The Peugeot 403 was a medium sized family sedan built in France and sold around the world from 1955 to 1966. The 403 was styled by legendary Italian design house Carrozzeria Pininfarina and used simple 3-box styling and Ponton fenders in a shape that optimizes the word "car." Ask a 6 year old to draw you a car and if he or she doesn't create a relastic representation of a Lamborghini Countach, they will unwittingly draw the 403. Find this 1960 Peugeot 403 offered for $6,500 via craigslist in Petaluma, CA. Tip from Kaibeezy.
This 403 has be resting in a underground parking spot for the better part of 30 years which isn't all roses and sunshine as some people might have you think. The fact that it hasn't been dinged in parking lots, driven through snow or slept in by dirty mud-soaked hippies is good...but the dried interior, cracked seals, and petrified brake calipers is bad.
The 1.5 liter inline-4 cylinder puts out 54 horsepower and 74 ft-lbs of torque, not exactly a recipe for an autobahn cruiser or stoplight dragster. At least the 2400 lb car should be fun with the skinny stock tires in the snow or on a rainy day.
It looks like a '60s French grandmother's living room inside the car. All that's missing is the wispy thin white 2-piece phone and a gold poodle statue on the coffee table.
See a better restoration ready hulk? tips@dailyturismo.com
Update 3/11/2014: Here is a pic of a daily driven
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| C'est très froid! |
fun little relic, sans aucun doute - but what's the rôle? where would you feel comfortable driving or even parking such a macaron à la pistache among the crushing 275/55R20 yukons and titans? small town sunny sunday morning maybe - zut, that might almost be enough
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, this was the exact same type of car Lt. Columbo drove for many years on his eponymous '70s TV series. He even continued to drive it in the TV movies in the '90s - he just loved that ride.
ReplyDeleteI notice that it has an original non-resident Paris registration (that red plate, ending in "75"). That might mean that this car was purchased new and used in Europe, by an ex-pat.
ReplyDeleteOh, and good news: I can pretty much guarantee that there are no petrified calipers on this car. In fact, no calipers at all. Four-wheel drums, in the classic tradition!
Also, not a bad price for a sorted, well-running rust free car (if the ads is true!). These are comfortable cruisers, and can hold their own in the slow lane of modern traffic. You will be the only one at your local cruise night.
DeleteKaibeezy, you beat me to this one. I submitted it, too, but was obviously too late. I always thought the 403 was a handsome car, the 404 not so much. I later owned a 604 and a 505 Turbo wagon. Loved 'em both. I think I'd like a bit more power. Nice color.
ReplyDeleteconcur - although i have a time warp photo of a 404 i snapped in paris last winter that still looks pretty good compared to all the modern bleh econohatches rolling around these days - forwarded that to DT for an addendum here
DeletePeugeot 404 in Paris - photo posted - thx DT
DeleteSorry mate, thats a Trabant. Still a neat find though.
DeleteFromage! Wouldn't be the first time a guy saw what he wanted to see in that town. She'll always be a Peugeot to me (sniff).
DeleteThere's gotta be a story of how that Trabant got to Paris. (Pushed or pulled?)
DeleteIf it's as described, it's a pretty good deal. If I were in the mood I'd check it out. Hey, is that a white 125 Special behind the 403?
ReplyDeleteI prefer the 404 to this but nice find !
ReplyDelete3 days later it made it to BAT.
ReplyDelete