The Peugeot 504 is a mid-size, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive automobile manufactured and marketed by Peugeot from 1968 to 1983 over a single generation, primarily in four-door sedan and wagon configurations – but also as twin two-door coupé and cabriolet configurations as well as pickup truck variants.
The sedan (berline) was styled by Aldo Brovarone of Pininfarina, and the coupé and cabriolet twins were styled by Franco Martinengo at Pininfarina, with wagon (break and familiale) and pickup (camionette) designed and sketches produced in-house at Peugeot.
The 504 was noted for its robust body structure, long suspension travel, high ground clearance, large wheels and torque tube driveshaft – enclosed in a rigid tube attached at each end to the gearbox housing and differential casing, relieving drivetrain torque reactions. The 504 ultimately achieved widespread popularity in far-flung rough-terrain countries – including Latin America and much of Africa.
More than three million 504s were manufactured in its European production, with production continuing globally under various licensing arrangements – including 27,000 assembled in Kenya and 425,000 assembled in Nigeria, using knock-down kits – with production extending into 2006.
Having debuted as Peugeot's flagship at the 1968 Paris Salon, the 504 received the 1969 European Car of the Year. In 2013, the Los Angeles Times called it "Africa's workhorse."
History
Introduction
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.
The 504 was a sunroof-equipped four-door saloon, introduced with a carbureted 1,796 cc four-cylinder petrol engine DIN with 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. In September 1969 the automatic's shifter location was moved from the steering column to the floor.
The 504 was elected European Car of the Year in 1969, praised for its styling, build quality, chassis, ride, visibility, strong engine and refinement. 1969 was also when the 504 reached the Australian market. The engine produced the same of output as in the fuel-injected saloon, but the final drive ratio was slightly revised to give a slightly higher road speed of at 1,000 rpm.
Available models:
- 504 4-door saloon
- 504 Injection 4-door saloon
- 504 Injection 2-door coupé
- 504 Injection 2-door cabriolet
1970
The 504 received a new four-cylinder 1971 cc engine, rated at (carburated) and (fuel-injected). At the 1970 Paris Salon a four-cylinder 2112 cc diesel engine rated at was introduced. 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. 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. Unlike the regular wagons, the SL received metallic paint, plusher upholstery, and various other additional equipment. 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 . The power of the Commerciale diesel dropped to at the same time. Also during 1973, the column shifters were replaced by floor mounted ones on all other 504 saloons than the L.
;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)
1974
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. This was the same engine that would be used for the 604 berline, to be introduced at Geneva five months later, in March 1975. The 504 TI received power windows in the rear as well.
1976
At the Paris Motor Show of October 1976 an enlarged diesel engine was introduced for the 504 GLD saloon. The stroke of remained the same as that of the existing 2112 cc diesel motor, but for the larger engine the bore was increased to , giving an overall 2304 cc along with an increase in claimed power output from . 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 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.
1977
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 . 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, 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 , while the V6 cabriolet was discontinued after only 970 examples had been built in three years.
1979 to 1983
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.
<gallery widths="200" heights="140">
File:1978 Peugeot 504 Ti Automatic 2.0 Rear.jpg|Saloon
File:1979 Peugeot 504 Diesel in light blue met, front left.jpg|US-market Saloon with bigger bumpers, sealed-beam headlamps, and side marker lights
File:1974 Peugeot 504 GL sedan (28922315331).jpg|Saloon interior
File:Peugeot 504 Familiale (3).jpg|Break
File:Peugeot 504 Coupé front 20130505.jpg|Coupé
File:Twyford, Berkshire - England (UK) (12506942885).jpg|Pickup
</gallery>
504 Coupé/Cabriolet
As with the preceding 404, Peugeot had Pininfarina design a two-door coupé and cabriolet variant which were first introduced at the Geneva Salon in March 1969. Aside from designing them, Pininfarina also built the bodyshells. The two-door 504s have a shorter wheelbase and also a wider rear track. The shells were built in Turin and then sent to Peugeot's Sochaux plant for assembly.
Mechanically, the 504 Coupé and Cabriolet were largely identical to the saloons, sharing the 1.8-liter four (upgraded to two litres for 1970) with no additional performance enhancements. Once the 604 arrived, however, the sportier 504s finally got an engine to match their looks: the 2.7-litre V6 PRV engine, producing was fitted beginning in September 1974 and the four-cylinder variants discontinued.
The first series initially came equipped only with a four-speed manual. In September 1971, a ZF three-speed automatic became an available option for both bodystyles. The Cabriolet lost this option twelve months later, after 292 examples had been built.
