On 6 September 1891, as the inaugural Paris–Brest–Paris cycling race got underway, a Peugeot Type 3 embarked on an extraordinary reliability demonstration. Armand Peugeot had arranged for the petrol-powered quadricycle to follow the cyclists, with its progress monitored by race officials. Driven by Peugeot engineer Louis Rigoulot and mechanic Auguste Doriot, the Type 3 covered approximately 2,045 kilometres from Valentigney to Paris, Brest and back.
Powered by a Daimler-derived 565cc V-twin engine, the Type 3 represented a decisive move away from Peugeot's earlier experiments with steam. Its arduous journey provided an early demonstration of the durability and practicality of the internal-combustion automobile.
The achievement was particularly significant because the Type 3 became Peugeot's first car produced in meaningful series, with 64 examples built between 1891 and 1894. It also became the first automobile to travel on Italian roads in 1893, extending Peugeot's early international footprint.
