1904 Peugeot Type 57 5hp Two-Seater
WITHDRAWN

Registration No: BS 8471
Chassis No: 5189PL
MOT: Exempt

• One of just a small handful of Type 57 Peugeots left in existence
• Known to and dated by the Veteran Car Club
• London to Brighton entrant on 13 occasions between 2007 and 2021

Very few car-makers in the world today have such an illustrious history as Peugeot. As Les Fils de Peugeot Frères, its first car was produced in 1889—this was a steam-powered three-wheeler developed in conjunction with Léon Serpollet, but by 1891 its interest had shifted to building true horseless carriages with Daimler-designed internal-combustion vee-twins. These were some of the most accomplished products from the dawn of motoring, and they entered series production on a small scale. By successfully undertaking various long-distance driving feats, Peugeot established a good name for itself. Following the opening of a purpose-built car factory at Audincourt in 1897, Peugeots evolved rapidly, and by the time a second factory opened in Lille in 1902, the model range had grown quite extensive.

From this point, all proper car models (i.e. not quadricycles) would be built with front-mounted engines. The Type 54 Peugeot of 1903 was a small two-seater model which was among the first to combine a front engine, steering wheel and shaft-drive. Its relatively affordable price combined with a modern design made it Peugeot’s best-seller that year, with 250 produced. It used a 5hp single-cylinder engine of 632cc, with a coiled radiator and coal-scuttle bonnet. It preceded the Type 57 of 1904, which used the same engine but in conjunction with a honeycomb radiator and a squarer bonnet. It has been claimed that just 149 Type 57s were produced, before it was replaced in its turn by the Type 69 of 1905. Needless to say, very few survive.

Sadly, no history is known for this pretty little voiturette before November, 2007, when it was first registered with the DVLA and also participated in what was (as far as we know) its first London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, but it would appear that it was subject to a restoration immediately prior to its Brighton début. It continued to participate in the run on a total of thirteen occasions up to 2021, only missing the 2014 event (2020’s was cancelled under lockdown restrictions). Entered on every occasion by William or Tony Roberts, it continued to attend local old-car rallies until as recently as 2023, with one of its last outings being to the Faversham Festival of Transport in May, 2023.

As an additional point of interest, the Peugeot became a television star following its appearance on the Brighton Run in 2013. To mark the 100th episode of the motoring show Wheeler Dealers, it was decided that hosts Mike Brewer and Edd China should participate in the Veteran Car Run aboard the Haynes Motor Museum’s 1903 Darracq. While en route, they engaged in some Genevieve-style antics with the Peugeot which was broadcast during the eleventh series of Wheeler Dealers in 2014.

Sadly offered for sale from a deceased estate, the Peugeot will require some light recommissioning before use, but still appears in excellent order and promises to be a very pleasant Brighton Runner as soon as it is up and running again and comes with Brighton finishers' medals and current V5c document.

For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760