Description
H&H Classics @ Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
Wednesday 26th July, 2023 | 1pm
1974 Peugeot 304 S Cabriolet
Estimate
£10, 000 - £12, 000
Registration No: ANA 133M
Chassis No: 3538514
MOT: Exempt
1 of only 836 UK-supplied, right-hand-drive 304 S Cabriolets understood produced
Previous long-term ownership from the late 1990s until 2017
Only c. 51, 000 miles recorded on the odometer and believed genuine
Subject to recent improvements to the interior and brakes
Peugeot has a long-standing tradition of offering cabriolet versions of its small saloons and hatchbacks, and the 304's turn came in 1970, soon after the launch of the saloon at the 1969 Paris Motor Show. The 304 used the smaller 204's centre section, with a longer nose and tail which followed the successful 504's angular styling, but cabrios and coupes were built on a 280mm-shorter 2310mm wheelbase than the saloon and estate. The 304 was advanced for its time featuring all-round independent suspension, front disc brakes, and a four-speed manual gearbox mounted in the engine sump (like a Mini), while power came from an all-alloy 1288cc SOHC four-cylinder unit that produced a healthy 65bhp. The cabrio was the first version to receive the more powerful S engine, offering an extra 10bhp, in March 1972. Only 18, 647 cabrios were made before production ended in 1975, with just 836 S Cabriolets provided to the UK market.
This rare, UK-supplied S Cabriolet was manufactured new in 1974 and was registered new in the United Kingdom on the 4th of January 1974. Finished in the attractive colour combination of Corn Yellow with complementary Brown interior upholstery, a Black mohair hood, and a Black tonneau cover, ‘ANA 133M’ was previously in long-term ownership of a customer of the (now retired) motor mechanic vendor, who owned the car from the late 1990s and had the car comprehensively restored shortly after acquisition. Having seen minimal mileage since restoration, the then-owner asked the vendor to fully recommission the Peugeot in 2015. However, upon the realisation the car was still going to see minimal use, it was sold to the vendor in 2017 as an addition to his collection.
Displaying some 51, 100 miles on the odometer at the time of consignment, the mileage recorded is believed genuine (with supporting evidence back to the early 1980s), and the 304 has four previous keepers showing on HPI. Recently benefitting from improvements (this year), the 304 Cabriolet has received new front brake pads, a new battery, servicing, and retrimmed carpeting in the cabin and the boot. Supplied with a history file that contains the original maintenance manual, a collection of previous invoices, several previous MOTs dating back to the early 1980s, past tax discs, and current V5C document. Starting readily and running well during our photography session, it is thought very few of the 836 UK-supplied S Cabriolets survive, so this is a scarce opportunity to acquire a low mileage and ownership example.
