Peugeot 404

Peugeot
Peugeot 404 sedan (1960–1975)
404
Production period:	1960–1975 (in Africa: until 1989)
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , cabriolet , pick-up
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.5–1.6 liters (44–65 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0 liters (35–49 kW)
Length:	4418-4582 mm
Width:	1625 mm
Height:	1450-1495 mm
Wheelbase :	2650-2840 mm
Empty weight :	1100-1250 kg
Previous model	Peugeot 403
successor	Peugeot 504

Dashboard Peugeot 404 Super Luxe 1962

The Peugeot 404 was a car model from the French manufacturer Peugeot . It was manufactured in Europe from May 1960 to October 1975, with Peugeot ceasing to deliver this model in Europe at the end of 1974.

The first prototypes are said to have been made as early as 1957. The predecessor was the 403 , each with partially identical engine and transmission variants.

Outside Europe, the model continued to be produced for a long time; there are very different statements about the end of production. The car was z. B. built in Argentina until at least 1982 and in Kenya until 1988 (pick-up) or 1989 (sedan).

history

The Peugeot 404 is a rear-wheel drive mid-range vehicle that was available as a four-door notchback sedan, five-door station wagon (Break, Commerciale and Familiale with up to 7 seats on three bench seats), convertible, coupe and pick-up, and because of its extremely extensive standard equipment at the time (including: bumpers, hubcaps, trim strips and other applications in stainless steel) and its robust reliability was also very popular in Germany. The engine tilted 45 ° to the right resulted in a low center of gravity of the car, which contributed to the excellent road holding. Overall, the Peugeot 404 was considered to be a particularly well thought-out, modern and functional vehicle in the 1.5 to 2.0 liter class.

The body of the 404 comes from the Italian designer Pininfarina (like that of the 403). It continues the line of the BMC ADO9 , also designed by Pininfarina .

From the start of production until the model change in August 1966, the Peugeot 404 had a speedometer from Jaeger, where the numbers were in a line like a tape speedometer. However, no red speed band was used as in the Volvo Amazon or Opel Rekord A , only a normal white pointer. As a result, the readability was considerably worse. For the models with carburettor and diesel engines, the graduation ranged up to 170 km / h. In the case of cars with Kugelfischer injection, the speed range was "extended" to 190 km / h in August 1965.

Another special feature of the 404 up to the year of construction 1967 was the shift pattern of its steering wheel gearshift (C 3 transmission). The first gear was down at the front. Reverse gear, on the other hand, was above first gear.

The bodies of the convertible and coupé were built by Pininfarina in Italy (recognizable by the Pininfarina logos between the door and the rear wheel arch).

With various special bodies and equipment, the Peugeot 404 was also used as a taxi, police, fire engine, ambulance or tow truck, among other things.

During its production time, the 404 was the only significant alternative to the diesel vehicles from Mercedes-Benz in the field of diesel cars .

Body styles

The first series from May 1960 to August 1963 only had bumper horns made of stainless steel. Thereafter there were bigger and bigger beads of rubber.

While the sedan remained in the range in Europe for the entire construction period until autumn 1975 (in Africa until 1989), the station wagon versions expired in autumn 1971. The rare Cabriolet (from October 1961) and the equally rare Coupé (from October 1962) were only delivered until late summer 1968. The 404 was available as a pick-up in Europe between mid-1967 and the end of 1978. In Africa it was produced until 1988.

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  Rear view

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  Peugeot 404 Familiale (1960-1971)

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  Peugeot 404 Cabriolet (1961–1968)

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  Rear view

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  Peugeot 404 Coupé (1962–1968)

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  Rear view

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  Peugeot 404 pick-up (1967-1978)

successor

The direct successor was the Peugeot 504 . Numerically, the Peugeot 405 followed in the autumn of 1987 , which, unlike the 404, was no longer supplied with a third bench in the trunk of the Break estate variant .

Web links

Commons : Peugeot 404  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Website by Joop van Zadelhoff on the subject of the Peugeot 404
• Martin Brunner's website about the Peugeot 404

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Modern French middle class car . In: Motor Vehicle Technology 10/1960, pp. 410-411.
2. ↑ Pininfarina press release http://pininfarina.it/media/files/il_gruppo/collaborazioni/pininfarina_azienda_storia_collaborazioni_peugeot_en.pdf (47 kB), pininfarina.it not available July 18, 2020