motor Show in 1935, replacing the Peugeot 401....
and 302
Peugeot 302
The Peugeot 302 is a mid-weight saloon introduced in 1936 Paris Motor Show by Peugeot and sold until 1938.-Background:The 302 was effectively a shortened version of the Peugeot 402 with a smaller engine...
which appeared during the next two years.
It is clear that a wide range of four door bodied 301s constructed on the same standard chassis were also produced. There were in addition various two door versions which in modern parlance would be described as coupes and cabriolets.
Also offered was the 301T a commodious looking commercial version with a tall boxy van body replacing the usual passenger cabin section directly behind the B pillar.
The engine
Because of the way the shapes of the Peugeot 301 changed during its model life, it may be tempting to see it as a series of different models. However, the name ‘301’ remained constant as did the configuration of the engine which was a four cylinder water cooled unit of 1465 cc. A maximum output of 35 bhp at 4000 rpm was stated for the 301D, with passenger car maximum speeds of between 80 km/h (50 mph) and 100 km/h (62 mph) according to body type. For the much taller 301 van the maximum did not exceed 70 km/h (44 mph). An electric starter motor was included, although, as was normal at the time, provision for manual crankingCrank (mechanism)
A crank is an arm attached at right angles to a rotating shaft by which reciprocating motion is imparted to or received from the shaft. It is used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. The arm may be a bent portion of the shaft, or a separate arm...
remained.
Technical
The 301 was based on the underpinnings of the commercially more successful Peugeot 201Peugeot 201
The Peugeot 201 is a car that Peugeot produced between 1929 and 1937.The car was built at the company's Sochaux plant near the Swiss frontier, and is today celebrated in the adjacent Peugeot museum...
, originally introduced in 1929. The rear wheels were driven via a three speed manual transmission. There was no synchromesh.
The drum brakes were cable operated. The lights, controlled from a knob in the middle of the steering column, operated on a twelve volt electrical system.
Innovative suspension
The 301 was fitted with independent front suspension: it was one of the first volume produced cars to be thus equipped from launch, and benefited from exceptionally good road holding as well as greatly reduced vibration from the steering column by the standards of the time. Leaf springs at the rear were in line with contemporary practice.Commercial
The 301 competed in the 8 hp class in terms of fiscal horsepowerTax horsepower
The tax horsepower or taxable horsepower was an early system by which taxation rates for automobiles were reckoned in some European countries, such as Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, and Italy; some US states like Illinois charged license plate purchase and renewal fees for passenger...
, and in this context sales of approximately 70,000 during a four year model run were more than respectable.
Sources and further reading
- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding French Wikipedia article as of 2008-03-16 .