(first posted 9/4/2013) Peugeot has a distinguished line of Coupe and Cabriolet variants of its mainstream products in its archive, and in many ways the 406 Coupe was the last of the line. I recently spent two weeks in southwestern France (well, someone has to!) and was fortunate enough to see a pretty complete selection, starting with the 402, many of them at a car show at the Chapelle Nationale de Vehicules Anciens (National Chapel for Old Vehicles) in the city of Tonneins.
The 402 saloon and Coupe from 1935 to 1942 started the trend; conservatively engineered–especially compared with the contemporary Citroën Traction Avant–and with elegant styling that showed how streamlining didn’t necessarily have to frighten the horses.
The 403 of 1958 also featured conservative engineering, but this time with Pininfarina styling somewhat similar to the Mercedes Benz 190 “Ponton” and (to my eyes at least) some Rootes Group products. The only reason these people aren’t looking at the car is that the bride has just come out of the church.
In 1961 came the 404 saloon, Coupe and Cabriolet. The lines of the 404 Cabriolet and Coupe are classic Pininfarina; very typical of the company’s work of that time, they shared many design elements with Fiats, Lancias, and even Ferraris of the 1960s. We Brits note that the Austin Cambridge A55 and Morris Oxford Series 5 came first, though.
The Coupe shows very clear Lancia characteristics, but how can you look at the Cabriolet and not think “Big MGB”?
Then came the 204 range and later, the 304. Similar to the Mini in configuration, these were front-wheel drive cars with transverse engines and the gearbox in the sump. The 204 was France’s best-selling car in the late 1970s, and the hatchback Coupe shows some BMW 2002 Touring links.
The 304 was very similar to the 204, but featured revised front and rear styling, a new interior, and a 1.3-liter engine in place of the 204’s 1.1-liter mill.
Now comes the pièce de résistance: The 504 Coupe and Cabriolet were launched in 1969–and to my eyes, are among the best-looking cars ever produced: Pininfarina, of course, and without many visual links to the regular saloon. A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say. Production ended in 1979.
After the 1975 demise of the 304 and 504, there was no Peugeot coupe, save for the small 205 Cabriolet, until the 406 Coupe came on stream in 1996. Designed by Pininfarina, it was visually fully consistent with the elegance of its forebears despite being based on the Peugeot-styled saloon.
This example was parked in the car park at the Chapelle Nationale de Vehicules Anciens. While I’m personally not fond of silver cars, in this case I feel the color works well to display the lines of the car without any bulk or overly prominent display–quiet, understated elegance is probably the classiest kind. Don’t worry, it hasn’t hit the tree – it’s just French public holiday parking. Here’s a picture not taken on a public holiday….
You don’t really to need to know about engines for this car, since looking at it is enough. (For the record, choices included both 2.0-liter gasoline and diesel engines, and a range-topping 2.9-liter V6.) Also aboard were the luxuries you’d expect from what was effectively Peugeot’s top-range car in many markets. (In reality, the 607 saloon sold only within the taxi and official markets in any numbers).
The 406 was superseded by the 407, which also offered a Coupe variant. As this blog is about elegant cars, I haven’t included a photo of it, or of the 307 and 308 Coupe Cabriolets that Peugeot has offered since 2003.
What a beautiful roof and C pillar! Just outstanding.
I first learned of this car when I was very young. It was in a big A-Z Cars coffee table book I had. I always thought it looked a little 1st-generation Toyota Solara-ishs, at least in profile.
The 406 coupe and the Solara look a lot alike? Really? I hardly think so. They did, perhaps, share the same design brief. Execution of that brief is where the two cars clearly parted ways.
Comparing the two cars side-by-side is a masterclass example that vividly demonstrates the difference between: clumsy/finesse, plodding/elan, heavy/economy of unecessary detail, ill-proportioned/balance, deliberate/subtile and pedestrian/elegant.
I’ll leave it to your eye to tell you which set of adjectives belong to which car.
