Peugeot 601
Encyclopedia
The Peugeot 601 was a range-topping car produced between 1934 and 1935 by Peugeot. The car was equipped with a six cylinder 2148 cc engine developing 60 hp at 3500 rpm. With limited power and relatively high weight the car could reach top speed of only 110 kilometre per hour. Like the other Peugeots of the era, the 601 was also equipped with independent front suspension
.
The 601 was produced in three different body styles. The first models came with Berlina body normale and aerodinamica versions, limousine, familiale, coupe and roadster. A cabriolet version was also available, which was over 5 metres (196.9 in) in length.
There was also special Eclipse body with electrical folding metal roof. The Eclipse was made by designer Georges Paulin
, the Darl'mat
and the coachbuilder Pourtout.
The sales figures of 601 were affected by the poor
performance of the engine. Regardless, considering the short life cycle of 601, 3999 copies was not considered a real failure.
The 601 was taken out of production in 1935, leaving a gap in Peugeot
's field of high-end cars that was filled only 40 years later with the arrival of the Peugeot 604
. This was also the next Peugeot car with an engine having more than four cylinders; the 601 was the final straight-6
-engined Peugeot, as the 604 was powered with a V6
.
Independent suspension
Independent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects...
.
The 601 was produced in three different body styles. The first models came with Berlina body normale and aerodinamica versions, limousine, familiale, coupe and roadster. A cabriolet version was also available, which was over 5 metres (196.9 in) in length.
There was also special Eclipse body with electrical folding metal roof. The Eclipse was made by designer Georges Paulin
Georges Paulin
Georges Paulin was a dentist, part-time automobile designer and hero of the French Resistance during the Second World War. He was born 1902 in a working class section of Paris....
, the Darl'mat
Darl'mat
Emile Darl'mat was the creator and owner of a Peugeot distributor with a car body business established at the rue de l'Université in Paris, France in 1923. In the 1930s the firm gained prominence as a low volume manufacturer of Peugeot based sports cars...
and the coachbuilder Pourtout.
The sales figures of 601 were affected by the poor
performance of the engine. Regardless, considering the short life cycle of 601, 3999 copies was not considered a real failure.
The 601 was taken out of production in 1935, leaving a gap in Peugeot
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...
's field of high-end cars that was filled only 40 years later with the arrival of the Peugeot 604
Peugeot 604
The Peugeot 604 is an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot from 1975 to 1985. 153,252 examples of the 604 were sold during its 10-year production life. It was made in France and also by Kia in Korea....
. This was also the next Peugeot car with an engine having more than four cylinders; the 601 was the final straight-6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
-engined Peugeot, as the 604 was powered with a V6
PRV engine
The PRV engine is an automobile petrol V6 engine that was developed jointly by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo Cars – and sold from 1974 to 1998. It was gradually replaced after 1994 by another joint PSA-Renault design, known as the ES engine at PSA and the L engine at Renault.-Corporate history:The...
.