Peugeot Bébé

Peugeot Bébé

Manufacturer	Peugeot
Also called	Peugeot Type 69 Peugeot Type BP1
Production	1905-1916
Assembly	Audincourt Beaulieu
Predecessor	Peugeot Type 57
Successor	Peugeot Quadrilette
Class	Supermini
Layout	FR layout
Engine	652 cc single-cylinder 855 cc I4
Transmission	3-speed manual
Designer	Ettore Bugatti (Type BP1)

The Peugeot Bébé or Baby was a small car nameplate from Peugeot made from 1905 to 1916. Vehicles under this name were known technically within Peugeot as the Type 69 and the Type BP1.

Type 69

The original Bébé was presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1904 and stole the show as a modern and robust creation that was cheap, small, and practical. Its weight was 350 kilograms (770 lb) and length was 2.7 metres (110 in), and these tiny dimensions meant that its small engine could propel it to 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph). Though selling price was deliberately kept as low as possible, technologies like rack and pinion steering and a driveshaft instead of a chain were included in the vehicle. Production began in Audincourt in 1905, and the car proved to be popular. Bébé sold 400 units in the first year, or 80% of Peugeot's production. It was also exported, particularly to Britain. The Type 69 was sold until 1912.

Type BP1

The Type BP1 Bébé was a design by Ettore Bugatti, initially for the German car firm Wanderer, then also built under license by Peugeot for the French market. Peugeot displayed it under their marque at the Paris Motor Show in 1912. Production began in 1913 following discontinuation of the Type 69. Wanderer built their car with Bugatti's own 4-speed transmission, but in order to keep production costs down for the French version, Peugeot fitted a 2-speed gearbox initially, which was then replaced by their own 3-speed. The engine was also Peugeot's own, a tiny straight-4 that produced 10 horsepower (7.5 kW) at 2000 rpm, which gave the small car a top speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph). Weight was again below 350 kilograms (770 lb), though the track was wide enough for two to sit abreast. Bébé scored some racing success among small car classes, notably at Mont Ventoux in 1913, where it won in its class. This model ran until 1916, and a total of 3,095 were produced.

Third Generation

The third generation of the Peugeot Bébé is currently in the phase of development by the Russian design studio ZerDo Design which is a part of the also Russian small series automaker Retro-STYLE Garage. The launch of the new model is approximately expected for the year 2020.

References

• Bébé Type 69
• Bébé Type BP 1
• Peugeot car models from 1910-1949