Peugeot 504
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1810 |
| Headquarters | Sochaux , France |
| Products | Automobiles, including Peugeot 504 |
The Peugeot 504 is a mid-size vehicle featuring a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, manufactured by Peugeot from 1968 until 1983 within a single generation. Its primary configurations included a four-door saloon and an estate, complemented by two-door coupé and cabriolet variants, as well as pickup truck versions.
The saloon's design was crafted by Aldo Brovarone at Pininfarina, whereas the coupé and cabriolet were the work of Franco Martinengo, also at Pininfarina. Peugeot developed the wagon and pickup models internally.
Renowned for its durable construction, extensive suspension travel, elevated ground clearance, large wheels, and torque tube driveshaft system, the 504 became especially favored in challenging environments such as those found in Latin America and Africa.
More than three million units were produced across Europe, with production continuing globally through licensing arrangements. Notably, assembly took place in Kenya with 27,000 units built, and Nigeria produced 425,000 vehicles from knock-down kits, with manufacturing continuing there until 2006.
Introduced as Peugeot's premier model at the 1968 Paris Salon, the 504 earned the 1969 European Car of the Year award. In 2013, the Los Angeles Times referred to it as "Africa's workhorse."
Introduction
Presented as Peugeot's flagship saloon, the 504 made its debut on 12 September 1968 at the Paris Salon. Its release and production schedules were impacted by the political and industrial turmoil during the May 1968 events in France.
Initially launched as a four-door saloon equipped with a sunroof and powered by a carbureted 1,796 cc four-cylinder petrol engine delivering DIN , with an optional fuel injection system available. A four-speed manual gearbox mounted on the column was standard; from February 1969 onward, a three-speed ZF automatic transmission option was introduced. By September 1969, the automatic gear selector was relocated from the steering column to a floor-mounted position.
The 504 secured the European Car of the Year title in 1969, receiving acclaim for its design, build quality, chassis dynamics, ride comfort, visibility, engine performance, and refinement. That same year marked its entry into the Australian automobile market.
At the March 1969 Geneva Auto Show, Peugeot unveiled the 504 Injection two-door coupé and cabriolet models. These shared the fuel-injected engine producing , but featured a slightly altered final drive ratio to achieve higher top speeds. Unlike the saloons, these variants were equipped with floor-mounted shifters.
Available variants included:
- 504 four-door saloon
- 504 Injection four-door saloon
- 504 Injection two-door coupé
- 504 Injection two-door cabriolet
1970
In 1970, the model received an updated 1,971 cc four-cylinder engine rated at (carbureted) and (fuel-injected). During the 1970 Paris Motor Show, Peugeot introduced a new diesel engine option: a 2,112 cc four-cylinder unit delivering . The original 1,796 cc petrol engine was discontinued for saloon models.
September of that year saw Peugeot launch an estate version called "Break," featuring an extended wheelbase and raised rear roofline. It was soon joined by a seven-seat "Familiale" variant with three rows of forward-facing seats. Both models became available for sale in April of the following year. The Break and Familiale were powered by either the 2.0-liter petrol or 2.1-liter diesel engines utilized in saloons. The practical "Commerciale" version reintroduced a detuned 1.8-liter petrol engine producing , alongside a diesel alternative employing the Peugeot 404 Diesel's 1.95-liter XD88 engine rated at , capable of reaching . The Commerciale was characterized by a stripped-down interior lacking carpeting in cargo areas, basic seats without headrests, reinforced suspension components, single round headlights, and painted trim replacing chrome accents.
Later in 1970, an automatic transmission option was added to both coupé and cabriolet models; although this feature remained uncommon and inconsistently offered on cabriolets, approximately 2,500 two-door 504s were equipped with automatic gearboxes through to 1983.
Model lineup:
- 504 Commerciale five-door utility wagon
- 504 four-door saloon / five-door Break / Familiale
- 504 Injection four-door saloon
- 504 Commerciale Diesel five-door utility wagon
- 504 Diesel four-door saloon / Familiale
- 504 Injection two-door coupé
- 504 Injection two-door cabriolet
1971
Peugeot launched the Break SL ("Super Luxe") wagon in 1971, offering an upgraded version equipped with a carburetted 2.0-liter engine. Unlike the standard wagons, the SL featured metallic paint, more luxurious interior materials, and enhanced fittings.
1972
Fuel-injected 504 sedans transitioned to a floor-mounted manual shifter. Additionally, the 504 Commerciale replaced its round headlights with conventional rectangular units.
