Peugeot Type 7
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1810 |
| Headquarters | Sochaux , France |
The Peugeot Type 7 was constructed using the identical chassis as the Peugeot Type 6 and incorporated several shared mechanical parts, yet it was equipped with an engine that was double the displacement and power. This model featured a phaeton-style body designed to accommodate four passengers. Production totaled 25 units between 1894 and 1897. Its 1.3 L V-twin Daimler engine was subsequently utilized in the Peugeot Type 8.
Description
Equipped with a rear-positioned 1,282 cc V-twin Daimler engine, the vehicle delivered an output of 3.7 hp. The cooling system included a radiator mounted at the front, with coolant circulating through tubing integrated into the chassis. Power transfer occurred through a cone clutch connected to a four-speed transmission, with chains driving the rear axle. The car was available with either steel wire wheels fitted with rubber tires or traditional wooden wheels. Weighing around 650 kg, it could reach a maximum speed of 18 to 20 km/h.
Competition
In 1894, Peugeot participated in the Le Petit Journal Competition for Horseless Carriages, which ran from Paris to Rouen, entering multiple Type 5 and Type 7 vehicles. Albert Lemaître’s Type 7 phaeton was the first petrol-driven automobile to complete the course, finishing just after Jules-Albert de Dion’s steam-powered tractor.
The following year, a Peugeot Type 7 piloted by Paul Koechlin alongside mechanic Rubichon secured victory in the Paris–Bordeaux–Paris race, underscoring Peugeot's early achievements in motor racing competitions.