Well, you’ll notice I had quite a bit of praise for the 406 Coupe in an earlier comment below, but I don’t really see what you’re talking about here. As far as FWD coupes from the late 90s go, I’ve always thought the 1st-gen Solara was one of the better ones (the second generation was a much different story). It’s more upright than the 406, but there are similarities in profile. And while it’s nowhere near as good looking, I’d say the Solara’s lack of curves enable it to handle the meeting between the A-pillar, fender and hood much better than the Pug – the one and only unattractive point on that car.
Ken Ramonet-strange how in photographs the 406 Coupe appears to be a smaller car than it is in reality.I have seen many in Aust in shades of blues,greys/silvers,greens and reds.Often wondered how a black one would look.One I saw in Sydney had a colour combination that I didn’t think would work but was surprised that it did.That 406 Coupe was bright red with apricot leather interior.It was a strong ripe apricot colour.As much as I like the shape of the RCZ Coupe,the 406 Coupe is just beautiful.
Solara was the first thought I had when I seen it.
Pretty elegant cars, i’ve always liked these but they look somehow dated today. I liked when Peugeot still made classic, handsome looking cars
That silver coupe looks sort of blah and ordinary to me, because its design elements have appeared on so many cars since. But it must have been quite something in 1996.
Since Peugeot stopped importing into the U.S in the mid 1980s, many models offered more recently are completely unfamiliar here.
You found some very nice examples of cars seldom seen in this part of the world.
I’ve recently relocated to the Netherlands and walk by a silver 406 coupe on a fairly regular basis. It isn’t the most exciting color, but in three dimensions you can really appreciate how well sculpted it is—it’s hard for the pictures to do it justice.
(Also, I’ve seen far more French cars in the Netherlands than I did in France; DS’s old and new have become a mundane sight here.)
You’re right about not including the 407 here, the Peugeots of the last decade seem to be a bit out-of-proportion. Huge gaping mouths, headlight units from the grille up to the A-pillar and too much front overhang.
But they’ve come back, I like their latest models. The 208 (200 hp GTi !), the 2008,
the brand new 308 and the 508. And the sporty RCZ sure looks better than the 407 coupe you correctly didn’t show.
The Peugeot RCZ: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peugeot_RCZ_side_20100508.jpg
The RCZ designers must have had a gen-1 Audi TT at their disposal.
I’ll second the motion that the 504 Coupe and Cabriolet were gorgeous cars. But I really like the 402 saloon as well, especially in that shade of blue.
I was so into this car in the late 90s and still love it. Every time there was a vague rumor that Peugeot might return to North America my ears would perk up and I’d swoon over low-res digital images of 406 coupes from across the sea. I’ve actually seen a few 406 sedans (also a good looking car) with Diplomat plates in the US, but never one of these.
I hate to admit it, but there is some truth to what JPC says above – still looks great to my eyes, but when they were new they were almost exotic looking.
Love all the older Pugs as well. I’ve always been real interested in the 204 and 304 hatch/coupe – big fan of the Simca 1100/BMW 2002 Touring-ish shape as well as the somewhat Corvairy beltline.
reminds of a European Holden GTO.
It will eat the Holden on the road Ive driven the Holden as a rental but I bought a 406 wagon with a 2.1 turbo diesel engine it was fast supremely comfortable and cornered on rails at any speed i was game to try it at wheelspin @ 2800 rpm in all gears in the wet Peugeot calculated the top speed @ max hp 4,500 rpm in 5th at 195kmh, Ive seen 205 on the speedo overtaking a try hard Falcon XR6 into a curve he lifted I didnt see ya and gone.
The engine however was the weak point PSA stroked the 1905 and fitted a 3 valve head and unfortunately hydraulic lash adjusters which fail expensively I gave up and sold the remains and bought after several Jappers a 1905 engined Xsara which corners better and whose 1905 engine with regular maintenance run 500,000kms easily and use bucket and shims on the valves.
The new HDI 2L diesel pumped out the same hp and torque of the brittle 2.1 and Ford paid for the development of the HDI injection tech and use PSA diesels throughout their range including Jaguar and RangeRover though the latter have switched to inferior diesel engines from BMW lately.
