Description
1937 – Peugeot 402 Eclipse The advantages of a coupe and a cabriolet in an antique car
Registration title - The model that popularised the concept of the hardtop retractable coupe-convertible - Very rare survivor out of 580 built across all series - E4T version with manual folding roof and Cotal electromechanical gearbox - Known history essentially with three owners since 1957! - Two-tone green paint and an old restoration of high quality that has pleasant patina - 47, 500 km on the clock with the engine fully rebuilt in 2022, invoice on file
The Peugeot 402 Eclipse is one of the most iconic models of French motoring from the 1930s, both for its innovative styling and for itsTechnical advance. Produced between 1935 and 1940, it sits within the Peugeot 402 range, famed for its aerodynamic line nicknamed the “Sochaux spindle.” This modern aesthetic is characterised by flowing forms, enveloping fenders and above all headlights integrated behind the grille, a bold signature that contributes to its decidedly forward-looking identity. Offered in many body styles (saloon, limousine, coupé, cabriolet), the 402 finds its most remarkable expression in the Eclipse version, a true synthesis of elegance and innovation. It is regarded as one of the first series-produced coupé‑converts with a retractable hardtop. This ingenious system, imagined by Georges Paulin and developed with coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout, allows the car to be transformed into a convertibile in moments, the roof stowing in the boot. Very complex for its time, this solution would not be widely replicated until several decades later. Produced in limited numbers — around 580 examples — the 402 Eclipse remains a rare automobile. It combines elegance, comfort and modernity, and represents the pinnacle of Peugeot’s stylistic and technical know-how on the eve of the Second World War. Built by Pourtout and marketed notably by the Parisian dealer Darl’Mat, it is also distinguished by its exclusivity. Beyond its technical innovation, it is noted for its road manners: modern, comfortable and relatively dynamic for its era, it ranked among the most desirable cabriolets of the late 1930s. Today, the Peugeot 402 Eclipse is recognised as a true pioneer in automotive history. With its retractable hardtop concept and its aerodynamic design, it embodies a forward-looking vision of the car, foreshadowing solutions that would only become widespread many years after its disappearance. Put on the road in 1937, the Peugeot 402 Eclipse we offer carries chassis number 618502 and bodywork number 442. Of the 580 402 Eclipse units produced, this is one of the 149 of the E4T version with the spare wheel in the rear boot and configured for five seats. It also features the optional electromagnetically operated Cotal gearbox, further proof of the model’s technological refinement. Its history is well documented. Indeed, it was registered in Lot in 1957 and remained with its owner until 1973, before being sold to a person from Tarn-et-Garonne who kept it for another 40 years, only to be sold at auction in 2013 and purchased by its current owner, again at auction, in 2015. So only four owners in nearly 70 years! It is the Meauzac-based owner in Tarn-et-Garonne, a passionate mechanic, who gave it a second life by restoring it. Repainted at that time in an elegant two-tone green, likely matching its original configuration with matching leather, it now displays a pleasing patina, testament to the quality of its restoration. The manually operated retractable hardtop is equipped with a rear window blind and is fully functional and operable by one person. Additionally, in 2022 the engine was completely rebuilt by a professional for nearly €10, 000 (main invoice available). Since then it has covered barely 300 kilometres but remains in perfectly good running order, with mechanicals now working very well and the running gear in good condition. It now shows just under 47, 500 kilometres on the odometer, a sign of sparing use, notably at various weddings and touristique rallies in recent years where it has made an impact, such as the Traversée de Lyon 2025 where it won the 1st prize in the elegance concours. Without equal in the automotive production of its era, the 402 Eclipse is a remarkable model, and if it is rare to be able to witness an eclipse...
