Peugeot 802
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | February 26, 1810 in France |
| Headquarters | Sochaux , France |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Peugeot 402 was a large family automobile manufactured by Peugeot at their Sochaux facility in France between 1935 and 1942. Introduced to the public at the 1935 Paris Motor Show, it succeeded the Peugeot 401 model.
Distinguished by its sleek, partially Art Deco styling inspired by the 1934 Chrysler Airflow, the Peugeot 402 pushed forward automotive design with its sharply inclined grille and headlights positioned behind it, ahead of the radiator—a design feature that anticipated similar trends by more than ten years. Unlike the Chrysler Airflow, the Peugeot 402 achieved commercial success.
In partnership with Carrosserie Pourtout, Peugeot developed the groundbreaking 402 Éclipse décapotable, among the earliest production vehicles equipped with a retractable hardtop roof.
Although production ceased during World War II, the Peugeot 403 launched after the war served as its direct successor. Nevertheless, shifting post-war consumer preferences toward smaller, fuel-efficient cars led Peugeot to concentrate on their well-received Peugeot 202 and Peugeot 203 models throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s.
A conservative innovator
The 402 sported a front design characteristic of Peugeot, featuring headlights recessed behind the grille. Its body shape drew heavily from the pioneering Chrysler Airflow, which Peugeot examined in detail. Known as Fuseau Sochaux—a nod to the spindle emblem of Peugeot’s Sochaux plant—the 402 represented French aerodynamic styling of the 1930s alongside contemporaries like the Citroën Traction Avant and Bugatti Type 57. Peugeot was among the earliest mass producers to extensively incorporate such streamlined principles, including on smaller models like the Peugeot 202.
Among its innovations were recessed ‘safety’ door handles, an optional automatic gearbox, and diesel engine variants. In contrast to Citroën’s advanced Traction Avant, the 402 maintained traditional mechanical foundations with a separate chassis, which allowed for a wide variety of body styles while keeping development and manufacturing expenses more manageable. This pragmatic strategy differed from Citroën’s financial difficulties in 1934 that resulted in selling its automotive division to Michelin.
Peugeot committed substantial resources to developing and competitively pricing the 402, targeting strong sales within the high-volume large car segment. Promotional efforts highlighted standard equipment such as dual electric windshield wipers, semaphore-style trafficators, a dashboard clock, twin sun visors, and a selectable reserve fuel tank section.
The range
The 402 lineup featured an extensive variety of models built on a single chassis platform, offering as many as sixteen body styles—from steel-bodied convertibles to some of France’s most spacious family sedans.
Producing all-steel bodies demanded considerable initial investment in heavy stamping presses and dies for panel fabrication. To reduce these costs, Peugeot engineered the range to maximize shared panels across different versions, achieving a balance between production efficiency and model variety.
Three chassis lengths
The Peugeot 402 was available with three distinct wheelbase lengths: (short), (“normal”), and (long).
2,880 mm (113 in) “short” wheelbase (1937-1940)
In 1937, Peugeot expanded its lineup by introducing a third, shorter chassis length derived from the Peugeot 302 to complement the existing 402 range. This new frame supported the launch of the Peugeot 402 Légère ("light-bodied") in July 1937, which was subsequently presented at the Paris Motor Show in October of the same year. The 402 Légère combined the 302’s shorter wheelbase and body design with the more powerful 1991 cc engine from the 402, elevating output from to at 4,000 rpm. This enhancement increased the vehicle’s top speed from 105 km/h (65 mph) up to 125 km/h (78 mph). By utilizing pre-existing components, Peugeot efficiently created a nimble model with limited additional expenditure, producing roughly 11,000 units.
From a visual standpoint, the 402 Légère bore a strong resemblance to the 302 but featured minor distinctions such as a relocated starting handle hole positioned beneath the “402” emblem due to a slightly raised engine placement. An optional Cotal pre-selector gearbox was available for improved driving ease, operated via a lever situated behind the steering wheel, offered at an extra charge.
