French auto manufacturer Peugeot has been in business for more than 200 years, but not in the USA for the last thirty. They sold cars in the States from 1958-90, but weak engines gave the brand a bad rap, so Peugeot pulled out. Rumors continue to persist regarding an imminent return, but those are unsubstantiated. The Peugeot 403 was one of the company’s most popular models, with more than 1.2 million built from 1955-66, including the seller’s 4-door sedan. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this one prior owner car hasn’t been driven in 30-40 years and stayed under a carport most of that time. It’s available here on craigslist as a project for $1,650. Our hats off to Larry D for finding us this rare car.
By European standards, the 403 was a mid-size car, produced in a wide variety of body styles, including sedans, wagons, and cabriolets. To most Americans, it may best be known as the car driven by the rumpled Peter Falk in the detective television show Columbo. That edition was a 1959-60 convertible that Falk picked out himself to match the personality of the show’s main character. They were a perfect combination for more than two decades.
Throughout its long run, the 403 saw only minimal changes from year to year. The styling was provided by Pininfarina, a noted European design firm. The cars used an enlarged version of the Peugeot 203’s 1290 cc engine, displacing 1468 cc. The inline-4 used pushrod-actuated valves and hemispherical combustion chambers, along with a crossflow cylinder head to produce 65 hp. It had a thermostatically- controlled engine fan that cut in and out between certain temperatures, supposedly reducing fuel consumption by as much as 10%
The seller found this car wasting away under a carport several years ago and brought it home. He had intended to restore the automobile, but other projects have gotten in the way, and it’s time for the car to move on once again. The prior owner was a 93-year-old woman who wasn’t the best of drivers, witness several small dents in the body. As to rust, we’re told it’s 99% corrosion-free. No one could find the title when it changed hands back then, so the buyer will have to initiate the replacement process.
This Peugeot looks to be largely complete and unmolested. Along with a sold body, the interior is original and has stayed dry, so the only damage there is what time and exposure to the sun might have caused. These are cars that weren’t commonly seen in the U.S. 60 years ago and even less so today. So, if you could get it going again and leave the body alone, you could drive around with a custom license plate on the front that says “Columbo’s other car!”
How does BarnFinds do it,,,I ask myself time and time again. The “POO-JOE” 403,,by gar, this takes me back,,again. Some may remember( how could you forget with my constant reminders, hey, BF’s fault for featuring cars of my past,,,like many of them,,,anyway, where was I, oh yeah, my old man had a 403 in the 60’s , one of the few foreign cars he would allow in his driveway, much less own, but he did have a 403 and now that I see this, it must have been a 4 door. I was just a kid, and it was the 1st car I rode in that had a sunroof, I believe standard on the 403. I never saw one without one. I remember, they weren’t common, but a few had them, college professors mostly, about as common as “Renutlz’s”, but some. It was probably the most recognized vintage French car, due to the TV show’s popularity, and almost a miracle seeing one today. About as close to an American car the French made. I’m sure, once driving, you’d get more than one, “excuse me, just one more thing”, Peter Falks catch phrase throughout the shows run,,,”Just one more thing”,,,he was great. Cool car, parts? I doubt even a parts car could be found over here, but with the innernet, got to be someone in France with a yard full.
As ever, a great excuse to visit Retromobile!
You’ve a month or two to get yer shopping list in order…
My first car back in the mid sixties was a 1960 403. My brother in law had bought it in France when he was stationed there and had it shipped back. It didn’t have a sunroof.
Weak dealers? Definitely. Weak parts distribution? Yes. Weak electrical systems? Absolutely. Poor crash test results too.
Weak engines? I’m not sure if that’s true.
Weak engines? I have never heard of that. My friend had one that we tried to kill so that his father would replace it with something more sporty, but to no avail. That poor car was hammered and then hammered some more but apart from the clutch having to be replaced a couple of times, nothing ever broke, apart from plastic window winders and dash knobs that is. The 403 also won the East African Safari four or five times as did it’s replacement the 404.
“There’s just one thing that’s troubling me.”
“The time,,,it was the time”,,In the show, he does claim to have a better car, that his wife drives, who is never shown in the series.
An affordable hemi:-)
Bill Boddy at MotorSport Magazine on the Peugeot 403 (December 1961):
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1961/15/following-the-rac-rally-in-a-peugeot-403
My parents had one of these in the 60s, bought from CAS Motors in Mount Kisco, NY. My elementary school chums alternately thought it funky or weird but none of them could pronounce Peugeot correctly. The folks traded it in on a 68 Ford LTD….
Didn`t found something, that all 403`s for the USA had a sunroof. But I don`t know.
Is it worth to restore it? I also don`t know. In Europe this cars are not such a rarity. Most of them are in France, of course. If somebody want to do it, he sould search for parts there – he will find them and prices are fair.
By the way, an original cabriolet like Columbo had one is a rarity! In the past african people liked the 403 and imported used ones from Europe. They also liked Mercedes and Toyotas. They didn`t liked so much Citroen, Opel and german Ford. Well, the only thing what I want to say with this is, that in my opinion it makes not realy sense to compare such a car with US cars from the same time.
Well, perhaps somebody want to restore it. Perhaps somebody want create a small unusual hotrod. It`s not a original cabriolet, so it doesn`t matter. And perhaps somebody will do a lot of work to bring it back to the street but don`t restore it. Technikal perfekt but scrapy look with original paint. Who knows…
Best regards
Till J.
Not that it matters, I was a mechanic at a dealership in Pasadena, when these were new. I still have a couple tools to give to the person who gets it. Also, I didn’t see mentioned, they had a column-shifted four speed trans. I thought that was pretty unusual, as I hadn’t seen that elsewhere.
This is the first car that I remember taking a trip in. Ours was a 1960 w/sunroof. My folks drove it from Chicago to AZ. and back. No issues as I recall, but I was under 3 yrs old at the time. The old man went on to buy a couple more Peugeots over the 1960s, but he never kept any car even a year.
Thank you, Russ.
Larry D.
Had 2 Peugeots in the 70s, weak engines? No way.
I don’t know if anyone has seen (or follow) the Top Gear … oops, I mean The Grand Tour boys any longer. But, their recent episode was “dedicated to French car culture.” Not quite up to their old standards … but still a laugh or two. For example they tested the world renowned Citroen suspension by dropping a 2CV 300 feet from a helicopter … ah, well that did not go well.
Columbo called. He wants his car back.