1899 Peugeot Type 26

Peugeot was an early pioneer of the French motor industry, having sold its first petrol car in 1891. They were producers of coffee mills, tools, umbrella spikes, and corsetry before commencing with its wheeled transport in 1885 when it added cycle manufacture to its portfolio. Steam car production commenced in 1889 with a tri-car, but steam power was soon abandoned in favor of the internal combustion engine to Daimler design. In 1994, Peugeot entered a team of five specially-prepared automobiles for the world's first long-distance motoring competition, a reliability trial of 'voitures sans chevaux' from Paris to Rouen. The company's engineer Louis Rigoulot drove the number 27 entry, a Peugeot Type 5 powered by a rear-mounted Daimler vee-twin engine. All five of the Peugeot team finished, and were the highest-placed petrol cars. With an average speed of 9.1 mph, Rigoulot finished in 11th place. The organizing committee adjudged Peugeot to have shared the first prize of 5,000 francs (approximately £200) with Panhard-Levassor.

The designs of Peugeot automobiles were consistently updated and modernized, adopting the steering wheel in 1901 on the Type 36 and front-mounted engines on all of its new models in 1902. Singles, twins, and four-cylinder models were built, with some utilizing chain drive and others relying on shafts, the latter becoming universal after 1909.

The Peugeot Type 26

Peugeot produced the Type 26 from 1899 to 1902, with approximately 419 examples constructed. The two-cylinder, water-cooled engine produced around four horsepower with its engine mounted at the rear and powering the rear wheels via a chain drive. The Vis-a-Vis seating allowed for four passengers with the seats facing each other. Steering was by a crossbar, two-handled mechanism rather than a wheel or tiller.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2023