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Peugeot 403 - fast - inexpensive - comfortable

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Created on October 1, 1955

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Heinz Sponsel

Photos:

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Peugeot 403 (1955) - der Ponton-Form zugewandt

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Peugeot 403 (1955) - Schnitt durch das neue Modell 403

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Summary

By 1955, Peugeot was already one of the three major car brands in France. Since 1948, Peugeot had only had one standard model, the 203, which remained on the market year after year with only minor improvements to details, even after the self-supporting body and pontoon shape had almost completely established themselves elsewhere. With the 403, the French created a promising new offspring. At least the editors of Hobby were very impressed by the newcomer, as this restored test report from 1955 proves.

This article contains the following chapters

Low purchase price for the modern Ponton saloon
Quick familiarization
Tough test program
Safety-oriented
Comfortable
Sensational
Technical profile

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The French are thoughtful people and probably more conservative than is generally thought. This assertion may not apply to French art, but it certainly applies to French car manufacturing. The example of Peugeot, one of the three big car names in France, may prove it. Since 1948, Peugeot has had only one standard model, the 203, which has remained on the market year after year - with only minor improvements to details - even when the self-supporting body and the pontoon shape had almost completely established themselves elsewhere. However, Peugeot knew very well that it could not ignore international 'car taste' in the long term if it wanted to remain in the race for sales markets, which were becoming increasingly difficult to maintain - let alone conquer. Nevertheless, it took until the spring of 1955 before Peugeot was able to present its new 403 model to the public at the Paris and Turin Motor Shows. At the time, experts were talking about a minor sensation.

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