Peugeot 402
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1810 |
| Headquarters | Sochaux , France |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Peugeot 402 represents a large family automobile manufactured by Peugeot at their Sochaux facility in France between 1935 and 1942, succeeding the Peugeot 401. Introduced at the 1935 Paris Motor Show, the model saw a production volume nearing 75,000 units.
This vehicle is distinguished by its sleek, Art Deco-inspired styling, influenced by the 1934 Chrysler Airflow. Peugeot enhanced this concept with a more dramatically angled grille and pioneered headlight placement positioned behind the grille but ahead of the radiator—a design innovation that preceded similar industry trends by more than ten years. Unlike Chrysler’s Airflow, the Peugeot 402 enjoyed commercial viability.
The 402 Éclipse décapotable, created in collaboration with coachbuilder Carrosserie Pourtout, was among the earliest production automobiles to feature a retractable hardtop, representing a major breakthrough in convertible engineering.
Although manufacturing ceased amid World War II, the postwar consumer preference for smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles led Peugeot to focus on models such as the Peugeot 202 and Peugeot 203. The subsequent launch of the Peugeot 403 clearly established it as the direct successor within Peugeot’s model lineup.
A conservative innovator
The 402 showcased a front design characteristic of Peugeot, with headlights recessed behind the grille, while its overall body shape took clear inspiration from the groundbreaking Chrysler Airflow. Peugeot acquired Airflow vehicles for detailed analysis, which earned the 402 the French nickname Fuseau Sochaux, referencing the spindle associated with Peugeot’s primary Sochaux factory. Streamlined design was a prominent French trend during the 1930s, visible in both the 402 and smaller Peugeot 202, positioning Peugeot among the earliest mass producers to incorporate aerodynamic principles extensively.
Key features included recessed safety door handles, an optional automatic transmission, and diesel engine options. While comparisons to the contemporary Citroën Traction Avant were unavoidable, the 402 maintained conventional mechanical foundations rooted in proven technology, likely lowering development and production expenses. Unlike Citroën—which encountered financial troubles in 1934—Peugeot’s use of a traditional separate chassis enabled a variety of body styles.
Significant investment was dedicated to developing and equipping production for the 402, which was competitively priced to stimulate strong sales. Positioned toward the premium segment of volume production, marketing highlighted upscale amenities such as electrically operated twin windshield wipers, semaphore-style trafficators, an instrument panel clock, dual sun visors, and a fuel tank with switchable reserve sections.
The range
For its era, the 402 offered an unusually broad selection of up to sixteen body configurations on one chassis—from luxurious steel-bodied convertibles to some of France’s most spacious family sedans.
The introduction of all-steel bodies by leading European manufacturers during the 1930s required substantial upfront expenditure due to heavy steel presses and dies essential for stamping panels. To maximize these investments efficiently, Peugeot meticulously engineered body variants to share as many panels as possible across different models.
Three wheelbase options
The Peugeot 402 was available with three distinct wheelbase lengths: 2880 mm (short), 3150 mm (standard), and 3300 mm (extended).
2880 mm “short” wheelbase (1937-1940)
Originally introduced with two chassis sizes in 1935, Peugeot expanded the lineup in 1937 by incorporating a third “short” chassis, derived from the Peugeot 302. This compact chassis was utilized for the Peugeot 402 Légère (“light-bodied”) variant.
Debuting in July 1937 and prominently displayed at the Paris Motor Show that October, the 402 Légère merged the 2880 mm wheelbase and body styling of the 302 with the more powerful 1991 cc engine from the 402. While the 302’s engine produced 43 hp at 4,000 rpm, the Légère’s output increased to 55 hp at the same engine speed, boosting its maximum velocity from 105 km/h (65 mph) to 125 km/h (78 mph). This strategic combination enabled Peugeot to introduce a higher-performance model with limited additional development costs, resulting in an estimated production of around 11,000 units.
Visually, the 402 Légère closely mirrored the appearance of the 302, although the starter handle aperture was relocated beneath the “402” emblem due to a marginally elevated engine position. An optional upgrade included a Cotal pre-selector gearbox, operated via a lever located behind the steering wheel to facilitate smoother gear shifts.