1973
In April 1973, amidst the oil crisis, Peugeot introduced the 504 L model, which incorporated a coil-sprung live rear axle and brought back the smaller 1796 cc engine rated at either 79 or 81 PS for the L Automatique variant. The new axle design necessitated modifications to the floor pan, resulting in slightly reduced trunk capacity and rear passenger headroom. The range was further broadened by the addition of the 1.95-liter 504 LD sedan, which shared its diesel engine with the Commerciale but delivered 56 PS; meanwhile, the Commerciale diesel’s power output was lowered to 50 PS. The L sedans were characterized by the absence of bumper overriders and featured a simplified dashboard with a horizontal instrument layout. Except for the L models, all other 504 sedans replaced column shifters with floor-mounted gear selectors.
- Model Variants
- 504 L sedan (1.8 carburetted)
- 504 GL sedan (2.0 carburetted)
- 504 TI sedan (2.0 fuel-injected)
- 504 LD sedan (1.95 diesel)
- 504 GLD sedan (2.1 diesel)
- 504 Commerciale (1.8 carburetted)
- 504 Break/Break SL/Familiale (2.0 carburetted)
- 504 Commerciale Diesel (1.95 diesel)
- 504 Familiale Diesel (2.1 diesel)
- 504 Coupé (2.0 fuel-injected)
- 504 Cabriolet (2.0 fuel-injected)
1974
The second-generation 504 appeared in August 1974, featuring flush-mounted door handles and new wheels with rectangular apertures on GL and TI trims, which also received a more cushioned steering wheel. The double carburettor on the 2.0-liter engine switched from Solex SEIA to Zenith INAT without altering performance; estate models upgraded their liftgates from steel springs to gas struts.
At the Paris Motor Show in October, Peugeot revealed the more potent "PRV" V6 engine displacing 2664 cc for use in the 504 coupé and cabriolet, developed jointly with Renault and Volvo. This aluminum-block V6 employed innovative dual carburetors—a single-chamber unit directly linked to accelerator input and a twin-chamber pneumatic-controlled unit—producing 136 PS and enabling a top speed of 186 km/h. In 1975, production included 2,643 six-cylinder coupés and cabriolets, a modest figure compared to the 236,733 four-cylinder sedans and wagons manufactured in France that year. Following this introduction, four-cylinder coupé and cabriolet models were temporarily discontinued but returned in 1978 due to market demand.
1975
The Break and Break SL models were renamed as L and GL respectively. The 504 TI gained rear power windows as a new feature.
1976
At the October 1976 Paris Motor Show, Peugeot introduced an enlarged diesel engine of 2304 cc for the 504 GLD sedan, increasing output from 65 to 70 PS. The availability of the 2.1-liter diesel in sedans was briefly interrupted during this period. Ford utilized the same 2112 cc diesel engine in its Ford Granada since it lacked its own diesel option in this segment. From August 1976 onward, power outputs for the two-liter petrol engines rose slightly to 96 PS for carburetted versions and to 106 PS for fuel-injected variants. The black plastic grille replaced chrome on the front of the 504 L models, while power steering became standard equipment on the TI trim.
1977
In September 1977, the GLD Break and Familiale Diesel models received the new 2.3-liter diesel engine, while the Break L was equipped with a detuned 2.1-liter unit generating 59 PS. For the 2.3 diesel saloons, an automatic transmission option became available. The 1.9-liter diesel engine was phased out, and basic 504 saloons dropped the "L" designation, featuring a black plastic dashboard and a GL/TI steering wheel instead. The diesel saloon continued to use the earlier 65 PS 2.1-liter engine.
To improve sluggish sales of the V6, the coupé and cabriolet reintroduced the fuel-injected 2.0-liter engine. The V6 coupé received fuel injection and a five-speed manual gearbox, increasing output to 144 PS; meanwhile, production of the V6 cabriolet ended after only 970 units were made over three years.
1979 to 1983
Following the introduction of the Peugeot 505 in 1979, European manufacturing of the Peugeot 504 declined, although the 504 Pickup succeeded the 404 Pickup for the 1980 model year. While European production of passenger cars ceased in 1983, the pickup variant continued to be produced in Europe until 1993. More than three million Peugeot 504 passenger vehicles were assembled in Europe. The Peugeot 505 shared numerous mechanical elements with the 504, as did both the Peugeot 604 and Talbot Tagora models.
504 Coupé/Cabriolet
After the success of the 404, Peugeot partnered with Pininfarina to create two-door coupé and cabriolet versions, which debuted at the Geneva Salon in March 1969. Pininfarina manufactured the body shells in Turin, with final assembly carried out at Peugeot’s Sochaux facility. These variants featured a shorter wheelbase and a wider rear track compared to their saloon counterparts.
