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History

THE HISTORY OF THE PEUGEOT 504

The Peugeot 504 Saloon was launched in September 1968 and was named "Car of the Year 1969" the following year.
In March 1969, the body design of the independent Coupé together with the Cabriolet was presented to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show. It differed significantly from the saloon in its front and rear design. The design was created by Sergio Pininfarina responsible.

Technically, the coupé and cabriolet were based on the saloon, but differed slightly:

01
Car body
A shortened wheelbase of 2.55 m with a vehicle length of 4.36 m (saloon 2.74 m wheelbase and 4.49 m length)
1.70 m wide (saloon 1.69 m) and 1.35 m (coupé) or 1.36 m high (convertible, saloon 1.46 m high)
02
Chassis
Independent suspension, McPherson struts at the front, semi-trailing arms at the rear, front and rear anti-roll bars, rack-and-pinion steering (later servo-assisted), 4-way disc brake system
03
Engine and transmission were the same as the saloon
4-cylinder injection engines (Kugelfischer)
Later, a V6 engine with a contactless electronic ignition system (Schlumberger Altronic) installed for the first time in a production car and initially a carburettor and from model year 1978 a Bosch K-Jetronic injection system was added.
04
With a kerb weight of around 1,250 kg (coupé and convertible), both body types are quite compact and are a pleasure to drive with any engine. The payload is around 330 kg.

The standard equipment was luxurious by the standards of the time: power steering (from model year 1975), halogen twin headlights, central gearstick, hydraulic clutch, electric windows, opening triangular windows, velour seats (coupé) or leatherette seats (convertible), centre console, illuminated boot, reversing lights, clock, rev counter (from model year 1971), dimmable interior mirror, attractive exterior and interior colour combinations, ...


The production of the body, its paintwork and the assembly of the interior were carried out at the Pininfarina plant in Grugliasco/Turin, Italy. After being transported by rail, the car was completed with the drive system (engine and gearbox) and chassis at Peugeot's main plant in Sochaux, France.

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL MODELS

Phase 1: 1969 - 1974 Phase 2: 1974 - 1980 Phase 3: 1980 - 1983
Initially 1.8 litre displacement (97 hp/71 kW), which was increased to 2 litres in 1970 (104 hp/76 kW); exclusively (Kugelfischer) injection engines
4-speed gearbox, later also automatic for the coupé
Individual twin headlights and tail lights in stripe design ("claws of the lion" or "Adidas lights")
Stainless steel bumpers with narrow rubber horns at the front and rear
2 litre engine with 104 hp (76 kW) and new: V6 engine with 2.7 litre capacity with carburettor (136 hp/100 kW) and, from 1978, fuel injection (144 hp/106 kW) as a joint development by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo (PRV engine)
4-speed gearbox or automatic
Twin headlights behind glass, large rear lights, recessed door handles, headrests
The stainless steel bumpers have been retained - now with wider rubber horns
There were further model changes during this period, mainly relating to the interior:
Brown is the predominant colour in the interior: dashboard, door panels, armrests, ...
Instrument cluster with brown surround (instead of black or silver previously)
Position of the analogue clock
Rear seat belts (from model year 1979)
...
GRP bumpers instead of stainless steel bumpers
5-speed gearbox
TRX tyres on specific steel and aluminium rims (Coupé 6-cylinder standard, other optional extras) available as an option, V6 standard
Instruments framed with wooden decor, initially 3 instruments (1980/81)
In 1982 and 83 the large cockpit: an instrument cluster with 5 instruments
A digital clock!
Galvanised body in 1983

For me, the Peugeot 504 Cabrio is THE men's convertible par excellence: 4-seater, sufficient power, great to drive and, with the Kugelfischer injection system, has an interesting technology that deviates from the mainstream.

In total, around 8,000 convertibles and around 26,000 coupés were built during the 14-year construction period - only a few have survived!

Do you have a favourite model? I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the individual models/phases or measures.

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