The Peugeot Type 19 "Bébé" is a cute little two-seater designed by Ettore Bugatti on order from Peugeot. A longer four seat version was also designed, but it was never built (one chassis exists, though). These two models were designated Type 19 (two seater) and Type 20 (four seater) by Bugatti.
Peugeot manufactured only the short car ("Type 19"), but with great success, using their already established BéBé model-name. 3095 cars where produced between 1913 and 1916. There where two versions of Peugeot BéBé: BP1 (two-speed gearbox) and B3P1 (three-speed gearbox,1914-1916). The BP1 costed in 1913 FF4000, while the B3P1 was priced at FF4250. Bugatti's Type 19 prototype reportedly had a 5-speed gearbox!
The Peugeot BéBé had the smallest car engine ever produced at the time, with its 855cc.
The car is a fine display of Ettore's love for small car, his own factory originaly aiming at building smaller more fun cars than the noisy monsters of the period.
The BéBé is regarded as a significant inspiration for the Austin Seven, the European answer to the Model T.
Technical Data[]
- Engine: Water-cooled, 855 cc, straight-4, L-head, with gravity-drip lubrication system
- Power: 10 hp at 2000 rpm (another source says 6 hp)
- Gears: BP1, two; B3P1, three
- Top speed: 60 km/h
- Size: 257 cm long, 123 cm wide, 156 cm high
- Weight: 405 kg (another source says 350 kg)
