In the United States, Peugeot has always made wagons part of its somewhat limited presence. Obviously, it’s really limited now given they don’t even sell cars here anymore, but when they did, models like the 505 Estate were among its biggest sellers. This is an example of an early wagon, or “break,” that we haven’t laid eyes on in quite some time, but appears to be worthy of rescuing given the overall completeness it displays. The 1961 403 is located in Arizona and is said to be 99 percent rust-free with any corrosion limited to the surface variety you see here. The 403 doesn’t run but comes with what looks like a ton of parts that the seller sent home from Europe. Find it here on craigslist with an asking price of just $1,500.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mark for the find. I recently became a French wagon owner, having purchased a 1988 505 wagon. I’m digging it so far, even if it isn’t the SW8 version with the third-row seat (though a friend just got one, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t keeping a close eye on it). The 403 was primarily seen with two rows of seats and a generous rear cargo bay, but you could spec it out in a similar arrangement with 7/8 passenger seating. I’ve always been a fan of wagons and the impressive utility they offer despite not looking like they could swallow as much gear and people as they do; it’s a shame there aren’t more estate models on the market today. Despite the prevalence of surface rust, this 403 looks reasonably straight across the upper panels.
The interior is loaded up with spare parts, so we really can’t get a sense of either the condition of the cabin or the variety of parts the seller has tracked down. The listing notes that he came into possession of the 403 following a fire at a storage facility where the 403 was parked; apparently, the left side of the car got hot but the seller doesn’t highlight whether any long-term damage was done. The treasure trove of spare parts found inside is pretty darn amazing, and I’m almost certain he spent more to ship those parts home than what he’s asking for here price-wise. But that’s the way it goes: at a moment in time, it makes sense to take a big bet on needing some rare parts at a future date, only to figure out a few months later you really don’t have the ambition for the project anymore. This totally happened to me with my 1981 Toyota HiAce project, wherein the buyer received all the body panels I source from Australia but never used.
The 403 hasn’t run in many, many years, and I have to wonder if the seller purchased it out of a long-term storage arrangement where it previously sat untouched for many years prior. Regardless, buying a car like this out of a place like Arizona is probably a good idea, as the rust issues that plague other long-dormant rides won’t be a factor here. Sun damage, yes, but we can’t assess whether the sun has ruined the cabin as it is chock-full of spare parts. It doesn’t really matter, because at this price, it’s hard to go wrong – just be advised parts supply for Peugeots can be tricky, especially for a near-obsolete model like this. The European eBay sites will be your friend!
It’s a shooting brake. As in taking parties shooting. Or Estate car.
Referred to as a “Break” in French.
This is the 403 “familiale” model. It has 3-row seating, the middle row seats can be folded up jump-seat style (you can see that in the photos). Our Dad had a dark blue one back in 1962 – it was solid, comfortable and dependable. It was eventually traded in on a dark green 404 familiale that was all that and more. Somebody will love this car restored to original (or with some discreet updating)
Cristiana,
Actually, this is the 2 row, 5 passenger version. If you look at the photo at the open right rear door, you can see the bottom of the rear seat has been folded forward [hinged at the bottom], allowing the rear seat back to be folded down to create a flat floor.
My father bought a 1960 403 Familiale brand new from Manhattan Import Auto in Bethesda, MD. It was equipped with 3 row seating and folding jump seats, much like a US 7 passenger limo. This interior seating is the same as a typical 1950s US station wagon. It was dark blue with light gray top.
Dad sold it to a local missionary family who drove it all over south America and then to Africa, they put over 250,000 miles on it before coming home. It was still running well the last time I saw it, about 30 years ago. They said the gas pedal linkage cable broke in the middle of Africa, and the local Peugeot bicycle shop used a rear brake cable for a Peugeot bicycle to make the repair, as it was the very same cable assembly!
If this had become available 20 years ago, it would be on the way to my shop already, but I’m over 70 and can’t be buying anymore cars!
Bill McCosky, etc. are correct: this is in fact the 5-seater “Break” model rather than the 7-seater “Familiale” that I mistook it for. Still a great little car.
