Tradition: 60 years of the Peugeot 404 Coupé and Cabriolet

It was a Concours d'Élégance of Haute Couture: 60 years ago Paris and Turin competed in the creation of elegant coupés and convertibles. Until Pininfarina combined the best of both capitals in the two-door Peugeot 404. President Charles de Gaulle and the European upper class were enthusiastic

Today the elegant lines belonged to the few four-seater Convertibles and Coupes actually placed under species protection, only high-placed crossovers are in vogue. Sixty years ago the automotive world thought differently, at that time the presentation of the Peugeot 60 with a folding top (optionally with a filigree hardtop) designed by star designer Pininfarina was a political event of national importance in France. President Charles de Gaulle did not miss the premiere of the new flagship model of the lion brand at the Paris Motor Show in 404. He was able to present the qualities of the dynamically designed two-door car to diplomats and foreign state guests at the same time, which from March 1961 would also succeed as an extravagant coupé in North America despite its modest four-cylinder engines and flush hard dollars into the Gaulish state purse. In fact, the two most expensive Peugeot 1962s - prices were at Porsche and Jaguar levels - emerged from an "American Dream" dreamed up by the Peugeot branch in New York. After the American success of the style-defining 404, which as a convertible even became the company car of the Hollywood investigating TV inspector "Columbo", the successor type 403 was launched in two body styles as a convertible and a coupé. The Gallic duo wrote history in an Italian sports car silhouette, albeit differently than what Peugeot thought.

Were the Peugeot 404 Coupé and Cabriolet as successful as hoped?

The plans were high-flying: The American Peugeot branch wanted to sell 15.000 units of the new noble 404 double per year. To put it into perspective: of the 1956 Cabriolet launched in 403 and decorated with design prizes, Peugeot was only able to sell 2.050 units worldwide in five years, all of which were built at the La Garenne plant. But now the annual output should be increased by 37 times and this required new production capacities. Peugeot hoped for this at Pininfarina in Italy. In general, the marketing of the new “Peugeot-Farina”, as the Americans called the elite convertibles in Italo-Couture, promised an effect that far surpassed that of the sporty Lancia, Alfa Romeo Maserati and even Ferrari spread on Fifth Avenue and in Beverly Hills . At the same time, there was an opportunity for Peugeot to also radiate the premium reputation of the two-door models to the four-door sedans and thus to consolidate its reputation as a top address for design jewels.

For the pioneer of calm and elegant pontoon design, the 1955 introduced in 403, Pininfarina had contoured the body of the sedans, but the transformation to the convertible was still carried out by Peugeot chief designer Henri Thomas. Despite all legitimate concerns that Pininfarina had problems telling the contracts that the Italian had signed with over 25 brands at the time, Peugeot agreed a long-term cooperation with Carrozzeria, based near Turin, in 1957. Five years later, both parties took stock soberly: Peugeot was disappointed with the similarity of the 404 sedan with various British BMC products and the Fiat 1800/2100, but the almost confusingly close relationship of the 404 Cabriolet with the Fiat 1200/1500 was even worse Athletes. It almost seemed as if Pininfarina had recycled the Fiat molds for Peugeot. The fact that the Ferrari 250 Spyder also carried the design genes of the new 404 solar sailer was of course even more positive for Peugeot. Pininfarina, on the other hand, had to state that far fewer body shells were ordered in Italy and delivered to France for final assembly by truck and train than Sochaux had announced.

More expensive than a Porsche

No wonder: The sales of all Europeans in America collapsed after the debut of cheap Detroit compacts with straight six and V8s and the four-cylinder Peugeot with performance values ​​between mediocre 44 kW / 60 PS and sporty 71 kW / 96 PS were simply too high for large quantities priced in. In the US, the 404 Cabriolet cost as much as the Jaguar E-Type supercar. And in Germany, the lion brand demanded around 1,6 marks for the 1963-liter coupé from 17.000, more than Porsche for the 356 or Lancia for its elite ones, for the 230-liter coupé with a beguiling hips and elegant metal paintwork such as Gris Clair or Bleu Clair as well as an optional injection engine Four-cylinder coupes billed. Even the Mercedes 404 SL wasn't much more expensive. No less disturbing were the prices that were called for the optical doppelganger of the 1500, the Fiat 50 Cabriolet: The French Sun King cost over XNUMX percent more than the spirited Italian.

Nevertheless, both contractual partners decided in 1962 to extend the design cooperation, perhaps because it could only get better. Maestro Pininfarina promised to forego copy-and-paste and stuck to it: the Peugeot 1968 Coupé and Cabriolet, introduced in 69/504, were unique and, according to many experts, are among the most beautiful French cars of all time. However, before the 504 series succeeded the two-door 404, the 4,50 coupé and convertible, stretched to 404 meters compared to the sedan, showed what potential they had. Not only as the winner of many a Grand Prix d'Élégance, which qualified them as favorites of European high society. After all, the top models from Peugeot were considered French Mercedes in more than a few countries, especially when it came to quality.

Back then still sporty

While the 404 sedans proved their robustness in long-distance rallies, the coupé and convertible shone even more with their sophisticated technologies. For example with one of the world's first large-scale injection gasoline engines, for which the technicians from Sochaux ordered a novel and relatively reliable injection from the Kugelfischer specialist - a system similar to that which later became famous with the BMW TI types. Of course, the 404 sedans were also available as 160 km / h four-cylinder injection units (Opel and Ford still needed six-cylinder units for this speed at that time), but it was primarily the sporting faction that caused a sensation with its own, particularly wide radiator grille for overtaking prestige.

