Peugeot 504

Marketed as Peugeot's flagship saloon car, the 504 made its public debut on 12 September 1968 at the Paris Salon. The press launch which had been scheduled for June 1968 was at the last minute deferred by three months, and production got off to a similarly delayed start because of the political and industrial disruption which exploded across France in May 1968.[11]

The 504 was a sunroof-equipped four-door saloon, introduced with a carbureted 1,796 cc four-cylinder petrol engine 60 kW (82 PS; 81 hp) DIN with 71 kW (97 PS; 96 hp) on tap with the optional fuel injection. At the time of introduction, Peugeot still used the SAE rating, with claimed power numbers of 87 and 103 cv respectively. A column-mounted four-speed manual transmission was standard; a three-speed ZF 3HP12 automatic became available with the carburetted engine beginning in February 1969.[12] In September 1969 the automatic's shifter location was moved from the steering column to the floor.[13]

The 504 was elected European Car of the Year in 1969, praised for its styling, quality, chassis, ride, visibility, strong engine and refinement. 1969 was also when the 504 reached the Australian market.[1]

The 504 Injection two-door coupé and two-door cabriolet were introduced at the Salon de Geneva in March 1969.[14] The engine produced the same 71 kW (97 PS; 96 hp) of output as in the fuel-injected saloon, but the final drive ratio was slightly revised to give a slightly higher road speed of 20.6 mph (33.2 km/h) at 1,000 rpm.[14] Unlike the saloons, the coupé and cabriolet received a floor shifter.[15]

Available models:

• 504 4-door saloon
• 504 Injection 4-door saloon
• 504 Injection 2-door coupé
• 504 Injection 2-door cabriolet

The 504 received a new four-cylinder 1971 cc engine, rated at 68 kW (93 PS; 92 hp) (carburated) and 76 kW (104 PS; 103 hp) (fuel-injected). At the 1970 Paris Salon a four-cylinder 2112 cc diesel engine rated at 48 kW (65 PS; 64 hp) was introduced.[16] The 1796 cc petrol engine was no longer available in 504 saloons.

In September 1970 an estate ("Break") was presented, featuring a higher rear roof, lengthened wheelbase, and solid rear axle with four coil springs. It was joined by the 7-seat "Familiale", which had all its occupants facing forward in three rows of seats. The Break/Familiale/Commerciale did not actually go on sale until April the following year.[16] The Break and Familiale both received the 2-liter petrol engine or 2.1 diesel as per the saloon, but the utilitarian "Commerciale" brought back the 1.8-litre four, now tuned down to 54 kW (73 PS; 72 hp). There was also a Commerciale diesel, using the 39 kW (53 PS; 52 hp), 1.95-liter XD88 from the 404 Diesel, enough for a top speed of 118 km/h (73 mph).[17] The Commerciale had a stripped down interior, with a different dashboard, no carpeting in the cargo area, and seats without headrests. It also received lightly reinforced suspension, single round headlights (seen again on pickups from 1979 on), missing chrome around the side windows, and some trim parts such as the rear view mirrors were painted rather than chromed.

In late 1970 an automatic option was added to the coupé and cabriolet - this was never a large seller and was not always available to the cabriolet but continued to be offered until 1983; in total about 2,500 of the two-door 504s received this transmission option.[15]

Models

• 504 Commerciale 5-door utility wagon
• 504 4-door saloon/5-door Break/Familiale
• 504 Injection 4-door saloon
• 504 Commerciale Diesel 5-door utility wagon
• 504 Diesel 4-door saloon/5-door Familiale
• 504 Injection 2-door coupé
• 504 Injection 2-door cabriolet

During 1971 the Break SL ("Super Luxe") was introduced, a better equipped version using the carburetted 2.0-liter engine.[18] Unlike the regular wagons, the SL received metallic paint, plusher upholstery, and various other additional equipment.[17]

During the year, fuel injected 504 saloons changed to a floor-mounted shifter on cars equipped with the manual transmission as well.[15] The 504 Commerciale dropped the round headlights in favor of the standard units.[18]

In April 1973, because of the oil crisis Peugeot presented the 504 L. It featured a coil sprung live rear axle and reintroduced the smaller 1796 cc engine, now rated at 58 kW (79 PS; 78 hp) or 60 kW (81 PS; 80 hp) for the L Automatique. The different rear axle required somewhat more space; this required some alterations to the floor pan which meant marginally less boot space and rear headroom.[19] At around the same time, the lineup was revamped as listed below. Also new was the 1.95-litre 504 LD saloon, matching the Commerciale diesel although producing 41 kW (56 PS; 55 hp). The power of the Commerciale diesel dropped to 37 kW (50 PS; 49 hp) at the same time.[17] The L saloons can be recognized by the missing bumper overriders. Also during 1973, the column shifters were replaced by floor mounted ones on all 504 saloons.

