Peugeot 204

Peugeot
Peugeot 204 sedan (1965-1976)
204
Production period:	1965-1976
Class :	Lower middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon , coupe , convertible , panel van
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.1 liters (39–43 kW) Diesel engines : 1.3–1.4 liters (29–33 kW)
Length:	3740-3990 mm
Width:	1560 mm
Height:	1300-1400 mm
Wheelbase :	2595 mm
Empty weight :	850-955 kg
Previous model	none
successor	( Peugeot 304 )

The Peugeot 204 is a Peugeot passenger car and was manufactured from spring 1965 to summer 1976. With it, the French company brought a lower middle class vehicle back onto the market after a long break , because the Peugeot 202 was discontinued in 1949. The 204 was also the first Peugeot with front-wheel drive and disc brakes on the front axle.

The 204 developed internally as “projet D 12” was presented in Paris on April 23, 1965 and was the best-selling car in France between 1969 and 1971 .

technology

Technically, the modern design has nothing in common with the more conservative mid-range models 403 and 404 : The 204 has independent wheel suspension on the front and rear axles : MacPherson struts and wishbones at the front and swing arms at the rear . The transversely installed 1130 cm³ engine with overhead camshaft with chain drive and V-shaped hanging valves has a maximum output of 39 kW (53 HP) at 5750 rpm and a maximum torque of 80.4 Nm at 3500 rpm. The power varies between 53 HP and 58 HP depending on the year of construction. The motor is designed with a short stroke ( bore × stroke : 75 mm × 64 mm). The engine block (with wet cast iron liners ) and cylinder head are made of an aluminum alloy . The four-speed gearbox is located under the engine and is lubricated with engine oil and in the 204 always has a steering wheel gearshift. The radiator is at the front and the flow is parallel to the direction of travel. Therefore, the V-belt runs from the transverse motor to the longitudinally installed fan over two pulleys. In the early series of the 204, the upper of these pulleys is formed by the vertically mounted alternator. Only later years of construction have a conventionally mounted alternator driven by a second V-belt, here there is a second real pulley. The deflected V-belt also drives an electromagnetically coupled radiator fan that sits on the water pump.

From 1968 a diesel variant was also offered. With 1255 cm³ and an output of 40 PS (29 kW) it was the smallest diesel car in the world at the time.

In the first series, the 204 was delivered with open cardan shafts , which were replaced after a short time by drive shafts with rubber sleeves.

Body versions

Five variants of the 204 were offered:

• four-door notchback sedan (June 1965 to July 1976)
• five-door station wagon ("Break", January 1967 to July 1976)
• three-door coupé (January 1967 to March 1970)
• two-door convertible (January 1967 to March 1970)
• three-door small delivery van ("Fourgonnette", October 1966 to June 1976)

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  Rear view

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  Peugeot 204 Break (1967-1976)

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  Peugeot 204 Coupé (1967-1970)

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  Rear view of the 204 Coupé

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  Peugeot 204 Cabriolet (1967-1970)

The first Peugeot 204s built had the Peugeot lion between the taillights and the license plate was placed below the bumper.

In autumn 1969, a revised version with a larger engine (1300 cm³), modified fenders, radiator grille and headlights and a 15 cm longer rear with larger taillights than 304 was presented.

However, production of the 204 continued until the summer of 1976 as a sedan and break with only a few changes, while the coupé and convertible were only available as 304 from spring 1970.

Web links

Commons : Peugeot 204  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Peugeot 204 page (German)
• Peugeot 204: Great freedom for your legs: Survey among Peugeot owners , Der Spiegel , 49/1969, December 1, 1969.
• Amicale 204-304 (French)
• Forum 204-304 (French)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ motorvision: Peugeot 204 ( memento of the original from July 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
2. ↑ construction time