- Seller: David W (Contact)
- Location: El Cajon, Califronia
- Mileage: 26,000 Shown
- Chassis #: 504A911252535
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 2-Liter Inline-4 (Engine Missing)
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
Peugeot enjoyed a reputation during the 1960s and 1970s for producing some of the most rugged and dependable vehicles to emerge from a European production line. This 1971 504 Sedan is no exception and could serve its new owner as a project or parts candidate. Its solid body, tidy interior, and a trunk full of parts make it worth more than a passing glance. The current owner is keen to move it to a new home, listing the Peugeot exclusively with us at Barn Finds with an asking price of $1,500. However, he will consider reasonable offers.
Peugeot introduced the 504 in 1968, with the car remaining a staple of its model lineup until 1983. It was, at one point, the only Peugeot model available in North America, achieving worldwide sales of over three million vehicles before the last car rolled off the line. This 1971 model is a solid vehicle that has plenty of positive points. There’s minimal rust showing, which is unsurprising considering that Peugeot designed the 504 to operate in a wide selection of adverse environments. The only issue the seller has found is some minor rust in the trunk under the mat. The panels are in good order, and the glass is clear. It retains all of its bright trim, representing a long list of usable components if the buyer chooses to part it out. An undoubted highlight is the beautiful factory alloy wheels. These are in good condition, and a few hours of work with a high-quality polish will allow them to really “pop.”
The surprise packet with this 504 is its interior. The Brown leather on the driver’s seat has a split which might be repairable, and the carpet has faded. Beyond that, there appears to be little justifying criticism. The remaining upholstered surfaces should respond well to a deep clean and the application of conditioner. The dash and pad haven’t succumbed to UV exposure. The wheel has a crack at the top, but that could be easily hidden beneath a wrap.
Peugeots from this era weren’t renowned for outright performance, but their rugged dependability made them a popular choice in harsh environments like many African nations. This car’s 2.0-liter four would have sent 97hp and 125 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. Revving these motors far beyond 3,000 rpm was pretty pointless, with most of the power and torque delivered around that mark. However, with 80% of the torque available at 2,000 rpm, it is easy to understand how these cars could effortlessly cope with loose surfaces and sand. The biggest hurdle facing anyone considering returning this Peugeot to active service is its lack of an engine. It was removed for another project, leaving the engine bay empty. However, the transmission is intact, and the vehicle rolls freely. I performed an admittedly brief online search, successfully locating a couple of healthy and affordable secondhand engines that could be slotted under the hood to return the Peugeot to its rightful place on our roads without breaking the bank.
Some enthusiasts seeking a first project candidate find the prospect of spending thousands just to park a car in their workshop daunting. That is understandable because most project builds require deep commitment. However, this 1971 Peugeot 504 Sedan breaks that mold, because it is undeniably affordable. Even if the new owner views it purely as a parts source, the glass and wheels justify the current owner’s asking price. However, I would love to see this classic return to active service. Are you up for that challenge?
I like it, but not a lot. I remember my daughter’s godfather had an eighties vintage Peugot 504 and thinking it was a lot cooler then the Bimmers you saw everywhere then. From a project standpoint yeah, low to buy in, get an engine, get it running and paint it dark brown or green.
@seller, any more pics? Esp of the rust in the wheel arch and front windshield? And are those metric wheels? What’s the tire size? Had a 72 and looking for another.
MattyD … The car is for sale… click the link at the top of this page and reach out to me… It’s parked in El Cajon, CA at my friend’s race shop… You can go with a trailer and handful of cash and pick it up… I have the title and will mail it to a new owner after the car is paid for and picked up… Click the link and reach out if you’re serious about buying the car…I prefer Phone Calls, I don’t text…
Hell with the car, what about the tracked buggy next to it!
Hi Jim, good eye, it appears to be a mid 60s(?) Thiokol Spryte 1200.
We had a family friend when I was growing up who had a few 504s. They were very solid nice riding comfortable roomy and safe cars. His wife was in an accident with one, the Peugeot was totalled but she and the kids walked away from it uninjured. Thankfully. Hope this one finds a good home and gets fixed up, there cant be too many of them left, and it would be great for cars and coffee.
I owned many 504 back in the 1980’s. Gas, Diesel, sedans, a wagon, even a Kugelfischer injected TI. Well built, very comfortable and very good value. They were at the time what a 2001 Buick LeSabre was here in the US. Cheap, and for sure the previous owners were all retired. One funky thing is that there’s no oil filler cap on the valve cover. You are to pull apart some hoses at the back of the engine for filling oil, something that stumps most people. I guess my most memorable trip with a 504 was the time I bought one specifically for going on a vacation trip with two pretty Swedish blondes. I happened to sell my regular car the day before the trip so bought a 504 for the equivalent of $250 and we headed off. We had brought a crappy tent, but the 504 allows for the seats to fold into a reasonably comfy bed and the weather wasn’t better than that we all preferred sleeping in the car. I guess I found it exciting as I still remember it well, but truth to be told there were no other benefits to be had other than shared gas money…
No benefits for being cramped in a car with TWO females? Every mans dream! My 504 was an automatic which I bought for my step father but we lived only about 200 metres/yards from the Indian Ocean so it only lasted about 3 years before I sold it due to it rusting away before my eyes. However, up in Central Africa 504’s won the East African Safari 3 or 4 times as they were very rugged but when they brought out the 404 with the McPhearson front suspension they didn’t do so well, and they also rusted like hell at the coast!
A nice Ford 4 cylinder would be an interesting swap.
I bought my wife a 505 Diesel in 1987 and it was rock solid reliable and well built. I always thought the 504 was supposed to have a normal trunk shape, but the designer left his drawing board one day and someone bumped the scale and they ended up with that tapered rear end.
Put a LS in it.
I like the styling of 505’s but felt it didn’t have enough pep. If I was closer to El Cajon, I would certainly give the 504 a good look. Good luck, I hope this doesn’t get parted out.
Are those metric wheels? What’s the tire size on the car now? Any more pics of the rust at the windshield and wheel well lips? Thanks
MattyD … Not Metric Wheels, 15 inch rims… The car is parked 1200 miles away from me right now in El Cajon, CA, I can ask my friend to send me more photos if needed… I don’t remember any rust at the windshield or in the wheel wells… some under the mat in the trunk… It’s a solid car… and priced to go away!!! Take a trailer and a handful of cash to get it. It’s at my friend’s race shop. I have the clean Wyoming title and will mail it to the new owner..
Ugly and absolute junk.
I was service manager at a dealer that sold Peugeots. I would almost cry every time I saw one on the service drive because I knew there would be major problems and a pissed off customer.
The dealer soon got rid of them and a calmness fell upon the grounds.
“Factor alloy wheels” maybe, but not for this particular model. Those are 505 wheels, for a 15 years later model…. Otherwise Peugeot are great Cars.
I had a 1974 504 st after college. Really enjoyed the car! I went to the dealer one day for a part but the were gone! Building and all..
Howard, It’s actually a 1974 Thiokol … 300ci Ford straight 6 with C4 automatic… Awesome running snow machine… :-)