The 402 Légère was offered in at least three different body configurations. The four-door “402 Légère berline,” priced at 24,900 Francs in October 1937, utilized the familiar body style of the 302. A two-door “coach,” which was a stylish four-seater featuring pillarless side windows and front seats that tilted forward for rear access, was advertised at 30,900 Francs but was not ready for display at the show. Additionally, a prototype “décapotable” soft-top convertible appeared at the motor show with a price tag of 31,900 Francs. Both the coach and décapotable versions showcased a sleeker design compared to the berline, including rear wheel spats that enhanced their visual appeal.
3,150 mm (124 in) “normal” wheelbase (1935-1942)
The standard saloon/sedan (berline), introduced during the 1935 Paris Motor Show, featured a 3,150 millimetres (124 in) chassis and was promoted as a six-seater equipped with two bench seats. Noteworthy for its unusually wide bodywork, this four-door "berline" came in a "6 glaces" (six-light) configuration with three windows on each side. By 1936, it represented the most affordable normal wheelbase 402 variant, starting at 23,900 francs.
Closely resembling this model was the 402 "normale commerciale," which also accommodated six passengers but incorporated a two-piece tailgate instead of fixed rear panels. This design enabled conversion of the rear compartment for cargo transport, presumably by removing the back seat. Some later examples of the commerciale featured semi-squared-off rear rooflines reminiscent of steel-bodied station wagons; however, most retained the saloon profile to avoid costly tooling investments required for limited production runs.
At the 1936 exhibition, other normal wheelbase variants included a Grand-luxe berline equipped with a sliding steel sunroof; a two-door soft-top cabriolet seating four or five persons priced at 30,900 francs; a two-door “coach” saloon accommodating five or six passengers costing 29,900 francs; a roadster seating two or three priced at 27,900 francs; and the “coupé transformable Éclipse,” a steel-roofed convertible listed at 34,900 francs.
The Éclipse stood out as Peugeot’s inaugural retractable hardtop coupé featuring a steel roof that folded into the trunk area. This mechanism was patented by Georges Paulin in 1931 and necessitated an elongated rear section to house its components. Despite its generous wheelbase length, this early retractable hardtop accommodated only two seats. The concept resurfaced several decades later in models such as the Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder (1995) and Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (1996). Peugeot resumed manufacturing hardtop convertibles with the launch of the Peugeot 206 CC in 2001.
Several body styles were designed for limited production; however, by early 1937 three variants—the “coach,” soft-top cabriolet, and original two-seat Éclipse—were removed from listings despite their debut in October 1936. The Éclipse had already been replaced in 1936 by an extended steel-roofed version seating four or five passengers on the longest available chassis configuration.
3,300 mm (130 in) Extended Wheelbase Version (1935–c.1940)
The primary extended wheelbase Peugeot 402 introduced in 1935 was the 402 Familiale, which resembled the conventional six-window berline model but featured an elongated rear section to accommodate a fold-away third row of seating, known as strapontins escamotables.
By the time of the 1937 Motor Show, showcasing models for 1938, the 402 commerciale also adopted this longer wheelbase configuration. Peugeot produced a dedicated taxi variant based on this extended chassis, closely mirroring the Familiale’s design, with several thousand reportedly operating in Paris and other major urban centers throughout France. Although Peugeot did not run a taxi fleet themselves, their 402 taxis gained considerable popularity among independent cab drivers.
At the 1936 exhibition, the spotlight also fell on the 402 cabriolet metallique decouvrable, essentially a revival of the Éclipse model but built on the long wheelbase platform, which included a somewhat confined second bench seat.
During its later production years, particularly through World War II, light commercial and utility versions of the 402 became increasingly significant. Manufacturing is believed to have ceased between 1942 and 1944.
Petrol/Gasoline
The original 402 was equipped with a 1991 cc four-cylinder water-cooled engine delivering , allowing it to reach speeds up to at 4,000 rpm. In 1938, the updated Peugeot 402B featured an enlarged engine capacity of 2142 cc and an increased power output of . Performance figures varied considerably depending on body style; notably, a Darl'mat-bodied performance coupe claimed .
