1912 PEUGEOT BÉBÉ 6HP TYPE BP1 TWO SEATER Registration No. SA 1100 Chassis No. 10112 Engine No. 10222 Light blue Engine: four cylinder monobloc, 55 x 90mm, 856cc, T-head, water-cooled, magneto ignition; Gearbox: two speed transmission by concentric propeller shafts to double bevel-geared back axle, with reverse, cone clutch; Suspension: front, semi-elliptic leaf springs, rear, reversed quarter-elliptic leaf springs springs; Brakes: rear wheel and transmission brakes. Wire wheels. Right hand drive. The pocket-sized Peugeot Bébé always attracts attention both on account of its diminutive aspect, and because it was designed by Ettore Bugatti It should not be overlooked though that it was made to impeccable engineering standards by the long-established Peugeot company that had been producing motorcars since 1890. The Bébé was introduced in October 1912 and built in the Beaulieu factory, where Lion-Peugeots had previously been made. Records show that a total of 3,065 cars had been sold when production ceased early in 1916. At the time of the 1913 Paris Show The Light Car and Cyclecar reported: 'The tiny Baby Peugeot which is already a great favourite on the Continent for running about town is fitted with a three-speed gear for next season. … During our visit to the Salon we noticed more Baby-Peugeots on the road than any other make of miniature car or cyclecar. They seemed extra-ordinarily tractable in the Paris traffic.' Kent Karslake who owned a Bébé in the early 1950s and wrote about it in that excellent motoring history book From Veteran to Vintage agreed that the car was tractable and highly practical, with a top speed of about 35mph, but drew attention to a weakness that he perceived: 'any connoisseur who thinks that Ettore Bugatti never designed a chassis which did not steer perfectly ought just to try a Bébé Peugeot if he wishes to be disillusioned. The car has no directional stability whatsoever and one holds a straight line by main force and ceaseless vigilance.' Certainly the steering is very direct, but one wonders if the Karslake car was not more than a little tired and really needed its suspension and steering bushes renewing. Over thirty examples are recorded as surviving worldwide, with half a dozen or so in the UK, where the Bugatti Owners' Club keeps a fatherly eye on them. This example appears to have the lowest Car Number of any surviving example and is presumably the 112th example built as numbering started at 10001. The Engine Number is correct to not match interior and hood, but appears otherwise all together. interior and hood, but appears otherwise all together. interior and hood, but appears otherwise all together. interior and hood, but appears otherwise all together.
1912 PEUGEOT BÉBÉ 6HP TYPE BP1 TWO SEATER Registration No. SA 1100 Chassis No. 10112 Engine No. 10222 Light blue Engine: four cylinder monobloc, 55 x 90mm, 856cc, T-head, water-cooled, magneto ignition; Gearbox: two speed transmission by concentric propeller shafts to double bevel-geared back axle, with reverse, cone clutch; Suspension: front, semi-elliptic leaf springs, rear, reversed quarter-elliptic leaf springs springs; Brakes: rear wheel and transmission brakes. Wire wheels. Right hand drive. The pocket-sized Peugeot Bébé always attracts attention both on account of its diminutive aspect, and because it was designed by Ettore Bugatti It should not be overlooked though that it was made to impeccable engineering standards by the long-established Peugeot company that had been producing motorcars since 1890. The Bébé was introduced in October 1912 and built in the Beaulieu factory, where Lion-Peugeots had previously been made. Records show that a total of 3,065 cars had been sold when production ceased early in 1916. At the time of the 1913 Paris Show The Light Car and Cyclecar reported: 'The tiny Baby Peugeot which is already a great favourite on the Continent for running about town is fitted with a three-speed gear for next season. … During our visit to the Salon we noticed more Baby-Peugeots on the road than any other make of miniature car or cyclecar. They seemed extra-ordinarily tractable in the Paris traffic.' Kent Karslake who owned a Bébé in the early 1950s and wrote about it in that excellent motoring history book From Veteran to Vintage agreed that the car was tractable and highly practical, with a top speed of about 35mph, but drew attention to a weakness that he perceived: 'any connoisseur who thinks that Ettore Bugatti never designed a chassis which did not steer perfectly ought just to try a Bébé Peugeot if he wishes to be disillusioned. The car has no directional stability whatsoever and one holds a straight line by main force and ceaseless vigilance.' Certainly the steering is very direct, but one wonders if the Karslake car was not more than a little tired and really needed its suspension and steering bushes renewing. Over thirty examples are recorded as surviving worldwide, with half a dozen or so in the UK, where the Bugatti Owners' Club keeps a fatherly eye on them. This example appears to have the lowest Car Number of any surviving example and is presumably the 112th example built as numbering started at 10001. The Engine Number is correct to not match interior and hood, but appears otherwise all together. interior and hood, but appears otherwise all together. interior and hood, but appears otherwise all together. interior and hood, but appears otherwise all together.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
