1921 Peugeot 161 Quadrilette 

Word on the street is that Peugeot is planning to return to the U.S. market in 2026.  The French company which started as a bicycle company that produced its first 3 wheeled steam powered car in 1889, hasn't sold cars in the United States since 1991.  If you have any recollection of the brand at all, it is probably the model 504 which was somewhat popular in the 70's, followed by the better received 505 of the late 70's and early 80's.  They are a rare sight today and experts estimate there may be only a few thousand road worthy Peugeots on U.S. roads today. 

For consignment, a 1921 Peugeot 161 which was imported to the U.S. in unrestored condition in 2009.  It has undergone some restoration with numerous rebuilt parts, some fabricated items, and many hours of TLC.   As our consignor says, "he hopes the new owner enjoys the full completion of a never ending job".  So if you're a collector or enthusiast with an affinity for early French cars, it doesn't get rarer than this one.  

Exterior
The flat body panels and doors of the car are painted Dark Moss Green while the fenders, connected by a running board, are painted black.  The brass grille and Britten's Brass Works headlights provide a nice contrast and the black canvas canopy, fabricated with the use of period photographs, provides some protection from sun and rain.  The wire spoke wheels, per our consignor, were professionally re-spoked and painted, and new tires and tubes were mounted.  Interestingly, the car uses vintage motorcycle tires.  The rear of the car is decidedly boat shaped and has a useful, deep trunk.  An Oogah horn is well within reach of the driver.  The entire car is small and narrow by today's standards, think of it as an antique compact. 

Interior
This is a two passenger car and like many early French cars, the seating arrangement is somewhat unconventional by today's standards.  The driver sits on the right side while the passenger is further back on the left.  Like the top, the leather seats were recreated based on photographic data and are in great shape.  A four spoke, wood rimmed steering wheel sits upright tied to a simple wood dash with Peugeot brass plate and not much else.  The shifter is to the driver's right and is floor mounted and the footwell houses the pedals as well as the transmission and driveshaft hump and housing for gear linkage.   A small gas tank is in this area as well.  Behind the driver, a handy storage bin accessible by the passenger while driving.  The canvas top is supported by wood braces which are in very good condition. 

Drivetrain
The Peugeot is powered by a 667cc L-head 4 cylinder engine fed by a 1-barrel carburetor and tied to a 3-speed manual transmission.  Our consignor states that the magneto and radiator were both professionally rebuilt and that the engine retains its original valves, rods, and aluminum pistons.  The brake pads of the mechanical drum brakes have been replaced and adjusted.  The original clutch throw out assembly has been jerry rigged and may need attention to bring it to original condition, but the consignor was unable to find historic reference to create a replica.  

Undercarriage
Clean and simple, more akin to a horse carriage than a modern car.  The driveshaft, axles, oil pan, and attached components hang below the flat floorboards and the single exhaust and its stock style muffler are suspended a bit lower, exiting under the car.  Everything is clean and accessible without a jack or lift.  Quarter elliptical leaf springs are found at both ends.  

Drive-Ability
No key fob pushbutton here.  There's a laundry list of careful procedures to go over to start the car, but eventually we were cleared for takeoff.  Eleven horsepower doesn't sound like much, but in 1921 this was considered decent power and there weren't any highways to elicit the need for high speed.  As such, the car rolls along very well feeling almost like the amusement park rides you remember as a kid.  Only there's no center track to keep you straight with this car, which turns well on those big skinny wheels and stops even better with the new brakes. 

This is a rare ride from a maker that still exists and produces cars, more than 100 years later!  There may not be many Peugeot enthusiasts out there, but French cars in general, including Citroen and Renault do have a niche following that might provide avenues of assistance if further restoration is in your wheelhouse.  Certainly, if Peugeot comes back to the U.S., this would be an incredible showroom piece at a dealership and it is already museum worthy due to its rarity. 

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.

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