By Classic Yorkshire contributor, Tony Lofthouse
Fifty-five years ago, Peugeot launched the stunning 504 coupe and cabriolet models on the world.
This two-door option was based on the hugely popular 504 sedan which first rolled off production lines in France in 1968. The sedan was to prove an instant hit being voted European Car of the Year.
In 1969 the Pininfarina-styled coupe came along to adoring acclaim. It offered a completely new body to the original sedan and bore more than a passing resemblance to the Fiat 124 and 130 coupes.
The front end featured two sets of twin headlights, coupled with a sporty roof line.
Under the bonnet, three engine sizes would be used over the early years of production. The original 1969 coupe came with a 1.8 litre four-cylinder engine taken from the sedan. A 2.0 litre version followed and was updated again in 1974, this time with a 2.7 litre V6 engine developed in conjunction with Renault and Volvo.
By 1977, the thirsty 2,664cc V6 was dropped and the coupe reverted to the two-litre version.
Over 31,000 coupes and cabriolets were produced between 1969 and 1983 – 8,188 being the soft-top version. An impressive number but nothing compared to the 3.7 million family-sized 504s made at Peugeot’s Sochaux factory and around the world.
In an interesting postscript and to mark 50 years on from the launch of the 504 range, Peugeot teased an all-electric coupe – the e-Legend concept car – at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.
The car looked fabulous, but the ‘504 Legend’ never made it to production as Peugeot baulked at the costs involved.
Oh well, the company still left us with a stylish Franco-Italian ‘sixties’ classic to saviour.