Early versions of the 504 Coupé and Cabriolet shared mechanical components with saloons and were powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, which was upgraded to two liters in 1970 without increasing performance figures. With the launch of the 604, Peugeot introduced a 2.7-liter V6 PRV engine producing from September 1974 onward, discontinuing four-cylinder options at that time. This update coincided with a facelift (2nd series) that included redesigned bumpers, interior enhancements, single wide headlights replacing dual units, and larger taillights. Due to Europe's fuel crisis negatively impacting V6 sales, Peugeot reinstated the two-liter engine in October 1977 after roughly 27,000 units had been built by Pininfarina. The V6 Cabriolet was discontinued while the V6 Coupé gained a five-speed manual transmission paired with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, raising power output to .
For the 1980 model year (3rd series), minor changes were made such as grille adjustments and fuller polyurethane bumpers—black on solid colors and body-matched on metallic finishes. In October 1981, final revisions included adding two extra gauges to the instrument cluster and introducing redesigned alloy wheels fitted with TRX tires for the V6 Coupé. Production concluded in August 1983 after a total of 31,163 units were manufactured.
Initially, both body styles came standard with a four-speed manual gearbox; a ZF three-speed automatic became an option in September 1971 but was withdrawn from the Cabriolet after just 292 units were sold. By 1978, the V6 Coupé adopted a five-speed manual transmission that replaced four-speed manuals on four-cylinder variants by the time of the 1980 facelift. During Series 2 production, a three-speed automatic was also offered for the V6 Coupé.
The Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé achieved notable success in endurance rally competitions, winning events such as the 1978 Safari Rally and securing top finishes at the same year’s Bandama Rally. It also claimed victories at several African rallies outside of WRC events, including triumphs at the 1976 Bandama Rally along with multiple wins at Rally Zaïre and Rally Kenya.
Pininfarina created a unique shooting brake version named Peugeot 504 Riviera (1971), but this variant never entered production. Additionally, an aerodynamic three-door coupé featuring a rear hatch intended for the US market—codenamed E27 or Peugeot 504 Coupé Sport—was planned for release in 1982 but was ultimately canceled due to Peugeot’s financial difficulties and uncertainties surrounding US market conditions.
Pickup and Commercial Variants
The 504 Pickup made its debut in September 1979 for the 1980 model year, culminating ten years of efforts to adapt the 504’s monocoque structure into a utility vehicle. It incorporated the extended wheelbase and live rear axle derived from the 504 Break. At launch, it was equipped with straightforward features, including single round headlights housed in plastic surrounds reminiscent of the 504’s distinctive "cat’s eyes." Engine choices comprised the 404’s 1618 cc petrol (U01) delivering 62 PS and a 1948 cc diesel (U20) producing 49 PS. Notably, this was the sole 504 variant offered with the 1.6-liter XC5 engine. Production was carried out by Chausson, aligning with Peugeot’s commercial vehicle manufacturing approach. The payload capacity stood at 1100 kg, rising to 1250 kg for models destined for African markets (V01/V20). A chassis cab version enabled third-party firms such as Heuliez to develop specialized vehicles; for instance, Germany’s Bimobil manufactured approximately 300 detachable camper units based on the 504 chassis following an initial Peugeot order of twenty units.
The pickup maintained rear-wheel drive and featured a four-speed manual transmission with floor-mounted shifter and a standard locking differential; later iterations introduced an optional five-speed gearbox. In July 1981, Dangel launched a four-wheel-drive variant, predominantly acquired by French government agencies due to procurement policies favoring domestic suppliers. Production of the Dangel 4x4 Pickup totaled around 5,500 units before it was discontinued in 1994.
In 1982, Peugeot unveiled the premium 504 Pickup GR trim, which included chrome detailing, an onboard clock, and door-mounted armrests. This GR model was distinguished by black rubber bumper overriders and unique hubcaps, contrasting with standard versions that featured light gray painted grilles and bumpers. By 1984, chrome embellishments were replaced with a more understated appearance. The GR was renamed "Confort" in France in 1987 coinciding with the phase-out of the 1.6-liter petrol engine; it received an upgraded petrol engine producing 80 PS from a 1.8-liter unit. The diesel GRD variant was equipped with a 70 PS 2.3-liter engine. French market models were rebranded as "Entrepreneur" in 1988 featuring a 2.1-liter diesel engine, later upgraded to a 2.3-liter unit by 1990. Trim designations varied internationally; in the UK, later versions carried "GL" badges. Following the cessation of French production, pickups assembled in Argentina were exported to France during 1995–96, identifiable by updated front bumpers and redesigned instrument panels.
