1913 Peugeot 3 Litre

Mechanical engineer, Ernest Henry, was known for building racing engines and his work for Peugeot and Ballot. His ideas and designs were technically advanced and the precursor of modern engines.

Henry studied Applied Mechanics at Technicum in Geneva, following by working on marine engines in 1906 for Picker of Geneva. In 1909, he moved to Paris, serving the Motos Labor manufacturing company, before joining Peugeot in 1911. One of Henry's earliest projects at Peugeot was to challenge the idea of building bigger and bigger engines. In 1912 a 7.6 liter Peugeot was able to outpace a 15-liter Fiat in the French Grand Prix. The engine featured twin camshafts operating four inclined valves per cylinder.

For 1913, Peugeot created a 5.65 liter car for Grand Prix competition and 3 liter form for voiturette racing, and again they were victorious. At Indianapolis, Peugeot entered a 5.65 liter car while a 3.0 liter example was privately entered by Jacques Menier of the French chocolate family. The car surprised reports and spectators when it broke the Indy lap record at 99.85 mph.

The advanced design of the Ernest Henry allowed was the first to combine 4 valves per cylinder and dual overhead cam head designs. The powerful, low displacement engines were lightweight, and the chassis were also much lighter than the larger displacement vehicles, allowing for better performance and maneuverability. The engine design had a last influence on the racing community.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2014