Pre-war Peugeots are rare. If a well-preserved example takes part in a tour or event, these models will always receive above-average attention. The Peugeot 175 Torpedo Sport featured in this article is such an exclusive appearance and is currently located in Australia. Owner Peter Flanagan is definitely an adventurous type. Because you have to be adventurous to jump in a 175 for a home journey of over 1,600 kilometers. In this article we read about the experiences of an 89-year-old Peugeot 175.
History
This 1923 Peugeot 175 Torpedo Sport is a rare specimen. In total, only 303 copies rolled off the line in Audincourt between 1922 and 1925. This car is number 271. The chassis number is 33271 and the engine number is 265. Unfortunately, the early history of the car is relatively unknown.
Peter Flanagan: “We know that a certain Peter Orr drove it in races for historic cars in the 1950s and 1960s. There are also pictures of that. Orr drove this car to New Zealand annually between 1950 and 1968 – for an event. He seems to be alive, but unfortunately I have not been able to trace him yet.
Peter Orr eventually sold the car to George Green, who put the 175 in his car museum in Leppington, near Sydney. When George Green passed away, Greg Mackie bought the car from the museum. He refurbished the car so that the Peugeot could hit the road again. Greg owned the 175 until 1988 and then sold it to me. ”
Exciting home trip
The moment Flanagan saw the 175 Torpedo Sport, he knew it was the car he was looking for. He paid, hopped in the car and drove from Canberra to Beechworth in Victoria. An exciting 1,000 mile (approximately 1,600 km) ride back home. Flanagan: “He drove great. 55 miles per hour and on steep parts with a somewhat lower average. ”
Upon returning home, a major overhaul turned out to be no superfluous luxury. Flanagan went straight to work. A thorough engine overhaul made the lion purr like never before. The chassis was still in good condition. Flanagan still enjoys the restoration. He did the annual maintenance again about four months ago. A minor oil spill that had developed over the years had to be remedied. Furthermore, a good lubrication was the only maintenance that the 89 year old Peugeot needed.
Restoration
Peter Flanagan: “The restoration was mainly on a technical level. The engine needed a major overhaul after many pleasant kilometers. The head was hardened so that the car could run on unleaded gasoline. I had a lot of work on the gearbox and differential to get them back in good condition. I had some parts copied, because it yielded a better result than restoring the old parts. Moreover, I now have good examples, in case another part has to be copied. ”
Customization
The 175 Torpedo Sport is a model of diligent customization. With a length of 4.20 meters and a width of 1.65 meters, the slim but tall 175 has a sporty appearance. The car has an aluminum body over a wooden chassis with steel fenders. Compared to the 174S – which was also built as a racing car – the luxury sports car is slightly smaller and slower. The four-cylinder engine (type LA5) with a displacement of 2951 cc reaches a maximum speed of 100 km / h in fourth gear.
A special feature of this 175 is the foot brake, which brakes on all four wheels. This was an option at the time. The 175 braked on the two rear wheels as standard. The handbrake is located outside the body, between the spare wheel and the hood. The petrol tank is also mounted at the back. This one has a dent, because of a minor collision with a Stutz Bearcat on the ferry to Tasmania. Flanagan left the dent in it. After all, a collision with a Stutz Bearcat is not the order of the day. The motor is cardan-driven and has a magneto ignition. The leather interior – with the steering wheel on the right – seats four and is also well preserved.
