Now that the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot et. al. has been consummated, we thought it might be fun to pick a Peugeot as Pick of the Day. So, we searched the ClassicCars.com Marketplace advertisements and have selected this 1973 Peugeot 304 S hatchback coupe, which is being advertised by a dealership in Canton, Ohio.
While information about the car in the advertisement is scarce, we’ll supplement with stuff we learned elsewhere.
Here’s what the dealership says in the text of the advertisement:
“1973 Peugeot 304 S hatchback 2dr. coupe. Only one known in the United States. A delightful French sporty car you won’t see every day. No rust, no accidents. 1,288 cc. 4 cyl. coupled to a 4-spd floor shift manual transmission. 70,000 kilometers on odo which is equal to only 43,495 in miles. Nice metallic green paint over a great body. and recently reupholstered front seats. Owner’s manual and more.”
In the “Vehicle Details” section following that text we learn the interior is saddle tan vinyl with front bucket seats, the car has been “partially restored” and the engine is original to the car.
From The Standard Catalog of Imported Cars, we learn that the 304 was introduced in the US in 1971 and was Peugeot’s first front-wheel-drive car. The 1,288cc engine was rated at 70 horsepower.
The car looked much like the Peugeot 504, though on a smaller scale and with a 101.9-inch wheelbase.
Elsewhere on the web, we discover that the design can be traced to Pininfarina, and that the 304 was available as a coupe, sedan, convertible, station wagon and even as a van.
The 304 would be the last such small car exported to the US by Peugeot, which continued with the midsize 504 and then 505, and for a few years, the V6-powered 604/605 and the sporty 405 Mi16 sedan.
Peugeot sold more than 20,000 vehicles in the US in 1884 but sales slumped to 4,200 by 1990 and the French automaker halted American exports after August 1991.
Of course, now that it has merged with Fiat Chrysler, who knows what products might be flowing back and forth across the Atlantic in the future?
The ’73 304 hatchback selected as Pick of the Day is priced at $14,995. To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Cute car but I don’t see the high value of it. Rare cars doesn’t mean they are valuable, just look at the Yugo. Some cars are rare because they were unappealing or poorly built or unreliable. It looks nice but no parts availability alone would turn my head away.
When we went to Europe in 1968 my dad bought a 404 wagon (dark green) later on in 1975 he bought a 504 4 door sedan. I grew up driving the 404 in Denver as my “learning to drive” vehicle. It was a pretty tough old wagon with the 4 speed trans column shift. Many a scorched tire, the car was finally sold after my mom could no longer drive.
Only knew one person who ever owned one and they had radiator/overheating issues. Road smoothly though
Certainly doesn’t seem to be anything making this car particularly interesting other than it being said as the only 1 in US, which conflicts with it being a Peugeot ever marketed here?
Whereas – the Model 204 which I only saw in Europe back then – is an unseen great car. A sports car really….but comfortable and luxurious – with a top down. Value in utility at least!
Wow – what a nice-looking car good for “around the village” – it reminds me of the VW type 3 slant-back – I wonder – no air conditioning…
Also, “Peugeot sold more than 20,000 vehicles in the US in 1884” (?!)
I had no idea!
Now that Peugeot has merged with Fiat-Chrysler, who is building whose vehicles? What’s going to become of Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram? Will they be fazed out or simply left alone to die on the vine? I doubt the French and the Italians are going to invest any serious money into an American brand; not when they can simply rob the decent parts off the shelf and liquidate everything else. And if I do buy a Dodge or Ram; where’s my money going? Italy or France?
Maybe not the right forum for this question but inquiring minds do want to know.
You have not been paying attention have you. They are not going to introduce any new brands to the US. They are keeping all of the Chrysler brands, factories, and dealers. Ram did not get truck of the year for no reason. Peugeot has some of most bad ass cars in the world.
I’ve always loved French cars. A list of all the ones I’ve owned: Peugeot 403,404,504. Renault Le car, Fuego, and R11 station wagon. The ride was their thing to write home about! Outstanding. The only issue I ever had was the
le car’s side window that kept falling off.
Beautiful 304. After driving a 304 wagon all over Malawi in 1983, I bought an ’86 505 STX V6 in Baltimore. One incredibly smooth, powered ride, a Pininfarina beauty. Twelve year later I was rear-ended in DC, with no body damage, an amazing bumper. The next year a Dodge Ram truck slammed into my rear in Baltimore, crumpling the car like an accordion. I emerged from the “steel cage” unscathed. Next year I bought two beautiful ’88 505 Turbos in Carlisle. Fast, quiet and sleek but couldn’t find parts. Finally sold both to my mechanic for the cost of repairs the previous 6 months. Remaining on the fringe, awaiting Peugeot’s return, I drive a Fiat Spider 124…loving it, but hoping I never get hit!
The 204 was the first front wheel drive Peugeot, introduced in 1965.