An opportunity to travel from the past to the future. An unforgettable adventure hidden in the French countryside, a museum that stands out by organizing exhibitions that are different and definitely distinguish themselves with their unique style.
When the motto of an institution is “More than a museum – an adventure,” it’s clear that there’s a passion and enthusiasm behind it, creating an expectation for a delightful experience for visitors. Indeed, the Peugeot Museum in Sochaux, Eastern France, is rich not only in exhibits but also in a variety of events that keep visitors engaged throughout the year.
The Peugeot brothers envisioned this museum back in 1982, and it was designed in the same historic site where Peugeot industrial products have been manufactured since 1810. The purpose of the museum’s creation was to gather exhibits related to Peugeot’s industrial production, such as tools, household appliances, vintage bicycles, and to establish a collection of vintage cars from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century. Additionally, one of the museum’s goals was to hold displays of old models and organize exhibitions of vintage cars in general.
The museum opened its doors to the public in July 1988. Spanning 6,000 square meters, it attracts about 60,000 visitors annually. With its 2010 expansion, space was added for temporary exhibitions, more modern cars, and racing models. Today, in addition to its permanent exhibits, the museum hosts many special exhibitions, each with unique appeal, featuring activities designed for active participation and enjoyment for both adults and children.
The permanent car exhibition area includes 120 vehicles and 50 mopeds and motorcycles. If we were to start our tour, we’d begin with the old cars from the “Pioneers” era, 1891–1904, such as the “Vis-à-Vis” (literally “face-to-face”) from 1891, the first gasoline-powered car made by the Peugeot brothers.
A special case is the one-of-a-kind custom-built Peugeot Type 4 from 1892, made to order for the Bey of Tunisia, Ali III ibn al-Husayn. This car was based on the chassis of two earlier Peugeot models, Type 2 and Type 3. It featured a soft retractable roof and all the wooden parts were adorned with floral designs, earning it the nickname “Marquiritte.” Just like the “Vis-à-Vis,” the passengers sat face-to-face. Powered by a V-twin engine (1026cc), it produced a mere four horsepower, with a top speed of 25 km/h. The Marquiritte is considered priceless.
Continuing with the tour, from the period 1905–1918, visitors will admire the famous Baby Peugeot, produced in 3,000 copies during the industrial manufacturing era. From 1919 to 1935, which marked the rise of small cars for mass production, models such as the Quadrilette 161 can be seen in the exhibition. The 1920s era is represented by the Landaulet 184, a quintessential transport vehicle.
From 1936 to 1949, Peugeot introduced steel bodies and aerodynamic shapes in its models, such as the Eclipse and the convertible models 401, 601, and 402, which were the precursors to modern coupe-convertibles. During this time, Peugeot began using the three-number system in its model names, starting with the number 1.
In the post-WWII mass-production era around 1950, Peugeot sold 75,000 units of the 402 model, and by the 1970s, the 403 model saw 1.3 million cars sold. The 203 model symbolized renewal after the war and became iconic, followed by the 404, which was manufactured both in Sochaux and abroad (Argentina and Nigeria), and became a symbol in Africa and South America. From the 1980s to the 1990s, the series with the number 5 was introduced, particularly the 205, which sold 5.2 million cars and had success in the Paris-Dakar rally and the World Rally Championship.
Along with the mass-produced cars, the museum also displays vehicles for goods transport and special uses, such as ambulances, military vehicles, and fire trucks.
The moped section features models from the 1882 Grand Bi to the 1987 ST Scooter, including racing bikes like the Bernard Thevenet, which the athlete used to win the 1977 Tour de France. In the motorcycle section, models such as the 905 and 908, which won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1992, 1993, and 2009, are showcased, as well as the 205 Turbo 16, with dual victories in the 1985 and 1986 World Rally Championship.
This year, the museum has hosted a special exhibition celebrating women and Peugeot cars, which ran from January 30 to March 30, 2016, titled “The Woman and the Peugeot Car.”
Currently, the special exhibition “Peugeot and Household Arts” is on display until January 2017. This exhibition explores a different side of Peugeot, showcasing products like coffee mills, sewing machines, and the famous “Peugimix” mixers. The program also includes a summer treasure hunt for children, and even adults can join in the fun, learning about the brand’s small household appliances such as toasters and waffle makers.
Of course, there is also a tour where visitors can be guided for two hours through the PSA Peugeot-Citroën car factory, located there, with experienced craftsmen who once worked at Peugeot. What do you think? Perhaps the next trip to France should include a visit to Sochaux for a journey through time and the future, organized by the famous Peugeot automobile company.