BMW still called PSA for a diesel powertrain to fit their MINI leaders in tech, dont make me laugh.
I have owned an 02 CV8 Monaro since new and bought a late 03 V6 Coupe just under 12 months ago (it had 115,000 on the clock and is in absolutely pristine condition). I love both from an aesthetic viewpoint and the driving experience but the Monaro is a far better car. I test drove both too when new, before deciding on the Monaro
That 403 is beautiful, if a little Nash-y in places. And the 404 looks cribbed from the MGB-GT.
I like the 406 as well, but it reminds me a little too much of an Accord coupe.
Interestingly, the MGB GT was also done by Pininfarina.
Peugeot coupes: one of my favorite subjects! Needless to say, I have a deep passion for the 404, which looks better from some angles than others. And yes, the 504 Coupe and Cabriolet are true masterpieces; one of the best designs of the whole period. The have aged so well.
The 406? Well done, no doubt, especially for the times. But a bit forgettable; it certainly isn’t going to go down in history as well as the 504 Coupe/Cabrio. At least in my book.
Undoubtedly, part of that may well be that it’s rather similar to a number of of other coupes, that may well have been inspired by it (or not). But there’s nothing that was ever built that resembles the 504. It’s still utterly distinctive.
The 406 is listed as one of the 10 cars from the 90s as a must drive before you die Paul try one you will sneer and the German rubbish from then on.
The 406 pictured is a later facelift model that had the HDI diesel available, earlier cars had V6 or 2.2 companion diesel an all alloy engine. my 2.1 was the companion engine and produced the same torque and performance as the turbo 2L gas engine, the 1905 diesel in the 406 range replaced the 2l gas non turbo engine
The photos of 406 are not very good and do not convey the beauty of the sleek lines of this car very well. I encourage readers to google for more photos, especially for ones in more “solid” colors. A good friend of mine owned one for a while (ferrari-red, 3.0 V6 fully loaded, I’ve driven it a few times) and I must admit it is one of the best looking cars I ever seen. Too bad it got stolen half a year later.
Originally designed for and rejected by Ferrari. A friend has a V6 version and a Aston Martin V8 Vantage .This car does every thing the Aston does for 10% of the cost. Only problem was the dash which was lifted from the sedan with out embellishment.
The cars in your post looks nice. I just have one question. On the 403’s grill there is a gold V. Is that sort of an American flair added? As far as I know in the 50’s and 60’s(and till 1984 for the caddy Fleetwood) cars with a V on the grill, trunk lid or fender denoted V8. The 403 was offered in only 4 cylinder forms with no V8. The Cresta PA also V’s on its tailfins.
Was this a style of Euro cars in the 1950’s and 1960’s to add various “American Carisms” to onto them?
That is not the stock grille, nor are the wire wheel covers. Someone has done some customizing; perhaps way back in the fifties. Here’s how the stock ones look:https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1891&bih=1175&q=peugeot+403+cabriolet&oq=peugeot+403+cabriolet&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i5j0i24l2.1520.6665.0.6869.21.16.0.4.4.0.234.1744.9j6j1.16.0….0…1ac.1.26.img..2.19.1618.HMGkpbc0DsA
Although it looks like one other one has a similar grille. Perhaps it was a package available to upgrade the 403. Or??
I’m pretty sure it was not a factory option, and wasn’t homemade either.
In the 1950s, quite a few small independent companies like Robri, Maire or GH (the so-called “équipementiers”) made grilles, wheelcovers and various extra chrome parts for customers who wanted to spice their 203 or 403 (or just about any other car) up. Many such grilles were Buick-, Studebaker- or Nash-inspired. Some like Maire’s even included extra frontlights.
As far as Peugeot is concerned, these parts often had to be ordered separately. Peugeot themselves didn’t make them. I’m not even sure Peugeot officially condoned such frills (since they made a point of building good, dependable, elegant cars for a clientele who wouldn’t have touched a Citroen with a ten-foot pole). But of course some dealers possibly disregarded that.
I think the grille of the 403 pictured here is the P400 type made by GH. The P400 was GH’s last effort, possibly not their best one, but the car here is still to die for.