My first car was a ’59 403 sedan, bought in 1963. Dad liked it and bought an 403 Estate as his DD. It was really slow, but had loads of room, and it was never in the shop. I remember the distinctive whine of the worm gear rear, which could be heard from quite a distance.
I drove it into NYC with an Army buddy and our dates to see the Fugs; an evening I will never forget.
Looks like it would be slow as molasses, but it is a cutie
Prolly what Mrs. Colombo drove.
My young nephew loves station wagon , personally i dispise them but this one is a little cutie , what modern swap could be performed to bring this to modern times , i know an LS is the first idea but this this is too small
A turbo 4 , a modern transmission and a diff but what would fit there ?
Depends on how much cutting you want to do. Personally, I like oddball swaps so I’d make room for a 4.2 vortex straight 6 and strap a turbo to it.
Oddball?…. Olds Quad 4. Or maybe a Vortec. This lil cutie is where rare and price don’t mean shi….anything. Maybe I’m not in the loop for old Peugeots, but I’m not see’n $1,500 here unless that ‘treasure trove” of spares in the back is where all the money is.
JagManBill,
I suspect this is already sold, as the price is really good. If I was not in my 70s and still had my shop, it would be on it’s way to the shop.
There were 2 types of the longer wheelbase 403, the Commerciale with a folding rear seat, and the Familiale, with jump seats and a seat all the way back.
Like the Citroen Familiale, the Peugeot Familiale was THE choice of Parisian taxi drivers because of the 3rd row of seats, and after they had traveled many thousands of kilometers all over Paris, these were sold off to other cities and towns, or exported to 3rd world countries to continue their taxi life. As a result, Familiales are hard to find today.
Commerciales like this one were used mostly by European farmers and small businesses that did double duty for their families on Sunday. Farmers in Europe [and especially in rural France] were quite frugal, and drove their 403 Commerciale until they were badly rusted and completely worn out.
So finding a long wheelbase 403 of either version is a rare vehicle, and a rot-free one from the US southwest makes it quite desirable to more than just a few people. If the tripled cost of transportation to Europe was not so high right now, it would likely be heading there already. And because it really is cheap, it may come home to France anyway.]
In Egypt, long distance taxis to the Senaii desert are called the “Flying Coffins”.
They are old, packed with people and zooming across the desert and run forever, (well until something falls off).
…like possibly a passenger??? LOL
My grandfather was a Peugeot mechanic and we grew up with these in the family. 203s, 403s, 404s, 504s etc. Lovely cars. Silky smooth to drive. If this is truly rust free, I would love to buy it and send it to Icon for “the derelict treatment” and drive it with the patina.
At $1500.00 this will be swooped up very fast as a rat rod. ;. it has an incredible potential.
With a modern drive train, and a liberal coating of POR15, and minimizing the grill and other chrome detail, I see a great utilitarian promise in it and a great visual statement —Not unlike the beauty of the minimalized 1957 Corvette in this same issue. Back to the original lines without embellishment. Of Course. not everybody can see that in its current state– yet, a few can visualize.
Located in Phoenix, AZ
In Egypt in 2000 they were THE taxis, 403’s and 404’s, 40 years old, some of them, beat up, but running on and on. Easily fixed and could deal with the rough city streets and rough outlying roads. Mostly black and white. No A/C. Limos, so called, had A/C, were Korean made Chevy’s, like a Cruze, much smaller, softer, and not as rugged by any means, and you basically had to bribe the driver to turn on the A/C since it used more gas with it on in the 100 degree temps. Given drivers’ attitude toward underarm odor, it was sometimes better with windows open, rather than enclosed with the driver and A/C on. But, Egypt is worth doing, once.
I’m the new owner of the 403… I took a look and thought $1500 was too good a deal to pass up. Another project is the last thing I need, but the style, patina, and potential hooked me. It’ll sit for a while until I can finish the ’78 Bronco I’m working on, but it will eventually get some much-desrevrd love and attention. I also bought another front end (dash forward) from the same gentleman. He was super kind and informative. I plan to stay in touch.