Today it is celebrated as “That French icon of mobility”, but in the language of the time, those who rode the Peugeot 103 remember it fondly as a “mob” or a “grindstone”. In other words, an irreplaceable instrument of adolescent emancipation from the 1970s and 1980s. Mainly offered in duck or coral green, this very French two-wheeler is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Appeared at the end of 1971, the moped (category characterized by a two-stroke engine of 49 cm2 emitting a heady rattling noise and bluish smoke, the compulsory presence of completely useless pedals and a speed, in principle, restricted to 45 km / h) marked several generations. Its modern design evokes a “real” motorcycle and its mechanical simplicity ensures real reliability. THEe Peugeot Adventure Museum de Sochaux (Doubs) will dedicate an exhibition to him from November 22 to January 31, 2022.
Promise of independence and trips with friends, this machine accessible from the age of 14 who does not require a driver’s license, however, is not intended only for teenagers. It is also intended to transport those who cannot afford a car to get to town or go to the factory. Interclassists, the Peugeot 103s nonetheless build their success thanks to young people, whether they are high school students, students or workers, living in the city, in the suburbs or in the countryside. These “grindstones” that can be found in a cluster in front of the concert halls where Magma, Triangle or Ange play. Their small single-cylinder only develops 1.9 hp (then 2.3 hp) but it is willful and indestructible. At the green light, the 103 starts with more energy than its great rival, the Motobécane Mobylette (known as “the Blue”), but the latter always ends up catching up with it.
Forgotten sensations
In 1974, Peugeot had already delivered 550,000 copies of its bestseller with which the daring go on vacation, sometimes outside Europe. Does the advertisement not target 103 to “Those who ask for the impossible” ? The Mandeure plant produces up to 2,000 units per day of this two-wheeler which complies with the requirements of customization: the branches of the handlebars can move apart or tighten (we then pilot “With handcuffs”) and a two-seater saddle is available. Today, riding this fifty-year-old moped brings back forgotten sensations. The overwhelming noise of the engine, the very vintage smell of the exhaust gases from the two-stroke engine, rough braking, sluggish revs or the featherweight of the machine when installed on its stand …
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