Footnotes

"The Peugeot is the French car that still maintains its excellence and is the only firm of long- standing repute still manufacturing two-cylinder engined cars and with a range of models from 8 hp to 50 hp ... it is made apparent that the Peugeot cars are fully worthy of the high place they have taken in the motor world." - Max Pemberton. The Amateur Motorist, 1907.

Established producers of tools, coffee mills, umbrella spikes and corsetry, Peugeot commenced its long-standing connection with wheeled transport in 1885 when it added cycle manufacture to its portfolio. Among the world's oldest surviving motor manufacturers, the company commenced car production in 1889 with a steam-powered tri-car but soon abandoned steam in favour of the internal combustion engine to Daimler design, building a succession of ever larger automobiles before introducing the first of its famous Bébé light cars in 1900. Step by step Peugeot modernised its designs, adopting the steering wheel in 1901 on the Type 36 and front-mounted engines on all of its new models in 1902. From that time forward Peugeot unashamedly copied the Mercedes style in miniature. Singles, twins and four-cylinder cars were produced at this time, some with chain and others with shaft drive, the latter becoming universal after 1909.

This car's early history is recorded in the Peugeot factory records, which show that it was delivered on 16th July 1898 to a customer (name not recorded) in the Muriac region of France. However, it seems that this car received special attention as evidenced by the larger-than-usual number of nickel-plated parts in addition to Peugeot's liberal stamping of the car number on the chassis, body, and various other components, including some nuts and bolts. These numbered parts were discovered during restoration, confirming the car's unusually high degree of originality, and are still in place today.

This Peugeot Type 15 has a horizontal 8hp twin-cylinder engine displacing approximately 2.2 litres, which drives via four-speeds-plus-reverse gearbox, making it an advanced design for the day. It also has an early form of governor-controlled 'cruise control', and we are advised that the hot tube ignition has never given any trouble. The Peugeot must have been well cared-for during its early life and subsequent storage, as by the 1950s, when the car came into the possession of the Museo di Rodo at Uzès in the Gard department of southern France, it was complete and un-restored. When the museum closed in the 1980s, the Peugeot was purchased at a London auction by Tony Smallbone.

From early 1990 to 1996, Tony carried out a full 'last nut and bolt' restoration retaining every original part possible. The finished car completed the 100-year celebration, London to Brighton Run in 1996 without a fault. It has successfully completed the run many times and is a past winner of the Regent Street Concours. Subsequently the Peugeot passed to Robin Loader and latterly to the present owner, both of whom have enjoyed numerous successful London to Brighton Runs (including several very early arrivals), many other Victorian events and Lac Leman runs. Tony Smallbone has continued to look after the car for the current vendor.

There is a substantial amount of paperwork with the car, including numerous invoices and photographs dating from when it was restored in the early 1990s, together with a VCC dating certificate, a V5C document, and plenty of marque-related information.

This Lot is available to view at 101 New Bond Street from Friday 28th October to Friday 4th November during normal business hours