Peugeot 403
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| Peugeot 403 | |
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| Manufacturer | Peugeot SA |
| Production | 1955–1966 |
| Successor | Peugeot 404 |
| Class | Large family car |
| Body style(s) | 4-door sedan 2-door convertible 2-door pickup truck 5-door estate |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Engine(s) | 1468 cc I4 petrol 1290 cc I4 petrol 1816 cc I4 diesel |
| Wheelbase | 2660 mm (104.7 in)[1] saloon 2900 mm (114.2 in) estate |
| Length | 4470 mm (176 in) saloon 4610 mm (181.5 in) estate |
| Width | 1670 mm (65.7 in) |
| Height | 1510 mm (59.4 in) |
The Peugeot 403 is a large family car produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot from 1955 to 1966.
The 403 was designed by famous Italian designer Pininfarina. The engine, an enlarged version of one first seen in the smaller 203 model, was a 1468 cc Straight-4 unit, with pushrod-actuated valves and hemispherical or cross-flow combustion chambers, producing 65 hp (48 kW) at about 5000 rpm and 75 lb·ft (102 N·m) of torque at 2500 rpm. In the Autumn of 1958 Peugeot introduced the first of a long line of diesel engined cars, being a diesel Peugeot 403 estate, and in 1959 the diesel engine option found its way also into the 403 saloon. Only in 1960 was the Peugeot 203 withdrawn from sale, and the 1290 cc petrol engine which had powered the 203 became available instead in a less expensive version of the 403.
The 403 had a solid rear axle in common with the Simca Aronde, but Citroën and Panhard models had much more advanced suspension systems. The reduced unsprung weight of the aluminum differential case was therefore to compete with other French makes as well as to deal with the rough road surfaces in France at that time. Seating capacity was six, with a column shift but the center front passenger sitting between the individual seats. The seats reclined fully into a makeshift bed. Sunroof and steel belted radial tires were standard. The reliability was considered to be excellent for the time.
The 403 was effectively replaced by the Peugeot 404, though the 403 remained in production as a budget alternative for several years before being finally discontinued in 1966.
The unusual convertible version of the 403 was popularized as the car driven by Lt. Columbo in the eponymous television series. Columbo would often refer to his battered car, seemingly pleased that he was driving a foreign automobile.
[edit] Gallery
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[edit] References
- ^ Gloor, Roger (1. Auflage 2007). Alle Autos der 50er Jahre 1945 - 1960. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-02808-1.
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| Type | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Supermini | 104 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 203 | 204 | 205 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | 304 | 305 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | 403 | 404 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | 504 | 505 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 604 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Off-road | P4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