Diesel
Peugeot had been manufacturing diesel engines since 1928 at its Lille facility for applications including marine vessels, railcars, and agricultural machinery. By 1936, they developed the HL50 diesel engine specifically for light commercial vehicles. Due to French regulations limiting diesel engines to trucks and commercial uses, Peugeot secured special authorization to install diesels in passenger cars. By late 1938, prototype Peugeot 402s were fitted with the HL50 diesel unit. Early in 1939, several dozen long-wheelbase diesel-powered 402 saloons began service as taxis. The HL50 was a 2,300 cc engine rated at 55 horsepower.
Had production persisted beyond this period, the diesel-powered Peugeot 402 would have ranked among the earliest diesel saloons available commercially. Its fuel efficiency was approximately one-third better than that of its petrol counterpart. Before World War II, roughly a dozen to several dozen diesel 402s were produced; however, only one chassis survived after the war.
This pioneering diesel development paved the way for Peugeot’s subsequent achievements in diesel passenger cars, culminating in the release of the Peugeot 403 in 1959—one of the first diesel-powered saloons globally following Mercedes-Benz’s introduction.
Chassis and Running Gear
The standard drivetrain featured a three-speed manual gearbox powering the rear wheels. An optional Cotal three-speed automatic transmission—typically associated with upscale marques such as Delahaye and Delage—was available but came at a premium price of 2,500 Francs in 1937, rendering it prohibitively expensive for most purchasers of the 402.
Braking was managed via mechanically operated drum brakes controlled by cables. Compared to rivals like the Citroën Traction, which employed hydraulic braking systems, this cable-operated mechanism was regarded as antiquated and somewhat undermined the advanced reputation of the Peugeot 402.
Market Performance
Approximately 75,000 units of the 402 were manufactured over a span exceeding seven years, coinciding with a period of major consolidation within the French automotive sector. While competitors such as Citroën and Renault underwent nationalization and acquisitions, Peugeot successfully preserved its autonomy.
After France declared war in 1939, production of cabriolet and convertible models ceased; by April 1940, only the standard and extended-wheelbase saloon variants were available. Peugeot became a consistent supplier to the military starting in 1938, with several thousand 202s and 402s—particularly the long-wheelbase 402—deployed to armed forces during 1939–40.
The Peugeot 402 amid petrol scarcity
During the Second World War, fuel shortages compelled Peugeot to modify engines to operate on gas generated through controlled charcoal combustion. The elongated 402 model was especially suitable for this adaptation, requiring only minimal alterations to its bodywork.
A charcoal-fueled boiler carrying around 35 kilograms of fuel was installed on a reinforced rear platform, enabling a driving range of roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) per refueling. The produced carbon monoxide gas ("gazogène") was delivered to the engine via external tubing running along the C- and A-pillars. From 1940 to 1944, more than 2,500 Peugeots were fitted with this gazogène apparatus, allowing continued use despite limited petrol availability.
Peugeot DK 5
The Peugeot DK 5 was a military truck manufactured by Peugeot during the 1930s and 1940s for use by the French armed forces. It saw service throughout World War II and was also utilized by the Wehrmacht following Germany's occupation of France. This vehicle combined a specialized truck chassis with the bodywork of the 401 and the front design of the 402, adapted to include an expanded cargo bed. Weighing approximately , it could carry loads up to 1.5 tons and was equipped with a more powerful engine than passenger models to manage heavy freight. Around 12,500 units were produced, with the final DK 5 trucks being phased out between the 1950s and 1960s.
Film appearances
The Peugeot 402 was featured as the Parisian taxi driven by Don Ameche in the 1939 screwball comedy Midnight.
It also served as Odile Versois's automobile in the British movie A Day to Remember (1953).
Moreover, HP Baxxter showcased this vehicle in his music video for "Friends".