It all went out of fashion in the 1960s. Genuine Robri parts may be the most sought after today.
Paul N. “wire wheel covers”?Just had to get my only Peugeot book from the Peugeot file,Peugeot Guide by Sloniger,published in 1961 in New York and Toronto,Canada and a part of a series of publications,Modern Sports Car Series.Robergel in France made imitation wire wheels for many cars but it also made real wire wheels.”The true wire wheels do not require hub changes when fitted to a Peugeot 403 or 404.These are really half-wire wheels in that the three-stud hub is retained in the middle with wire lacing from that point to the rim.” They were available in enamel,with enamel rims and chrome spokes—or all chrome for prices {at home} that range from around $20 per wheel for the simple variety up to close to twice that amount for the full treatment with chrome hub caps as well.That book says “the lion’s first invasion dates clear back to 1913,,,Memorial Day in Indiana”.Peugeot factory racing in the U.S. between 1913-1920 and there were many laurels for the French machines as they wove an American record.Peugeot had many victories before 1913 in Europe.It is a great book.
So the 204 and 304 were FWD, which sounds like they were one of the early models (along with the original Mini) to use that configuration. Wow, didn’t know that.
Actually, they came at least some 10 years later than the AWZ P-70, the Saab 92 and the Trabant, the latter of which actually used a more modern configuration, with the gearbox located on the side of the engine rather than in the sump. And several decades after the original prewar DKW F-Series, which also had transverse engine / FWD (but with a more primitive system involving chain drive). So, it is really, really difficult to call them “early models to use this configuration”, with all respect, as they were quite too late to the party. The same actually goes to the Mini.
…but I like the 407 coupe too!
and I agree, the 504 is among the very best ever
“As this blog is about elegant cars, I haven’t included a photo of it, or of the 307 and 308 Coupe Cabriolets that Peugeot has offered since 2003.”
And I fully agree with your choice! The 306 Cabrio on the other hand is definitely elegant. Johannes Dutch mentioned the RCZ – that fits too although the ‘sporty/racy’ elements of the design nearly take over, and as always the facelift has not improved things.
I also agree with the comments that you probably only really ‘get’ the subtleties of the styling in person – taut surfacing with precise curvature. When they debuted the styling was compared to a Ferrari (obviously in a slightly different form factor).
Hi John,
I’d agree – the 306 Cabriolet couldbe included, and when I see a 406 Coupe, I’m always reminded of the Ferrari 456
Ha, I was reading the comments to see whether I’d have to be the one to bring up the 306 cabrio. There was a pre-facelift anthracite/black leather example on my street for many years and it almost felt wrong for such a graceful, classy little car to share a model name with a common hatch like the 306.
John H,occasionally parked outside a house near me is one of the last 306 Cabriolets in perfect condition and deep metallic blue with a blue fabric roof.Avery smart looking car.Did you,or anyone for that matter,know that you could order a removable hardtop for the 306 Cabriolet? Circa 2000 travelling from Blue Mountains down to Sydney in the 404 ute I saw one coming towards me and it was the only one have seen.It looked very stylish but if I remember the hardtop was quite expensive and had to be a special order.I think it was made by Pininfarina and 4 or 5 thousand dollars Australian was the price.No wonder it was the only one I have seen.
I’m sure I have seen a 306 with a hardtop but quite some time ago. It would be a good thing to have if the car is kept outside, but otherwise I would agree with the approach Mercedes took with the current E-class convertible; they stayed with a cloth top on the basis that owners would be garaging their cars, whereas that was not always the case with the cheaper models (C-class, SLK)
Spiritual successor of the Peugeot 406 Coupe ?
The Renault Laguna Coupe, it’s in the same (French) class.
That’s the Peugeot 407 Coupé:
Oops, this one:
Gustavo,”oops” is probably the most apt description of that style disaster,or you could prefix it with a “p”.
Hahahaha good! oops with P is the best adjective for this nose style PSA adopted ever since the X07 line. I wonder if it’s designers really thought they’ve been doing a better work after the 406 coupé…
The Chrysler is much better.