Models

• 504 L saloon (1.8 carb)
• 504 GL saloon (2.0 carb)
• 504 TI saloon (2.0 injection)
• 504 LD saloon (1.95 diesel)
• 504 GLD saloon (2.1 diesel)
• 504 Commerciale (1.8 carb)
• 504 Break/Break SL/Familiale (2.0 carb)
• 504 Commerciale Diesel (1.95 diesel)
• 504 Familiale Diesel (2.1 diesel)
• 504 Coupé (2.0 injection)
• 504 Cabriolet (2.0 injection)

In August 1974 the second series 504 was introduced. The most noticeable change was the new, more flush fitting doorhandles, and new wheels with rectangular rather than oval openings on the GL and TI models. The GL and TI also received a new, more padded steering wheel. Additionally, the 2.0's double carburettor was changed from the Solex SEIA to a Zenith INAT (with no change in power), while the liftgate on the estates changed from steel springs to gas struts.

At the 1974 October Motor Show Peugeot presented a more powerful engine for the 504 coupé and cabriolet, now fitted with a "PRV" 2664 cc V6 unit developed in collaboration with Renault and Volvo.[20] This was the same engine that would be used for the 604 berline, to be introduced at Geneva five months later, in March 1975.[20] The engine incorporated various innovative features such as an aluminium cylinder block, and a fuel-feed system that employed carburetors of differing type, one (type 34 TBIA) featuring a single chamber controlled directly according to the movement of the accelerator pedal, and the second being a twin chamber carburetor (type 35 CEEI) designed to operate simultaneously with the first, using a pneumatic linkage.[20] Maximum output for the 504 coupé and cabriolet fitted with this new V6 engine was given as 100 kW (136 PS; 134 hp), supporting a top speed of 186 km/h (116 mph).[20] During 1975, the first full year of production, 2643 of these six-cylinder 504 coupés and cabriolet were produced, which was considered a respectable number although dwarfed by the 236,733 four-cylinder 504 berlines (saloons/sedans) and breaks (estates/station wagons) produced by Peugeot in France in the same year.[20] Following the launch of the six-cylinder cars, the four-cylinder versions of the coupé and cabriolet 504s were delisted: they returned to the showrooms in 1978 in response, it was reported, to customer demand.[20]

The Break and Break SL were renamed L and GL.[21] The 504 TI received power windows in the rear as well.

At the Paris Motor Show of October 1976 an enlarged diesel engine was introduced for the 504 GLD saloon. The stroke of 83 mm (3.3 in) remained the same as that of the existing 2112 cc diesel motor, but for the larger engine the bore was increased to 94 mm (3.7 in), giving an overall 2304 cc along with an increase in claimed power output from 48 to 51 kW (65 to 70 PS; 64 to 69 hp).[22] Briefly, the 2.1 diesel was not offered on any 504 saloons. The 2112 cc diesel engine would also find its way into the Ford Granada since Ford did not at the time produce a sufficient volume of diesel sedans in this class to justify the development of their own diesel engine. From August 1976 on, the power of the 2-liter petrol engines increased marginally, to 71 and 78 kW (96 and 106 PS; 95 and 105 hp) for the carburetted and fuel injected engines respectively. The grille on the 504 L models was changed from the original chromed metal piece to a black, plastic unit. The 504 TI gained power steering.

In September 1977, the 2.3-liter diesel found its way into the new GLD Break and the Familiale Diesel, while the Break L now received a downtuned version of the old 2.1-liter unit, producing 43 kW (59 PS; 58 hp). Also new was the option of an automatic transmission for the 2.3 diesel (saloons only). The old 1.9-liter diesel was discontinued, and the basic 504 saloons dropped the "L" designation, gaining a black plastic dash and the steering wheel from the GL/TI in the process. The new 504 diesel saloon was fitted with the erstwhile, 48 kW (65 PS; 64 hp) 2.1-liter diesel engine that had graced the GLD until the introduction of the 2.3.

