Peugeot Quadrilette

Peugeot Quadrilette
Manufacturer Peugeot
Also called Peugeot Type 161
Peugeot Type 172
Production 1921-1924
12,305 produced
Predecessor Peugeot Bébé
Successor Peugeot 5CV
Class Supermini
Layout FR layout
Engine 667 cc I4
720 cc I4
Transmission 3-speed manual

Peugeot Quadrilette is the popular name for the Peugeot Type 161 and Peugeot Type 172 and associated models produced between 1921 and 1924.

Type 161

Peugeot created the Type 161 to reverse its financial woes following the First World War. It was a cheap, practical, very small economy car and was nicknamed the Quadrilette when shown at the 1920 Brussels Motor Show. It was available for sale in 1921. In order to put it into the minimal tax bracket (that of cyclecars, for whom the tax was 100 francs annually, the 4-cycle, 4-cylinder water-cooled engine displaced a mere 667 cc and produced 9.5 horsepower (7.1 kW). Taking advantage of this small power output was a very lightweight body, under 350 kilograms (770 lb). The vehicle's width was so diminutive that the two seats were placed in tandem, not side-by-side. Later in 1921, the Type 161E was introduced with side-by-side seats, the passenger seat slightly back to allow the driver room to operate the pedals. The car retailed for 9900 francs with top, acetylene lights, and spare tire, 9400 francs without. Fuel economy was highly impressive at 5.0 L/100 km (45 miles per US gallon or 56 miles per Imperial gallon). Top speed was 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph).

Type 172

In 1923, modifications to the Quadrilette resulted in the Type 172. The track was widened so that the two seats could be placed abreast, improving comfort and space. Though the wheelbase was shortened, luggage room was more plentiful because there were no longer two rows of seats. The engine remained the same and weight was kept low. A special edition of the Type 172, known as the Type 172 BS or Quadrilette Grand Sport had an enlargened 720 cc engine with slightly more power.

Production

Total figures for the Quadrilette amounted to 12,305 over three years, which was 31% of Peugeot's vehicle production for that time period. Confusingly, models of the Type 172 were attached both to the Quadrilette's nameplate and to that of its successor, the Peugeot 5CV. The Quadrilette and 5CV were sold side-by-side in 1924, after which Quadrilette production ceased.

Models and Production
Model Year Production
Type 161 1921–1922 3,500
Type 172 1923–1924 8,705
Type 172 BS 1924 100

References

http://quadrilette.reseaulocal.fr/

Type 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s
9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
Supermini 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 6/7 / 8 21 / 24 / 30 / 31 37 54 57 69 "Bébé" B P1/ B3/P1 "Bébé"¹ 161/172 "Quadrilette" 5CV 190
26 / 27 / 28 48 126 201 202
Small
family car		 14 / 15 / 25 56 58 68 VA/VC/VY¹ V2C/V2Y¹ VD/VD2¹ 159 163 301 302
33 / 36 63 99 108 118 125 173 / 177/ 181/ 183
Family
car		 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 16 / 17 / 19 / 32 49/50 65/67 77 78 88 127 143 153 153 B/BR 176 401 402
18 39 61 71 81 96 106 116 126 138 175
Large
family car		 23 42/43/44 62 72 82 92 104 112/117/ 122/130/134 139 145/146/148 174 / 184 601
66 76 83 93 135 156
Executive
car		 80 103 113 141 147/150
85 95 105
Cabriolet
/ Spider		 91 101/120 133 / 111/129/131 136 144
Panel van 13 22 34/35
Minibus 20 / 29 107
1: These cars were marketed as "Lion-Peugeots", produced by what was till 1910 a separate Peugeot company, run by cousins of Armand Peugeot, then in charge of the principal automobile business.

In 1910, Armand having no sons of his own, it was agreed that the two branches of the Peugeot business be reunited.