Peugeot Type 2
Encyclopedia
The Peugeot Type 2 is the first petrol/gasoline powered motor vehicle produced between 1890 and 1891 by the French
auto-maker Peugeot
at their Valentigney
plant. The car was presented just two years after Armand Peugeot
had split away from the Peugeot family business in order to concentrate on cars, with a separate Peugeot Automobiles
business.
In 1889 Peugeot
attended that year's Paris Universal Exhibition, where he was demonstrating four of his Peugeot Type 1 prototypes, which were powered by steam engines (from Léon Serpollet). The Type 1 received a tepid reception, and Peugeot was already aware of the limitations arising from the vibration profile and sheer weight of a steam engine in this type of car-sized powered vehicle.
The visit to the exhibition was not wasted, however, as he also came across the revolutionary invention of Gottlieb Daimler
, a reciprocating combustion engine
powered by petrol/gasoline
. As soon as the exhibition was over Daimler arranged for his engine to be assembled in France by Panhard et Levassor of Paris
and came to an agreement with Peugeot for the construction of a quadricycle to take the revolutionary power unit. Peugeot was also able to negotiate with the widow of Edouard Sarazin. Sarazin's acquisition, before he died, of the rights to manufacture the Daimler combustion engine in France, made his widow, Louise, a key figure in the early life of the motor industry in France, which would be the world's top auto producing nation till out-produced by the USA in 1906.
Approximately a year after Armand Peugeot's eventful visit top Paris, the Peugeot Type 2 appeared, to be followed by the Type 3, which events together marked the inauguration of the Peugeot automobile business.
The Peugeot Type 2 was powered by a two cylinder four stroke V-format petrol/gasoline engine, assembled under licence from Daimler. The engine was mounted underneath the seat, above and slightly ahead of the rear axle to which it was linked by a chain-drive. 2 hp of power was provided from the 565 cm³ unit. A maximum speed of 18 km/h (11 mph) was recorded. Cooling being then as now a challenge in a combustion engine, the Type 2's engine incorporated tubes filled with water, adumbrating the radiator that would be an essential feature of many combustion engines in the ensuing centuries.
A wheelbase of 1400mm supported a vehicle length of 2300 mm. The width and height were respectively 1350 mm and 1450 mm. A rudimentary suspension system pointed the way ahead regarding what would become another main-stream, feature of the motor car.
The main Peugeot business was, at this time, expanding rapidly its bicycle production, and the Type 2’s light weight may have incorporated lessons learned from cycle production. Four Type 2s were produced. Three were quadricycles while the fourth was a tricycle. They all had space for two on the bench above the engine.
, editor of the Paris
daily newspaper, Le Petit Journal
. Peugeot was keen to attract media coverage for his creation and Giffard was already established as an effective media advocate for wheeled transport.
Peugeot covered a distance of 2045 km (1,270.7 mi), following first the course of the race and then a run from Valentigney
(near Sochaux
) to Brest via Paris. His speed, achieved long before the creation of a national network of tailored motor roads, average 14 km/h (9 mph).
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
auto-maker 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...
at their Valentigney
Valentigney
Valentigney is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.Valentigney is best known as the place where Peugeot began operations; several members of the Peugeot family still live in the area....
plant. The car was presented just two years after Armand Peugeot
Armand Peugeot
Armand Peugeot was a French industrialist, pioneer of the automobile industry and the founder of the French firm Peugeot.-Family:...
had split away from the Peugeot family business in order to concentrate on cars, with a separate Peugeot Automobiles
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...
business.
In 1889 Peugeot
Armand Peugeot
Armand Peugeot was a French industrialist, pioneer of the automobile industry and the founder of the French firm Peugeot.-Family:...
attended that year's Paris Universal Exhibition, where he was demonstrating four of his Peugeot Type 1 prototypes, which were powered by steam engines (from Léon Serpollet). The Type 1 received a tepid reception, and Peugeot was already aware of the limitations arising from the vibration profile and sheer weight of a steam engine in this type of car-sized powered vehicle.
The visit to the exhibition was not wasted, however, as he also came across the revolutionary invention of Gottlieb Daimler
Gottlieb Daimler
Gottlieb Daimler was an engineer, industrial designer and industrialist born in Schorndorf , in what is now Germany. He was a pioneer of internal-combustion engines and automobile development...
, a reciprocating combustion engine
Reciprocating engine
A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common features of all types...
powered by petrol/gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
. As soon as the exhibition was over Daimler arranged for his engine to be assembled in France by Panhard et Levassor of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and came to an agreement with Peugeot for the construction of a quadricycle to take the revolutionary power unit. Peugeot was also able to negotiate with the widow of Edouard Sarazin. Sarazin's acquisition, before he died, of the rights to manufacture the Daimler combustion engine in France, made his widow, Louise, a key figure in the early life of the motor industry in France, which would be the world's top auto producing nation till out-produced by the USA in 1906.
Approximately a year after Armand Peugeot's eventful visit top Paris, the Peugeot Type 2 appeared, to be followed by the Type 3, which events together marked the inauguration of the Peugeot automobile business.
The Peugeot Type 2 was powered by a two cylinder four stroke V-format petrol/gasoline engine, assembled under licence from Daimler. The engine was mounted underneath the seat, above and slightly ahead of the rear axle to which it was linked by a chain-drive. 2 hp of power was provided from the 565 cm³ unit. A maximum speed of 18 km/h (11 mph) was recorded. Cooling being then as now a challenge in a combustion engine, the Type 2's engine incorporated tubes filled with water, adumbrating the radiator that would be an essential feature of many combustion engines in the ensuing centuries.
A wheelbase of 1400mm supported a vehicle length of 2300 mm. The width and height were respectively 1350 mm and 1450 mm. A rudimentary suspension system pointed the way ahead regarding what would become another main-stream, feature of the motor car.
The main Peugeot business was, at this time, expanding rapidly its bicycle production, and the Type 2’s light weight may have incorporated lessons learned from cycle production. Four Type 2s were produced. Three were quadricycles while the fourth was a tricycle. They all had space for two on the bench above the engine.
Marketing
In 1891 Armand Peugeot personally participated with a Peugeot Type 2 in the first Paris–Brest–Paris cycle marathon which had been organised by Pierre GiffardPierre Giffard
Pierre Giffard was a French journalist, a pioneer of modern political reporting, a newspaper publisher and a prolific sports organiser...
, editor of the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
daily newspaper, Le Petit Journal
Le Petit Journal
Le Petit Journal was a daily Parisian newspaper published from 1863 to 1944. It was founded by Moïse Polydore Millaud. In its columns were published several serial novels of Émile Gaboriau and of Ponson du Terrail.- Publishing :...
. Peugeot was keen to attract media coverage for his creation and Giffard was already established as an effective media advocate for wheeled transport.
Peugeot covered a distance of 2045 km (1,270.7 mi), following first the course of the race and then a run from Valentigney
Valentigney
Valentigney is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.Valentigney is best known as the place where Peugeot began operations; several members of the Peugeot family still live in the area....
(near Sochaux
Sochaux
Sochaux is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:Inhabitants are known as Sochaliens.-Economy:...
) to Brest via Paris. His speed, achieved long before the creation of a national network of tailored motor roads, average 14 km/h (9 mph).
Sources and further reading
- Wolfgang Schmarbeck: Alle Peugeot Automobile 1890-1990. Motorbuch-Verlag. Stuttgart 1990. ISBN 3-613-01351-7