Peugeot Type 172 R and Type VLV

Written by MotorMarques Team

The Peugeot Types 172 were part of the famous “Quadrillette” range, launched in 1920 and belonging to the class of cyclecars (less than 350 kg and 1109 cc and reduced taxation) Very economical and quickly popular, the “quadrillettes” attracted a clientele of young drivers but also seasoned motorists using it (already) as a second car.

To follow a market oriented towards less basic, more elegant and more comfortable cars, the quadrilette evolves in dimensions, equipment and power (but taking weight). In 1924 the real power of its 4-cylinder engine increased from 9.5 to 11.5 hp, and its displacement from 667 to 720 cc. Its maximum speed was about 65 km/h. It was therefore be more known as “5 CV Peugeot” Technically, the originality of these models is characterized by the adoption of a chassis consisting of a light platform made of folded sheet metal, the grouping at the rear in the same block of the gearbox (3 speeds) and the axle (without differential) Among the 27,119 examples produced at Sochaux, the type 172 R Grand Sport is a rare version. The red car pictured here participated in sporting events and after a second life in the hands of a collector, it recently entered the collection Musee de L'Aventure Peugeot in Sochaux.
The Peugeot VLV was an electric microcar made by Peugeot in 1942. During WWII, when motor fuel was generally unavailabe to non-military personnel, Peugeot made 377 of these steel-bodied electric cars. With their steel-chassis, cable brakes, and 48 volt batteries, they weighed 348 kg, and could carry two passengers at a top speed of 30 km/h and had a range of 50 miles (80 km). VLV stood for Voiture Légère de Ville (Light City Car). The car's announcement, on 1 May 1941, triggered some surprise, since Peugeot was the only one of France's large automakers to show interest in electric propulsion at this time. The car had two wheels at the front and two at the back.