Beschreibung:

Still suffering from the financial woes inflicted upon it by World War One, Peugeot sought to increase sales by concocting a neat cyclecar design that fell within France's lowest 100 Francs per annum tax bracket. Unveiled at the 1920 Brussels Salon, the resultant Type 161 (quickly christened the Quadrilette) weighed less than 350kg yet featured a water-cooled 667cc sidevalve four-cylinder engine, three-speed transaxle, supple leaf-sprung suspension and rear wheel brakes. Very much a full-size car in miniature, and therefore appealing to the same market as the Austin 7 in Britain, early Quadrilettes were characterised by their narrow track and tandem seating. Incorporating more space for people and luggage alike, the wider tracked Type 172 arrived during 1923 (complete with two abreast seating). Among the rarest Quadrilette variants, the Type 172 BS or Grand Sport was powered by an enlarged 720cc engine. Aimed at the sporting motorist, its sleek torpedo coachwork was typically teamed with blade wings. Very much in the same idiom as the Austin 7 Ulster and Amilcar CGS `Grand Sport', the Peugeot was rarer than either. Only available for 1924, just 100 Type 172 BS Grand Sports were made. Originally registered in France (or so an accompanying Permis de Circulation from 1933 which identifies it as a Type 172 BS would suggest), this delightful Grand Sport has more recently been resident in Belgium where it wore the number plate `OA1767' and was the property of Daniel Vanhoolant. Understood to have participated in numerous `Ecurie Les Trapadelles' events and still bearing the Club's name to its cowl, the Peugeot also wears a Veteran Car Club of Belgium plate confirming its year of manufacture. Self-evidently the subject of much past restoration work, the Grand Sport has been discretely modified with a propshaft-driven alternator, electric cooling fan and electronic ignition (hidden within the magneto). PLEASE NOTE: All estimates are subject to a buyer's premium of 15% incl. VAT (@ 20%)