PEUGEOT - Bi-cycles to Cars

Peugeot (Pronounced as P-ew-sz-oh) was an industrial empire by early 1800s. In 1882, Armand Peugeot (1849 – 1915) along with his cousin Eugene Peugeot decided expand in to Bi-cycle manufacture. By 1889 , they produced tri-cycle steam car called Type 1. With some innovative boiler design by the then famous steam engineer , Serpollet , the size of the engine could be reduced.

1889 - Type 1 steam car

By the next year , Armand Peugeot was convinced by Emile Levassor that he should use Daimler engine in his cars. In 1891 , Peugeot introduced the Type 2 , fitted with Daimler IC engine.

1890/91 - Type 2 IC engine car

In 1895, Peugeot fitted Michelin solid rubber tyres in their racecars and in 1896 started manufacturing their own engines. With Eugene Peugeot moving out the company was renamed as Societe Anonyme des Automobiles Peugeot. Peugeot continued to build cars & bicycles with the likes of Ettore Bugatti designing racing cars & engines.

Some of the most famous Peugeot cars were Peugeot 205 & Peugeot 504, which were sold in large numbers across the globe.

The LION logo of Peugeot was created in 1858 and has undergone many changes - Below are the 1858 and the 2010 logos.

Peugeot is known for innovation and were one of the pioneers on the use of Diesel engines for Passenger cars. In the year 2011 , they introduced the World's first Diesel- Hybrid - 3008 HYbrid4 car with the innovative concept of Diesel engine driving the front wheels and Electric motor driving the rear wheels.

In 1974/75, they took over Citroen and the group was renamed as PSA (Peugeot Societe Anonyme). In 1978, they took over Chrysler , Europe (formerly Clement-Bayard, Talbot, Rootes & Simca) and branded those cars as Talbot.

Peugeot continues to one the Top 10 vehicle manufacturer in the world today.

PANHARD and LEVASSOR - Father(s) of Modern Automobile ?

Louis Francois Rene Panhard ( 1841 - 1908 ) and Emile Levassor (1843 - 1897) formed a car making company in 1887 with the engine licensed from Daimler.

In 1890 , they produced their first car powered by a 2 cylinder Daimler engine, mounted in the middle.

In 1891 , they produced the next car with a completely new layout , with the engine & radiator in the front , driving the rear wheels through a clutch and transmission. This layout became the standard architecture for the automobile for the next 100 years, called the Systeme Panhard.

The logo of Panhard et Levassor

Panhard and Levassor has been involved in many automotive innovations including using the famed Sleeve Valve, Kinight engines in their cars in the 1920s. Another major innovation was the invention of the track bar to locate the rear axle in multi-link suspension designs, aptly called the Panhard rod.

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Panhard & Levassor was taken cover by Citroen in 1965 and the car brand was retired in 1968. One of the last cars made by Panhard & Levassor was a Panhard 24 CT.

Panhard & Levassor continued to make tactical & military equipment for the French Army and was merged with PSA group when Peugeot took over control of Citroen during 1974 . In 2005, Panhard was acquired by Auverland, another major military equipment manufacturer and the Panhard name lives on.