1933 Peugeot P105DT
Peugeot's Lion represents France's
determination in the face of opposition. It also represents Peugeot's response
to the many fine designs produced by its rivals in the late Twenties.
Outstanding among these was the ultra-modern P 105 350cc single that first
appeared at the Paris Salon in 1927, the same year that "Lone Eagle" Lindbergh
made the first solo crossing of the Atlantic.
Unit Construction
In
the pioneering spirit of the age, the new Peugeot fused its engine and
three-speed gearbox into a single unit, while most of its competitors still
retained separate construction of these units. The compact ohv engine looked
like an overhead-cam unit, with its pushrods concealed inside a vertical chrome
tube and an aluminum casting concealing rockers and valve springs (though the
valve stems were exposed).
Durable and Reliable
Elegant, durable, and
extremely reliable, the P 105 and its "economy" L-head derivative, the P 107,
were produced until 1935 with numerous improvements, both technical and
aesthetic. But its performance in terms of acceleration and overall speed were
disappointing compared with the opposition and it was supplanted by a new, more
potent range - which made their debuts in 1933.