Although frequently regarded as a single model, the 402 Légère was offered in at least three distinct body configurations. The four-door “402 Légère berline” (saloon) was priced at 24,900 Francs as of October 1937. The two-door “coach,” a streamlined four-seater featuring pillarless side windows and front seats that tilted forward for rear access, was listed at 30,900 Francs but was not yet available for that year’s exhibition. Additionally, a prototype “décapotable” soft-top convertible was presented with a price tag of 31,900 Francs. Both the “coach” and “décapotable” boasted more aerodynamic styling compared to the berline, accentuated by rear wheel covers.
3150 mm “standard” wheelbase (1935-1942)
The standard saloon/sedan model (berline), unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in late 1935, featured a 3150 mm chassis and was promoted as a six-passenger vehicle with two bench seats and an exceptionally wide body design. This four-door "berline" came as a "6 glaces" (six-window) saloon, with three windows on each side. By 1936, it represented the most affordable option within the normal wheelbase range of the 402 series, starting at a price of 23,900 francs.
A comparable variant was the 402 "normale commerciale," also seating six occupants but equipped with a split tailgate rather than fixed panels. This design allowed conversion of the rear cabin into cargo space by folding down or removing the rear seat. Later iterations featured rear rooflines that were somewhat squared off, resembling steel-bodied station wagon conversions; however, most maintained the traditional saloon profile to minimize production expenses by avoiding specialized body panel fabrication.
Additional normal wheelbase models available in 1936 included a Grand-luxe berline fitted with a sliding steel sunroof; a two-door soft-top cabriolet accommodating four or five passengers priced at 30,900 francs; a two-door "coach" saloon seating five or six at 29,900 francs; a two- or three-seat roadster priced at 27,900 francs; and notably, the "coupé transformable Éclipse," featuring a steel retractable hardtop convertible roof and priced at 34,900 francs.
The Éclipse marked Peugeot’s inaugural steel retractable hardtop coupe model, incorporating a mechanism patented in 1931 by Georges Paulin. Although somewhat bulky and requiring an extended rear overhang on the 3150 mm chassis, it initially offered seating for just two occupants. This pioneering design anticipated later vehicles such as the Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder in 1995 and inspired popular models like the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class introduced in 1996. Peugeot resumed manufacturing hardtop convertibles decades later with the launch of the Peugeot 206 CC in 2001.
Several body styles were produced in limited numbers; despite their introduction at the October 1936 Motor Show, three variants—the five- or six-seat coach, four- or five-seat soft-top cabriolet, and steel-roofed coupé transformable Éclipse—were discontinued by early 1937. The coupé transformable Éclipse had effectively been succeeded by a longer version of the Éclipse convertible that accommodated four to five passengers on the longest available chassis length.
3,300 mm (130 in) extended wheelbase (1935–circa 1940)
The primary extended wheelbase Peugeot 402 introduced in 1935 was the 402 Familiale, which resembled the conventional six-light berline but featured an elongated rear section to accommodate a third row of foldaway seats (strapontins escamotables). By the time of the 1937 Motor Show, the 402 commerciale had also adopted this longer wheelbase for the 1938 model year.
Peugeot offered a specialized taxi variant based on the long wheelbase model, closely mirroring the Familiale, with several thousand units reportedly operating in Paris and other major French cities by 1937. Unlike many rivals, Peugeot did not operate its own taxi fleet but successfully supplied independent drivers with these vehicles.
At the 1936 exhibition, focus was also drawn to the 402 cabriolet metallique decouvrable, a metal-bodied convertible built on the extended wheelbase chassis, notable for its compact second bench seat.
During its later production years, particularly throughout World War II, light commercial van and utility versions of the 402 gained importance. Production is believed to have ceased between 1942 and possibly as late as 1944.
