Peugeot 504: Models, Specs and Buyer’s Guide

Origins (1968–1969)

Planned for spring 1968 but delayed by France’s infamous social unrest that year, the 504 finally debuted on the eve of the Paris Motor Show. It immediately established a new approach for Peugeot, blending restrained design with robust engineering. It went on to win the European Car of the Year trophy in 1969 – Peugeot’s first COTY title.

Range-building and design (1969–1974)

Buoyed by the saloon’s early success, the elegant Pininfarina Coupé and Cabriolet arrived in 1969, followed by long-roof Break and seven-seat Familiale estates. Contemporaneous praise highlighted the independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes on many versions, and these mechanical hallmarks ensured the car rode beautifully even on rough surfaces.

African rally toughness (1975–1978)

Ove Andersson and Arne Hertz won the 1975 Safari Rally in a 504 TI, while Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Jean-Claude Lefèbvre took the 1978 Safari Rally in a 504 V6 Coupé. Further wins across Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire underlined the model’s durability.

Globalisation and late-life production (1980s–2000s)

As the Peugeot 505 (launched in 1983) replaced it across Europe, the 504’s popularity remained undimmed elsewhere. L’Aventure Peugeot records 3,713,356 units being sold in total, and production continued as recently as the mid-Noughties, with regional Peugeot histories describing the 504 as the marque’s longest-produced model.

Legacy

The 504 became everyday transport across continents, earning it the title of ‘Africa’s workhorse’. Its Pininfarina themes are acknowledged in modern Peugeot concept cars like the e-LEGEND. Its blend of comfort, toughness and understated style are still appreciated by classic car buyers, decades after production ended.

From launch, the 504 offered four-cylinder petrol and diesel drivetrains for saloon/estate models, and a Pininfarina-styled coupé/cabriolet that later gained a PRV V6. Below is a concise, model-family snapshot, although figures vary by year, market and body style.

Mechanical highlights 

• Drivetrain and gearboxes: The 504 was front-engined and rear-wheel drive with a torque-tube driveline on most models. A 4-speed manual was common, with later 5-speed gearboxes on some models. An optional 3-speed ZF automatic was joined by a 3-speed GM unit on certain V6s.

• Suspension: Saloons/coupés/cabriolets had four-wheel independent suspension (MacPherson struts front; semi-trailing arms rear), whereas estates/pickups used a live rear axle (replaced by coils on the Break/Familiale).

• Brakes: Front disc brakes were standard. Many saloons featured four-wheel discs, while other markets used rear drums on lower-power variants. 

• Steering: Rack-and-pinion (power-assisted on many) for both saloon and estate models.
  

The 504 fused Pininfarina styling with Peugeot’s “go-anywhere” brief to deliver clean surfaces, confident proportions and generous quantities of glass. Peugeot later acknowledged the 504 Coupé’s influence by reinterpreting its cues on the e-LEGEND concept.

• Saloon (Berline): A long, low bonnet and crisp shoulder line framed a tall, airy cabin. Early cars wore distinctive diagonal rear lamps, and detail changes through the 1970s refreshed bumpers and lighting. 

• Coupé and Cabriolet (designed by Pininfarina): A shorter wheelbase, ‘glassy’ greenhouse and slender pillars gave the two-doors a lighter, coach-built stance. Phase changes altered the lighting, such as the original twin headlamps being replaced by single wide units, although the silhouette remained largely unaltered throughout the 504’s lifetime.

• Panoramic outlook: Peugeot made safety a priority decades before its competitors. A wraparound windscreen and curved rear/side glass delivered a claimed very large glass area and excellent outward visibility. Retractable front head restraints were designed to improve the rearward view.

• Space and seating: Wide-opening doors, fully reclining front bucket seats and thoughtful storage made daily use painless. Seat trims ranged by model and market, from durable leatherette/vinyl to more upmarket finishes in Pininfarina cars.

• Ride-first philosophy: Contemporary tests and reviews consistently praised the seat support and long-travel suspension tuning as delivering calm, unflustered progress.

Naturally, the 504 is devoid of today’s modern safety features. However, it was a well-built car with a strong monocoque chassis that was far safer than several of its rivals in period. Peugeot framed 504 safety as more than mere crash protection, emphasising preventive stability and control so that accidents were less likely to occur.

Active (preventive) Safety

• Chassis balance: The 504’s balanced weight distribution and long wheelbase/low centre of gravity were marketed as reducing over/under-steer while keeping the car planted in gusty crosswinds and sharp turns.

• Steering and tyres: Rack-and-pinion steering paired with Michelin radial tyres delivered secure wet-weather grip at a time when many cars still had cross-ply tyres.

• Braking: Many saloons were advertised with power-assisted discs on all four wheels, while estates typically combined front discs with heavy-duty rear drums.

• Driver awareness: Selected models featured a brake-pad wear warning lamp in the instrument cluster, which was advanced for the era.

Passive (protective) Safety

• Occupant restraints: Front seatbelts became a standard fitment early in the 504’s lifetime. Adjustable head restraints hid away to improve rearward visibility when unoccupied, and they could be lowered fully so the seats could be reclined.

• Steering column: A collapsible energy-absorbing column mitigated steering wheel injury risk in frontal impacts.

• Child protection and visibility: Child-proof rear door locks and an unusually generous glass area supported safer manoeuvring and spatial awareness.

According to Peugeot’s official model record, 3,713,356 504s were produced between 1968 and 1995. 

1.8- and 2.0-litre four-cylinders (the 2.0 also offered mechanical injection in period), robust Indenor diesels (2.1/2.3L), and a 2.7-litre PRV V6 for the Pininfarina Coupé/Cabriolet.

Barring rare 4x4 versions, the 504 was front-engined and rear-wheel drive, with a torque-tube driveline mated to rack-and-pinion steering. 

Rust is the enemy of any 504, so check the front inner wings/strut tops, arches, sills, floor and rear suspension mounts. Italian-built two-doors are especially susceptible to rot. Sourcing trim parts on Coupé/Cabriolet models can be difficult, although Peugeot’s heritage arm (L’Aventure Peugeot) supports classic parts supply and restorations.

The Peugeot 505 took over the role in Europe from 1983, while the 504 continued in production under licence in various regions.