The Peugeot 403 is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed by Peugeot between May 1955 and October 1966. A total of 1,214,121 of all types, including commercial models, were produced, making it the first Peugeot to exceed one million in sales.

The TN3 engine size gave the car a "tax horsepower" of 8 CV, which placed it a class below the soon-to-be-replaced 11 CV Citroën Traction, but at least one class above the small cars produced by the principal competitor manufacturers.

When it was first shown, and until after 1958, the leading edge of car's nose carried an angular, forward-leaning chrome lion bonnet ornament – as Peugeot's trade mark. That was removed for 1959, due to safety concerns, and the logo was incorporated into a shield-shaped grill emblem.

Subsequently the semaphore-style trafficators on the C-pillars were replaced with flashing indicators within the light cluster. The front lights were modified to conform to new standards and in 1957 parallel windscreen wipers were substituted for the original "cross hands" design featured at launch.

The car was subject to numerous improvements during production, mostly minor. Improvements for 1959 included moving the nozzles for the windscreen washer from the strip of metal between the base of the windscreen and the bonnet/hood a short distance to the rear edge of the bonnet/hood itself. Also unusual were the windows in the rear doors that lowered fully, despite the intrusion of the wheel arch into the door frame. Claimed advantages included an improvement in fuel consumption of between 5% and 10% according to average speed and the avoidance, under many conditions, of fan noise.

Body variants

The wheelbase was lengthened by for the five door Peugeot 403 "Familiale" and "Commerciale" estate versions. In the spring of 1961 production of the 403 cabriolet ended, in anticipation of the launch later that year of the manufacturer's 404 Cabriolet.

:* 1962 ....

:* 1963 ....

:* 1964 ..... 53,371

:* 1965 ..... 27,296

:This data does not include 403 based light trucks</div></div>

Largely superseded by the Peugeot 404 in 1960, the 403 did remain available as a budget alternative. While the 403 saloon was taken out of production at the end of October 1966, leaving only the pickup truck (camionnette).

See also

  • Peugeot 404

References

(17) https://www.hemmings.com/stories/columbos-used-up-1960-peugeot-403-cabriolet/