1903 Peugeot 2hp Engine no. 1218 Formerly producers of tools,
coffee mills, umbrella spikes and corsetry, Peugeot commenced
its long-standing connection with transportation in the early
1880s when it added cycle manufacture to its portfolio. The
world's oldest surviving motor manufacturer, the company
commenced car production in 1889 with a steam-powered tricycle
but soon abandoned steam in favour of the internal combustion
engine. Also one of the pioneering firms of the French
motorcycle industry, Peugeot followed the familiar progression:
first adding proprietary clip-on engines to its bicycles before
building complete machines of its own manufacture. The first
Peugeot bicycle was manufactured in 1882; at this time the firm
was known as Peugeot Frères but, as more family members joined,
changed its name to Les Fils de Peugeot Frères in 1889.
Peugeot's first motorcycle the 'Motobicyclette' was introduced
at the Paris Salon of 1901. Its 1½hp engine was supplied by the
Swiss firm of Zürcher and Lüthi (also kno