1980 Peugeot 504 Coupé – Project Profile

A bog standard Peugeot 504 might not be anything that would turn heads, per se, aside from it being a rare sight on UK roads nowadays, despite the French firm making over three million of the things. But whilst not so numerous on these shores they did find their way to pretty much every dark corner of the earth thanks to the car’s inherent rugged practicality, but we’ll get to that. The model we specifically want to talk about is this 1980 Peugeot 504 coupé, a car that most certainly does turns heads, ours included. When this particular two-door French fancy popped up on the Car & Classic classifieds we immediately stopped scrolling and our neck is still reeling from the actual double take we were forced to make.

And who wouldn’t be immediately smitten with the beautifully understated lines of that Pininfarina design? It’s a design that evokes more exotic Italian fare and one can’t help but compare the body shape to that of the Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV, another model that was penned by a famous Italian design house, this time Bertone. But European flair aside the Peugeot 504 was also a hardy so-and-so that became popular as a workhorse in various rougher-terrained areas because of it’s stoic refusal to give up, a toughness born in part from a simple mechanical setup. With a strong, stiff chassis, independent suspension and the engine at the front driving the rear wheels (the correct configuration by the way) the 504 quickly earned a reputation as being comfortable and durable, going on to earn a coveted European Car of the Year award in 1969, just a year after its release.

Debuting with a rather uninspiring but reliable 1.8-litre, inline-four cylinder petrol engine producing 80bhp, a slew of additional engines and gearboxes would be made available over the car’s 15 year production run (although the car would continue to be built on other continents for years, testament to its popularity and ability to endure). Things soon got a little more interesting with the introduction of a 2.6-litre V6 pushing out around 140bhp that was dropped into the coupé in ’73. Developed in conjunction with Volvo and Renault it was a dependable lump and gave the sleek, two-door version a welcome injection of grunt, allowing the slightly shorter model to top 120mph and hit 60mph in nine-and-a-half-ish seconds..

What is it?

And that’s exactly what we have here. This left-hand drive Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé with 75,000 miles under its belt was first registered in February of 1980 in Germany and then later imported into the UK last year. Between 2002 and 2011 the car was subject to a huge amount of restoration work, including a full respray and camshaft replacement with receipts and invoices to prove it. Proudly shown at various classic car shows this beautiful example is ripe for a sympathetic refresh to get it back on the road where it belongs.

Why is it a project? 

Despite presenting as well as it does this 504 has been having a well deserved break from driving since 2014, corroborated by its online MOT history. That’s not to say it’s been laid up in a leaky shed for almost ten years, far from it. Although not used it has been kept in covered storage, biding its time until the next lucky custodian grabs the keys and breathes some fresh air into its six-cylinder lungs.

Five things to look for:

1) Rust

Peugeots from the ’70s and ’80s will rust. It’s inevitable. Like the chance of rain after you’ve just washed your car you can pretty much guarantee it and the 504 is no different. Thanks to this car’s fairly recent restoration and garaged existence it should be fairing better than most but you should still check the entire car for rust, specifically the sills, wheel arches and inner wings.

2) Engine

Commensurate with the car’s enduring legacy the “Douvrin” V6 is a hardy lump and most parts are still readily available – it was used in other Peugeots, Volvos and even the DeLorean after all. Having said that we don’t know if the car runs and drives so job one would be checking to see if the motor turns. If it does it will then need a full inspection and service having been laid up for so long.

3) Gearbox

If the five-speed manual transmission is original it may well have seen better days so check for any graunching which will indicate worn synchromesh. Heavy leaks will mean new seals and as a matter of course you’ll want to drain and refill the gearbox and rear diff oil.

4) Parts

On the face of it this particular 504 doesn’t appear to be in dire need of any body parts, which is good because if it did you might have a problem as new panels are nigh on impossible to source. Bushes and brake and fuel lines may have suffered as a result of inactivity, too. The interior looks complete but double check that everything on the car is present, correct and working as it should.

5) History

The advert does mention a history file that includes receipts for the previous restoration work as well as import documentation but what else is there? Check the paperwork for evidence of regular servicing post-resto. The car hasn’t used for ten years but has it still been diligently serviced and maintained or left to its own devices?

What should you do with it? 

Despite some of the photos having been taken with a potato, this appears to be a fairly easy project requiring little work, at the end of which you’ll be the proud owner of a beautiful and rare slice of French motoring history. The fact that these cars can still be found kicking bottom as taxis and labourers around the world speaks volumes, not to mention their motorsport successes and penchant for cross country rallies, and that inherent robustness is a key factor with this 504. Give the mechanicals a proper inspection and then service the crap out of it before booking in for an MOT and getting back out on the show circuit.