Peugeot 304

Peugeot

Industry	Automotive
Founded	February 26, 1810 (1810-02-26) in France
Headquarters	Sochaux , France
Products	Automobiles, including Peugeot 304
Website	www.peugeot.com

The Peugeot 304 is a small family car manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot between 1969 and 1980.

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 1969, production of the sedan ceased in mid-1979 at the Sochaux facility, whereas the estate version, known as the "Break," remained available until early 1980. This model was classified within the French 7CV tax bracket, positioned above the smaller Peugeot 204 (6CV) and below the larger Peugeot 404 (9CV).

Achieving commercial success, the Peugeot 304 boasted an elegant design crafted by Aldo Brovarone at Pininfarina. It was succeeded by the Peugeot 305, introduced in 1977, which incorporated numerous shared components from both the 204 and 304. The chassis platform underpinning these models enjoyed a production run spanning roughly 24 years.

History

Peugeot created the 304 to address a midsize segment gap in markets such as France, Italy, and Western Europe. By utilizing the midsection of the smaller 204, development expenses were minimized while profitability was maximized. Its main rivals included Renault and Simca; notably, Citroën did not participate in this segment at the time of launch. The 304 featured front-wheel drive with independent suspension and disc brakes upfront, initially available solely as a four-door sedan with Super-Luxe trim.

A variant compliant with U.S. federal regulations was produced from June 1970 to July 1972 but experienced limited market success. The station wagon version was introduced in late 1970, with cumulative U.S. sales totaling 4,269 units between 1970 and 1972.

Engines

At launch, the 304 was equipped with an all-aluminum SOHC four-cylinder petrol engine displacing 1,288 cc (XL3), derived from the 204’s smaller 1130 cc XK3 powerplant. A higher-performance S variant (XL3S) featuring twin carburetors became available on coupé and cabriolet models in March 1972 and was later extended to the sedan by autumn that year, boosting power output by 10 hp to reach 75 hp.

In 1975, engine modifications slightly increased displacement to 1,290 cc (XL5/XL5S) while enhancing torque delivery. Following the discontinuation of the 204, Peugeot introduced a lower-capacity 1127 cc petrol engine (XK5) for use in the 304 Break and Fourgonette models at the Paris Motor Show in 1976.

To meet U.S. emissions requirements, American-market engines featured a reduced compression ratio (7.5:1 compared to 8.8:1) alongside a modified carburetor setup, resulting in outputs of 70 hp SAE Gross in 1970 and declining to 58 hp SAE Net by 1972.

In Greece, where tax regulations favored engines below 1,200 cc, the Berline version of the 304 was offered with the smaller 1130 cc XK4 engine from October 1971 until production ended in March 1978.

Diesel variants were introduced in July 1976 with a 1,357 cc unit for both sedans and estates, followed by a larger 1,548 cc diesel engine launched in July 1979—the same powerplant used in early Peugeot 305 models. Despite being produced for just over three years, diesel-powered Peugeot 304s exceeded a total of 120,000 units.

Running gear

The Peugeot 304 incorporated fully independent suspension and a four-speed transmission positioned beneath the engine sharing its lubrication system. While many interior components were interchangeable with those of the Peugeot 204, the gearshift was floor-mounted rather than column-mounted as on the earlier model. Its transverse-engine front-wheel-drive architecture improved passenger cabin space—a layout that had become increasingly prevalent following the introduction of the 204. Additionally, front disc brakes and headlights adjustable for either left- or right-hand drive configurations were standard features.

Bodies

Situated between the well-known 204 and the more recent 504, the 304 utilized much of the same engine and chassis components as the 204, but showcased a redesigned front grille and headlights influenced by the acclaimed 504. Compared to the 204, the sedan’s rear overhang was lengthened by 13.5 cm (5.5 inches), providing increased trunk capacity, while the estate and two-door variants maintained the shorter rear design of their 204 predecessors.

The coupé and cabriolet models, which succeeded earlier 204 versions in March 1970, were the first to feature the enhanced "S" performance engine starting in March 1972. By mid-1973, lower-powered versions of these cabriolet and coupé models were phased out, leaving only the "S" trims available. Initially launched solely as a sedan, the Break (station wagon) was added to the range in September 1970, rounding out most body styles. A three-door fourgonette (panel van) was introduced in September 1977 as a late replacement for the discontinued 204 fourgonette.

Throughout its production period exceeding a decade, modifications to the 304 were minimal. In September 1972, the sedan adopted simplified rear light clusters and switched from a silver-outlined Peugeot badge to a solid gold-colored emblem. The roofline was slightly squared off to enhance headroom for rear passengers, altering rear door window frames while keeping front doors compatible with those of the 204. Mechanical improvements included replacing the dynamo with an alternator by mid-1971 (standard from launch on Break, Coupé, and Cabriolet). Wider tires became standard on sedan and Break versions in February 1974. Additionally, in 1977, the hydraulic clutch system was replaced by a cable-operated mechanism.

Commercial

Introduced in 1969, the Peugeot 304 entered a competitive segment alongside rivals such as the Renault 12 and later the Citroën GS. Following the 1973 oil crisis, demand increased as buyers shifted away from larger vehicles. The 304 gained particular popularity among police forces and public service fleets in France and Germany’s Saarland region, where Peugeot held strong market presence.

Production of the 304 sedan continued until 1979, overlapping with the launch of the Peugeot 305 sedan in 1977. The estate version remained in production until mid-1980 before being succeeded by the 305 estate. By that time, total output had reached approximately 1,178,423 units, with around 36% exported primarily across Europe—reflecting Peugeot’s approach of treating the EEC as an integrated market.

The estate model was also exported extensively to North Africa, where it was commonly used as taxis and louages. In Egypt especially, it remained a prevalent taxi choice up to at least 2009 despite government initiatives aimed at promoting newer vehicles compliant with emissions standards.

Cabriolet

The Peugeot 304 cabriolet was a two-door model featuring seating for two occupants, distinct from its four-seat coupé counterpart. Around 19,000 cabriolets were manufactured between 1970 and 1975, including 836 right-hand drive versions destined for the UK market. After March 1972, only the more powerful "S" variant remained available as a cabriolet trim following July that year; this version makes up most surviving examples found in the UK.

Data

Transmission type: ||colspan=5 align=center Four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh; front-wheel drive Braking system: ||colspan=5 align=center Front disc brakes; rear drum brakes Track front/rear:||align=center /||align=center /||align=center /||align=center /||align=center / Wheelbase length:||align=center ||align=center ||align=center ||align=center ||align=center Overall length:||align=center ||align=center ||align=center ||align=center ||align=center Vehicle width:||align=center ||align=center ||align=center ||align=center ||align=center Height empty/loaded:||align=center /||align=center /||align=center /||align=center /||align=center /

Technical specifications for Peugeot 304 (Manufacturer’s figures unless otherwise noted)

Peugeot 304	4-door saloon/sedan	5-door Break (estate)	3-door Coupé	2-door Cabriolet	3-door Fourgonette (van)
Production period: (units)	Sep 1969 – Jul 1979 (849,103)	Sep 1970 – May 1980 (216,183)	Mar 1970 – Jul 1975 (60,186)	Mar 1970 – Jul 1975 (18,647)	Sep 1976 – May 1980 (34,304)
Engine type:	Transversely mounted four-stroke SOHC inline-four engine with aluminium block and replaceable wet liners
Petrol engine displacements:	1,288 cc (1969–1975) 1,290 cc (1975–1979)	1,288 cc (1970–1975) 1,127 cc (1976–1980) 1,290 cc (1975–1980)	1,288 cc	1,288 cc	1,127 cc (1976–1980) 1,290 cc (1976–1980)
Diesel engine displacements:	1,357 cc (1976–1979)	1,357 cc (1976–1980) 1,548 cc (1979–1980)	—	—	1,357 cc (1976–1980) 1,548 cc (1979–1980)
Maximum power output (petrol engines):	65 bhp (48 kW) (1969–1975) 75 bhp (55 kW) (1972–1978) 65 bhp (48 kW) (1975–1979)	65 bhp (48 kW) (1970–1975) 59 bhp (43 kW) (1976–1980) 65 bhp (48 kW) (1975–1980)	65 bhp (48 kW) (1970–1973) 75 bhp (55 kW) (1972–75)	65 bhp (48 kW) (1970–1972) 75 bhp (55 kW) (1972–75)	59 bhp (43 kW) (1976–1980) 65 bhp (48 kW) (1976–1980)
Maximum power output (diesel engines):	45 bhp (33 kW) (1976–1979)	45 bhp (33 kW) (1976–1980) 47 bhp (35 kW) (1979–1980)	—	—	45 bhp (33 kW) (1976–1980) 47 bhp (35 kW) (1979–1980)
Maximum torque (petrol engines):	94.2 Nm (69 lb-ft) (1969–1975) 101 Nm (75 lb-ft) (1972–78) 94.2 Nm (69 lb-ft) (1975–79)	94.2 Nm (69 lb-ft) (70-75) 80.4 Nm (59 lb-ft) (76-80) 94.2 Nm (69 lb-ft) (75-80)	align=center|94.2 Nm (69 lb-ft) (70-73) 101 Nm (75 lb-ft) (72-75)	align=center|94.2 Nm (69 lb-ft) (70-73) 101 Nm (75 lb-ft) (72-73)	align=center|80.4 Nm (59 lb-ft) (76-80) 94.2 Nm (69 lb-ft) (76-80)
max torque diesel engines	—	—	—	—	—
(Body configuration)	(4-door saloon)	(5-door estate)	(3-door hatchback coupé)	(2-door cabriolet)	(fourgonette van)

External links

• Official website of Club 204-304 (French)
• Independent 304 website focusing on remaining UK 304 Cabriolets (English)