The coupé and cabriolet saw the reintroduction of the fuel injected 2.0-liter engine, a response to slow sales of the thirsty V6. The V6 coupé gained a five-speed manual transmission and fuel injection for 106 kW (144 PS; 142 hp), while the V6 cabriolet was discontinued after only 970 examples had been built in three years.[23]

Peugeot 504 production in Europe was pruned back in 1979 with the launch of the Peugeot 505, although the 504 Pickup was introduced as a replacement for the 404 Pickup for the 1980 model year. The last European-made example rolled off the production line in 1983, although the pick up version continued in production, and was available in Europe until 1993. More than three million 504 passenger cars were produced in Europe. The 505 shared most of the Peugeot 504 mechanical parts, similarly to the Peugeot 604 and Talbot Tagora.

• 
  Saloon
• 
  US-market Saloon with bigger bumpers, sealed-beam headlamps, and side marker lights
• 
  Break
• 
  Cabriolet
• 
  Coupé
• 
  Coupé
• 
  Pickup

Manufacturing continued in Kenya until 2004, and Nigeria until 2006, using the Peugeot knock down kits, which meant that versions of the 504 had been in production in various parts of the world for a total of 38 years. Kenyan production was 27,000 units and the car remained on sale to 2007, being described as "King of the African road".[26] Egypt also had its own production facilities. In South Africa it was built by PACSA (Peugeot and Citroën South Africa) alongside the 404 until late 1978. Sigma Motor Corporation took over from PACSA in early 1979 and moved 504 production to their "Sigma Park" plant east of Pretoria.[2] South Africa received the two-liter and TI versions until mid-1976 when the lower priced 1800 L version was added. The L has a matt black grille and window surrounds, and did not receive bumper overriders. A similarly equipped L Wagon had arrived earlier in the year, to replace the discontinued 404 Wagon.[19] The Peugeot 504 is also one of the most common vehicles employed as a bush taxi in Africa.

Peugeot 504 truck (China)

The car was assembled in various countries, under license of Peugeot. In Australia it was first released in 1969 and was assembled by Peugeot's rival Renault, and sold through Renault Australia's dealer network. In 1981 the 504 GL retailed for AUD $11,000.[1] Only the saloon was assembled in Australia, while the Break and Familiale models were imported fully built-up from France.[27]

In China, the 504 was produced in pickup form, with a four-door crew cab, a live rear axle, on an extended estate platform. These were built by Guangzhou Peugeot Automobile Company.[28] Chinese production of the 504 pickup ceased in 1997, when the joint venture folded.[28]

Redesigned Argentinian version of the 504 (1993-1999).

1995 Peugeot 504 SX 2.3 (rear view).

The Peugeot 504 was also produced by SAFRAR in Argentina, beginning in 1969. In 1980 Sevel Argentina took over production in El Palomar near Buenos Aires, in sedan, estate (1980 and 1981 only),[29] and pickup forms. The sedan was built until 1999, with the last new cars sold in 2000. The pickup was manufactured in single and double cab with payload of over 1 tonne (1300 kg ) from 1983 to 1997, and exported mainly to bordering countries.[29] In 1991 the later models were restyled at the front and rear, with the lamps and bumpers changing design.[30] These cars were also given a new interior. Argentinian 504s offered the 1971 cc petrol four-cylinder or the 2304 cc diesel.[30]

SAFRAR also produced a sports version of the sedan called 504 TN between 1977 and 1978; this was intended to suit local competition classes like Turismo Nacional hence the name of the version.[31] This version had a XN1 2.0 litres engine but with a new intake and exhaust manifold with four individual outlets, a double-mouth Solex carburetor and a camshaft with greater elevation (7.5 mm against 6.7 mm of the previous one) among other changes with the engine reaching 81 kW (110 PS; 108 hp).[31]

The French company Dangel also produced Peugeot approved four-wheel drive Break (estate/station wagon) and pickup models.

Its engines and suspension were used in later models of the Paykan, the Iranian version of the Hillman Hunter.