Petrol/gasoline
The initial 402 model was equipped with a 1991 cc four-cylinder water-cooled engine delivering , allowing it to reach a maximum speed of at 4,000 rpm. In 1938, the Peugeot 402B increased engine displacement to 2142 cc and power output to . Performance varied significantly due to the wide range of body types and lengths offered. A performance coupe crafted by Darl'mat produced .
Diesel
Since 1928, Peugeot had been manufacturing diesel engines at its Lille facility for applications including boats, railcars, and tractors. By 1936, it developed the HL50 diesel engine intended for light commercial vehicles. Given French regulations limiting diesel use on road vehicles to trucks and commercial purposes, Peugeot secured special authorization to install diesel engines in select 402 models.
By late 1938, diesel-powered prototypes of the 402 were undergoing testing; early in 1939, several dozen long-wheelbase saloons equipped with HL50 diesel engines (2,300 cc, ) entered taxi service. This positioned the 402 among the earliest diesel-powered commercial saloons available. Diesel variants achieved roughly a 33% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to their petrol equivalents.
At the outbreak of World War II, approximately a dozen diesel-powered Peugeot 402s were in existence; only one chassis survived post-war. The HL50 engine's development laid the foundation for Peugeot’s subsequent diesel achievements with the introduction of the Peugeot 403 in 1959, one of the pioneering diesel saloons worldwide.
Drivetrain and chassis
The Peugeot 402 came standard with a three-speed manual gearbox powering the rear axle. An optional Cotal three-speed automatic transmission—usually reserved for luxury marques like Delahaye and Delage—was available but carried a steep price tag of 2,500 Francs in 1937, making it unaffordable for most customers.
Braking employed mechanical (cable-actuated) drum brakes, which were becoming outdated compared to competitors such as the Citroën Traction that utilized hydraulic systems; this somewhat diminished the advanced reputation of the 402.
Commercial performance
Approximately 75,000 Peugeot 402 units were manufactured over seven years during a period characterized by consolidation within France’s automotive sector. While competitors like Citroën were acquired by Michelin in 1934 and Renault was nationalized in 1945, Peugeot retained its independence.
Following France’s declaration of war against Germany in 1939, convertible and cabriolet versions of the 402 were discontinued. By April 1940, only standard and extended wheelbase saloon models remained listed in price catalogs. From 1938 onwards, Peugeot became a consistent supplier to the French military; several thousand units of both the smaller 202 and especially the long-wheelbase 402 served military purposes during 1939–40.
The Peugeot 402 in a Petrol-Free Era
During the Second World War, widespread shortages of civilian fuel led Peugeot to modify their engines to operate using gas produced by burning charcoal, a technology referred to as gazogène. The elongated Peugeot 402 proved particularly compatible with this modification, which entailed installing a charcoal boiler carrying approximately 35 kg at the vehicle’s rear. This arrangement allowed the car to travel roughly 80 kilometers before requiring more fuel. The burning charcoal generated carbon monoxide gas, which was collected and directed through external tubing to power the engine.
From 1940 to 1944, more than 2,500 Peugeot vehicles were fitted with gazogène units, allowing them to remain functional despite the limited availability of petrol. This innovation highlighted Peugeot’s ability to adapt strategically under wartime restrictions.
Peugeot DK 5
The Peugeot DK 5 was a military truck manufactured during the late 1930s and early 1940s for use by the French Army. It saw service throughout World War II and was also utilized by the Wehrmacht following Germany’s occupation of France. The DK 5 merged a specialized truck chassis with the bodywork of the 401 and the front end of the 402, altered to incorporate an expansive cargo bed. Weighing approximately , it offered a payload capacity of 1.5 tons and was equipped with a more robust engine than typical passenger models to meet heavy-duty transport requirements. Production totaled around 12,500 units, with the final vehicles being phased out during the 1950s and 1960s.
Film Appearances
The Peugeot 402 featured prominently as a Parisian taxicab driven by Don Ameche in the screwball comedy Midnight (1939 film). It also appeared in the British movie A Day to Remember (1953 film), where it was driven by Odile Versois. Furthermore, HP Baxxter included the model in his music video for the song "Friends".