OK from the back though.
Sebring more so than Concorde–the 408 coupe and Sebring coupe are nearly identical in profile.. But it does look like an orphaned Chrysler overall, and your color/angle match shows it quite well!
I’ve forgotten about the Sebring coupé, they really look identical each other. In the end this shark whale nose fits good only in the Concorde and Jaguar XK8.
Thanks Roger.
Very stylish mini Ferrari and dead drop gorgeous in dark metallic green with brown, well ‘cognac’ coloured leather upholstery.
Jurgen the Gernan had one and I’d agree to buy it at three years old, after his lease contract thus avoiding the progressive totalitarian Dutch Socialist BPM luxury tax for vehicles, which percentage gets less importing a used car, which has become a national hobby!
Unfortunately Jurgen the Hamburger (I mean the city) German totalled the 406 a few weeks before I would buy it af a very fair price
I was so disappointed that I kept mg B5 TDI Passat for three hundred thousand miles
The 406’s spiritual successor is the also beautiful Renault Laguna Coupe, which in its own right does look like a mini-Aston Martin
French do know how to make stylish cars !
Rammstein,I agree,the French do know how to make stylish cars,especially when the bodies are designed by Italians.
As stated previously, if you haven’t seen one of these in the flesh, it’s important to remember that they don’t photograph well, don’t look their best in silver, and this one doesn’t have the most flattering wheels.
Also they have started to seem a little bland, but when they were launched they were just jaw dropping. My cousin had two of these, one was recently destroyed by a beauty technician who rammed it in a 30mph zone. The engine came out of her Renault Clio and ended up somewhere along the street – the accident investigator said it looked like a motorway crash. The Peugeot didn’t look too bad but is headed for the scrappy.
The Peugeot 306 with detachable hardtop roof.
another hardtop
hardtop
Ha! The CC effect has been coming out lately – although in reverse fashion: as I was driving around a roundabout near the end of our street last week, a red 406 Coupe was going around it the other way. First one I’ve seen in about a year! Such an elegantly refined shape.
I just acquired one. As far as I know there’s only one other in Canada at the moment. To me it’s like the perfect blend of the best of French and Italian automotive design. Pictures can’t do the design justice; in person it’s almost impossibly beautiful. If it was dull to drive that would ruin it for me but it’s fun and very capable. Mine is a 2.0 with the five-speed, and while it’s not exactly a rocket, it corners VERY hard while still somehow managing an excellent ride. Peugeot may have lost the plot in recent years (RCZ-R and 208GTI notwithstanding) but in 2000 they were still very much on top of the ride/handling balance that was their hallmark. I’ll be adding a V6 / 5-speed version to the stable in the near future.
Absolutely beautiful cars, though in a subtle way. I’d still love to see one, but in this country, it’ll be another five years before that becomes legal!
The 407 was rightly not included, as it looks like a very slightly warmed-over Chrysler Sebring coupe. I’m not sure who stole the design from who, but I think the Sebring is actually more attractive! (Pre-facelift, anyway.) Though as Peugeot efforts go, the RCZ is quite a looker, if clearly inspired by the Audi TT.
Currently in the UK , these cars are at the bottom of their depreciation curve. 3 weeks ago I purchase a 2001 2.0 Coupe petrol, in Arinane blue with red leather and the starfish alloys, for £500. It drives great and looks absolutely fabulous. Already covered 1200 miles in it. Love driving it, being so low it corners with real verve. It does have a special feel and looks fabulous. I hope to keep it for a long time
The cornering ability comes with all 406 chassis I have a MK1 Citroen C5 which is also on the 406 platform but with hydractive suspension instead of steel springs the ride is better than the 406 I owned hard to believe I know but you can throw it into tight corners and know it will go where pointed.
The 406 Coupe is a truly lovely car in the flesh. I saw a few in Europe and couldn’t take my eyes off them. That and the Alfa Romeo 156 were dream cars of mine.
But how on earth do you mention the prewar 402 and not note that it is a blatant copy of the CHRYSLER AIRFLOW?