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Test Peugeot 404 - another direct hit from Sochaux (ZQ)

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Created on March 9, 1961

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AR-«Tester»

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Archiv

19

Peugeot 404 (1961) - at the edge of the forest

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - side view

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - taken from the front at an angle

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - in a busy parking lot in Bern

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - photographed from the front on a riverbank

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - with closed sunroof

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - with open sunroof - the opening is chosen so that there are few draughts and air vibrations

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - with open doors - the occupants sit low and spread out between the wheels, the doors open wide to the front

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - Sufficient distance between front and rear seats, rear doors with child safety lock

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - original door fittings

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - View of the operating organs - instruments on the flat panel framed by a screen

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - exemplary seat design with rounded backrests and good lateral support

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - reclining seats - both front fauteuils can be converted into sleeping seats by folding down the backrest into the horizontal position, the rear seat bench has a fold-down center armrest

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - The sharp edge of the two implied tail fins runs around the rear window, which has a small overhang; the bumpers, which do not rust, are drawn far around the sides

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - Large trunk

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - beautifully lined trunk

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - Fuel filler neck behind license plate

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - ignition head, ignition distributor, alternator coil and starter are exposed for maintenance work, the oil filler neck is easily accessible

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Peugeot 404 (1961) - View of the right engine cables and the asymmetrically arranged radiator element - the angled block installation is advantageous for servicing

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Summary

With the 404, Peugeot extended the model range upwards and provided a modern mid-range car with many qualities. The AR testers summed it up as follows: "In terms of design and performance, Peugeot has created a car in the 404 that is excellently tailored to today's requirements, even in the case of high demands. The brilliant technical performance may tempt you to express very ambitious wishes with regard to details. However, these relate only to secondary matters or to those that will be realized in the course of development. Based on our experience, the 404 is one of the most recommendable cars in this new performance and price class for all those who want to have higher demands met in an economical and practical way. The car has been able to generate genuine and lasting enthusiasm through its qualities."

This article contains the following chapters

A new design
The inclined engine
The new gearbox
Temperament and elasticity
Handling and steering
Driving characteristics and suspension
Quiet driving style
Bodywork and equipment
Instruments and heating
Long-term experience and maintenance
Summary
Maintenance data

Estimated reading time: 24min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When the French Peugeot factories announced the new 404 model in May 1960, adding a model in the price range of over 10,000 francs to their 403-1300 and 403-B series, the aim of this operation was not immediately obvious. Externally, the 404 opened a new chapter in Peugeot's history with its modern lines from the Pininfarina studios in Turin. The slight difference in engine displacement (1618 instead of 1468 cm3) and the exterior dimensions, which were by no means larger, but in fact around 5 cm shorter in length, width and height, gave rise to the question of whether the 404 and the previous 403 were not too similar in value to be able to exist side by side.

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