Global headlines also made a 404 convertible converted into a monoposto with a loudly nailing 2,2-liter diesel engine under the hood. This type 404 Diesel Record diesel engine lived up to its name: In June 1965, the 50 kW / 68 hp diesel astounded on the circuit of Montlhéry near Paris with 40 world records and 22 records at an average of 160 km / h over 5.000 kilometers. Never before had the world seen such an exciting diesel sports car in an Italian design, for Peugeot it was the beginning of an era over 50 years as the world's largest diesel engine manufacturer. By the way, Peugeot still has diesel engines regardless of the electric hype, but the haute couture of convertibles and coupés with the "f" for Farina is only remembered at classic car events.

In brief

Timeline:
1951: On May 11th, Peugeot and Pininfarina sign a prototype development contract. The first project is the shape finding for the Peugeot 403
1955: Market launch for the 403. The second project is the development of the Peugeot 404. Early prototypes of the Peugeot 404 are still being built in 1955 at Pininfarina in Italy. Not so the Peugeot 403 Cabrio, which is designed by Peugeot in France and built from 1956
1957: Peugeot signs an exclusivity agreement with Pininfarina for a period of five years. The Pininfarina study Florida II inspired the design of the 404 Coupé and Cabriolet models
1958: The 404 is the first Peugeot to undergo an intensive crash test program on the Belchamp test site. The French coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout developed a roadster study for Peugeot, which, unlike the Pininfarina designs, was rejected for the coupé and convertible
1960: The official premiere of the 404 Peugeot took place on May 13th in the Parisian Palais des Sports at the Porte Versailles. In April pre-series and in May regular production start-up for the 404 sedan and in December for the US export version of the 404 with Coppolair emission control and front disc brakes
1961: Production of the Peugeot 403 Cabriolet ends in July. In October, the French President Charles de Gaulle and diplomats will be the guest of honor at the world premiere of the Peugeot 404 Cabriolet (optionally with hardtop) at the Paris Salon. At the same time, Pininfarina is showing the two-door models at the Turin Salon. The floor pan of the sedan was also used in the two-door model, so the overhangs are tight and the long proportions are elegant. However, the Peugeot Cabriolet is confusingly similar to the Fiat 1200/1500 Cabriolet, which was also designed by Pininfarina - and is more than half the price. Pininfarina cannot resist recycling its ideas for other customers
1962: The 404 Coupé made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Series production of the 404 Cabriolet started in April. The bodies of the convertible and, from 1963, the coupé are built by Pininfarina in the new Grugliasco plant near Turin - and then delivered by rail or truck to Peugeot in Sochaux / France for final assembly. Conclusion of a contract between Pininfarina and Peugeot on further cooperation, while Pininfarina refrains from selling designs for Peugeot to European competitors
1963: Series production of the coupé did not really get going until April of this year. In the USA, the convertible is already being sold at prices starting at $ 3.899, and thus at prices that are also calculated for the Jaguar E-Type. In addition to the carburettor version, the Peugeot is also available as an injector
1964: The gasoline engine with carburettor increased to 51 kW / 70 hp and the injection engine to 65 kW / 88 hp. In the USA, the Peugeot 404 Cabriolet is presented at all car shows to promote sales  
1965: In June, a Peugeot 404 Monoposto (based on the convertible) with a 68 hp diesel engine sets off on a record run in Monthléry. The average speed over a distance of 10.000 kilometers is measured as 161,49 km / h. 1966 studies with smaller tail fins were developed for the 404 model year, but there was no release for the start of series production. Carburettor and injection engines are also available for the 1966 model year   
1966: 404 Coupé and Cabriolet Injection from autumn to the change of model year with 71 kW / 96 hp and also with additional headlights in the radiator grille. But the carburettor version is still available. All 404 with new dashboard and round instruments
1967: In Saarbrücken, Peugeot Germany starts business operations on the premises of the former importer Kochte und Rech. The German dealer network comprises 588 bases. All 404 types receive a final facelift
1968: The Peugeot 504 is presented in September, again in the Pininfarina design. The production of the 404 Coupé and Cabriolet ends in September, with the successors being the 504 Coupé and Cabriolet in Pininfarina design. Production of the convertible begins in November  
1969: In France, Peugeot has risen to become the second largest automobile manufacturer and celebrates the delivery of the five millionth vehicle from the lion brand. The Peugeot 504 Coupé made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show
1978: The 404 is removed from the European Peugeot range in October
1983: End of production for Peugeot 504 Coupé and Cabriolet
1988: Production of the 404 ends in May after 2.885.376 units were delivered in almost all countries. Assembly of the 404 pick-up will only continue until 1991 in Nigeria and Kenya
2021: The 60th anniversary of the Peugeot 404 Coupé and Cabriolet will be celebrated by the community and the lion brand. As of mid-October, the Peugeot 404 Club determined a verifiable global inventory of around 2.500 convertibles and coupés

Production numbers:
A total of 2.885.377 Peugeot 404s (production years 1960 to 1988, plus assembly in Nigeria and Kenya), including 17.224 convertibles and coupés
Peugeot 404 Cabriolet (carburetor) with 3.014 units
Peugeot 404 Cabriolet (injection) with 7.375 units
Peugeot 404 Coupé (carburetor) with 1.638 units
Peugeot 404 Coupé (injection) with 5.196 units.
For comparison: the successor Peugeot 504 produced 26.477 coupés and 8.185 convertibles (1968-1983). Peugeot built 403 units of the predecessor 2.050 Cabriolet (1956-1961)

Important engines:
1,6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine (48 kW / 65 PS or 50 kW / 68 PS or 51 kW / 70 PS or 53 kW / 72 PS or 56 kW / 76 PS or 59 kW / 80 PS or 65 kW / 88 PS or 71 kW / 96 PS or as US version 44 kW / 60 PS).