Mechanical Configuration
The vehicle employed a rear-wheel drive system paired with longitudinally mounted engines angled to reduce bonnet height. Both manual and automatic transmission options were available. Front suspension utilized MacPherson struts, while rear suspension varied: sedans, coupés, and cabriolets featured semi-trailing arms; wagons and pickups adopted a simpler live rear axle supported by coil springs or heavy-duty leaf springs depending on application. The majority of 504 models used a torque tube driveline configuration. This robust suspension and drivetrain setup contributed to the model’s reputation for reliability on challenging terrains across Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Disc brakes were fitted at the front wheels; rear braking systems differed between discs or drum brakes depending on specific variants. A pioneering brake pad wear indicator light was incorporated as standard equipment. Steering employed a rack and pinion mechanism for precise control. The 504 stood out by offering diesel engines mated to automatic transmissions—a combination that was uncommon at the time. The diesel powerplants were Indenor-designed units of 1948 cc, 2112 cc, and 2304 cc displacement also utilized in various commercial vehicles and marine engines.
European petrol engines included four-cylinder units of 1796 cc and 1971 cc as well as a V6 engine displacing 2664 cc. The two-liter petrol engine featured Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection technology initially introduced on the earlier Peugeot 404. Transmission options consisted of BA7 four-speed manuals or ZF three-speed automatics; later European pickup models gained an additional fifth gear on manuals. Export market versions incorporated various modifications tailored to local requirements. The engineering of the 504’s engine and suspension systems influenced subsequent vehicles such as the Paykan, Iran’s adaptation of the Hillman Hunter.
Markets
By the end of 2015, there were still 197 Peugeot 504 vehicles actively driven in the United Kingdom.
- United States
For a number of years, the 504 was Peugeot’s exclusive model available in North America. Initially, it closely resembled the European version but gradually underwent adaptations to comply with US emissions and safety standards. The lineup included a 2-litre petrol engine alongside a 2.1-litre diesel, which was eventually succeeded by a 2.3-litre diesel.
In 1974, the American carbureted 2-litre petrol engine delivered power at 5200 rpm with a modest compression ratio of 7.6:1. The 2.1-litre diesel engine offered performance consistent with international figures at 4500 rpm.
Africa
Production persisted in Kenya until 2004 and in Nigeria until 2006, utilizing Peugeot knock down kits, culminating in a remarkable 38-year global production run of the 504. Kenyan manufacturing totaled approximately 27,000 units, with sales continuing through 2007; the model earned the nickname "King of the African road." Egypt also maintained assembly operations. In South Africa, PACSA produced the 504 until late 1978, after which Sigma Motor Corporation took over from 1979 at their Pretoria facility. Until 1976, South African offerings included two-litre and TI variants before introducing the more economical 1800 L model. Across Africa, the Peugeot 504 remains widely used as a bush taxi.
Asia-Pacific
The 504 was assembled under license in several countries within this region. In Australia, where it debuted in 1969, Renault—one of Peugeot’s competitors—handled assembly and distributed the car through its dealer network; only the saloon was locally assembled while Break and Familiale versions were imported fully built-up. By 1981, the price for a 504 GL stood at AUD $11,000.
In China, production of the 504 included a pickup variant featuring a four-door crew cab based on an extended estate chassis by Guangzhou Peugeot Automobile Company. Manufacturing ceased in 1997 following the conclusion of the joint venture.
South America
In Argentina, SAFRAR initiated production of the Peugeot 504 in 1969. Production shifted to Sevel Argentina in 1980 at El Palomar near Buenos Aires, where sedans, estates (1980–81), and pickups were manufactured. Sedan production continued until 1999 with sales extending into 2000. Pickups—offered in single and double cab configurations with payload capacities exceeding one tonne (1300 kg)—were produced from 1983 to 1997 and primarily exported to neighboring nations. A facelift in 1991 refreshed lamps, bumpers, and interiors. Argentine models came equipped with either a 1971 cc petrol or a 2304 cc diesel engine.
Between 1977 and 1978, SAFRAR also produced a sportier sedan variant known as the 504 TN for local motorsport categories including Turismo Nacional. This model featured an enhanced XN1 2.0-litre engine with improved intake and exhaust manifolds, a dual-mouth Solex carburetor, and a camshaft with increased lift (7.5 mm compared to the previous 6.7 mm), delivering increased power output.
Dangel models
The French firm Dangel manufactured four-wheel drive versions of Peugeot-approved Break (estate/station wagon) and pickup models.
Politics
In 1976, the Government of Sri Lanka acquired numerous Peugeot 504s to transport dignitaries attending the Fifth Non-Aligned Movement summit held in Colombo.
In November 2010, Iranian state television reported that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad planned to auction his personal 1977 Peugeot 504 to raise funds for charity. The vehicle, having only covered about 37,000 km, represented his working-class image during his successful campaign in 2005. Proceeds from the sale were designated for the Mehr housing project aimed at providing affordable homes for low-income families. The auction attracted an initial $1 million bid from "an Arab country" in January 2011 and ultimately closed at $2.5 million by March.
Motorsport
Peugeot 504 models achieved triumphs in multiple World Rally Championship competitions: