1975 Peugeot 304 Cabriolet – Classified of the Week

Here at Car & Classic we won’t be weighed down by trivial things like seasons, or the weather. We’re simple creatures; we see a car we like, we write about it and we extol its virtues to you lovely lot. A case in point would be this rather glorious 1975 Peugeot 304 Cabriolet. Sure, it’s a silly time of year to buy a car with no lid, but time is fluid, and soon it will be Spring. The sun will be out and you’ll be glad of buying such a fine machine. Just look at it. How can that French face fail to to put a smile on yours?

Being a 1975 model, this is one of the last Peugeot 304s ever built. That also makes it an ‘S’ model, meaning a throbbing 75bhp from the 1,288cc engine. But low power is fine, as a street racer this is not. This is a cool old cabriolet for pottering around in. One in which you can enjoy the sun and the gentle wind in your hair. It’s a simple beast, but one that aims to do nothing else other than make you smile. And smile you will.

What makes this 1975 Peugeot 304 really special, however, is the condition. It’s really rather exceptional, bar a curious repair to the non-leading edge of the nearside door. The panels are straight, the gaps are good, there are no untoward ripples or dents. The steel wheels are free of rust, and each one wears the correct chrome cap. Speaking of chrome, the bumpers and other bright trim are all in good order, too. Open the bonnet and the story continues with an engine bay you’ll be keen to show off. It’s the kind of classic you can just get in and enjoy.

The all-important roof looks to be in fine fettle, too. Though being a classic, it would probably be best to avoid rainstorms and the like. But should you be caught out by a warm summer shower, this will keep you snug. The rest of the interior is good, too, with achingly period hues of brown and orange everywhere you look. No radio though, so you’ll need to brush up on your conversation starters!

We, if you haven’t guessed, adore this little Peugeot. It’s a vision in gold, it’s a captivating design, it’s in great condition and it’s a welcome break from the more ubiquitous open-top offerings. Plus, this 304 is one of the very rare (only 835 built) right-hand drive versions, meaning there is no sacrifice to make to enjoy classic French motoring. If you want something charming, special, rare and very different, this is it. Just keep it in the garage for now though, yeah?