<gallery widths="200" heights="140">
1969 Peugeot 504 Coupé in Blanc Arosa, front left.jpg|1969 504 Coupé (initial year)
1969 Peugeot 504 Coupé in Blanc Arosa, rear right.jpg|1st series Coupé; rear view
Paris - Bonhams 2014 - Peugeot 504 V6 cabriolet - 1975 - 003.jpg|Cabriolet (2nd series; rear view)
Peugeot 504 Coupé.JPG|Coupé (2nd series)
Peugeot 504 Coupé second series rear three quarters.JPG|Coupé (2nd series; rear view)
Peugeot 504 1968-1983 (1979-1983 V6 TI coupe 2d) (01) -AC1-.jpg|Coupé (3rd series); metallic-painted cars have body-coloured bumpers
Peugeot E27.JPG|The stillborn 504 Coupé Sport (E27)
</gallery>
Pickup and commercials
In September 1979, for the 1980 model year, the 504 Pickup was introduced. The considerable work involved in converting the 504's monocoque body into a load-carrying version had taken a full decade. The pickup used the longer wheelbase and live rear axle of the 504 Break. On introduction, it was available with very basic spec and single round headlights, fitted in plastic frames shaped like the 504's "cat's eyes." The engine options were the 404's 1618 cc petrol (U01) and 1948 cc diesel (U20); outputs are respectively. This was the only 504 sold with the 1.6-litre XC5 engine. As with most of Peugeot's commercial vehicles, the 504 Pickup was assembled by Chausson.
As with the regular 504, the pickup has rear-wheel-drive and a floor-shifted four-speed manual transmission. A locking differential was also standard. Late-model pickups were also available with a five-speed transmission. In July 1981, Dangel added a four-wheel-drive version of the Pickup. These were mainly purchased by French governmental agencies, as their procurement rules required them to purchase French when possible. About 5500 Dangel 4x4 Pickups were built until the model's discontinuation in 1994.
For 1982 the better equipped 504 Pickup GR was added, these received some chrome touches and luxuries such as a clock and door-mounted armrests. Externally, the GR was set apart by black rubber bumper overriders, different hubcaps and a modicum of chrome ornamentation (the standard version received a grille and bumpers painted light gray). By 1984, the chrome parts were dropped in favor of a cleaner, more modern appearance. The GR was renamed "Confort" in 1987, at least in the French domestic market. This is also when the 1.6 petrol option was discontinued. The GR received an version of the 504's 1.8-liter petrol engine, while the GRD had the 2.3-liter diesel.
thumb|1979 Peugeot 504 Diesel (US); note sealed-beam headlamps, larger bumpers, and side marker lights
;United States
For several years, the 504 was Peugeot's only model offered in North America. Originally very similar to European specified models, the 504 had to be gradually modified to meet the federal emissions and safety standards. The 2-litre petrol engine was offered alongside the 2.1 diesel, later replaced by the 2.3.
In 1974, the US-spec carburetted 2-litre engine produced at 5200 rpm with a low 7.6:1 compression ratio. The 2.1 diesel was unchanged vis-à-vis the global model, producing at 4500 rpm.
Post-European production
Africa
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". 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.
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. Chinese production of the 504 pickup ceased in 1997, when the joint venture folded. In 1991 the later models were restyled at the front and rear, with the lamps and bumpers changing design. These cars were also given a new interior. Argentinian 504s offered the 1971 cc petrol four-cylinder or the 2304 cc diesel. This version had a XN1 2.0-litre 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 .
In November 2010, Iranian state television announced Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was to auction off his 1977 Peugeot 504 to raise money for charity. The car is white with a sky-blue interior, and has covered only 37,000 km since new. The political significance of the car being a 504 is that it was used as a working-class status symbol to draw electoral support from the less well-off during the 2005 presidential campaign. The money earned from the sale at international auction was to be donated to the Mehr housing project, a network of cooperatives that provides affordable housing for low-income families. Soon after being put on auction in January 2011, a bid of $1 million was received from "an Arab country". When the auction closed in March 2011, the final bid was $2.5 million.
Motorsport
thumb|[[Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Jean-Claude Lefèbvre won the 26th Safari Rally driving a Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé]]
Peugeot 504s won the following World Rally Championship events:
:{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; "
! Event
! Season
! Driver
! Co-driver
! Car
|-
| 23rd Safari Rally
| 1975
| Ove Andersson
| Arne Hertz
| Peugeot 504
|-
| 18ème Rallye du Maroc
| 1975
| Hannu Mikkola
| Jean Todt
| Peugeot 504
|-
| 19ème Rallye du Maroc
| 1976
| Jean-Pierre Nicolas
| Michel Gamet
| Peugeot 504
|-
| 26th Safari Rally
| 1978
| Jean-Pierre Nicolas
| Jean-Claude Lefèbvre
| Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé
|-
| 10ème Rallye Bandama Côte d'Ivoire
| 1978
| Jean-Pierre Nicolas
| Michel Gamet
| Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé
|-
|}