When it comes to tales of endurance and derring-do, the Peugeot 504 has seen it all. The model range officially spanned sixteen years, from 1968-83, and comprised saloons, estates and coupés as well as pickup trucks – although manufacturing continued, using Peugeot knock-down kits, until 2004 in Kenya and 2006 in Nigeria. V6-engined 504 coupés and saloons were homologated for Group 4 rallying back in the mid-seventies, and in 1982 the decision was made to homologate the pickup truck for Group B.

504 saloons and estates can still be found performing taxi duties across Africa and the Middle East, with moon miles on the dash and no sign of giving up. But perhaps the most surprising (and undoubtedly the prettiest) addition to the range was the Pininfarina-styled 504 Cabriolet. Launched at Geneva in 1969, this elegant two-door four-seater boasted a dependable fuel-injected 2.0-litre engine and delectable Italianate styling.


The example we have here is a 1973 model, which has been with the same owner for the last 29 years. Anecdotal evidence tells us that it received a full restoration around 20 years ago, while the hard facts in the history file show us that the engine was rebuilt in 2008, and it’s only covered around 1,400 miles since.

The MOT history shows that the car was out of use between around 2012-2021, and this year it’s had over £4,000 spent on recommissioning – including extensive attention to the braking system, remedial work to the wiring, a new clutch slave cylinder and exhaust silencer, and plenty more. Today it presents as an attractive, solid and complete example that’s as pleasing to drive as it is pretty to look at – the quintessential Gallic boulevardier, joyful to behold and ready to enjoy.

Hard-wearing and sensibly organised interiors have always been a French forte, and the 504 is a keen example of this. While its 1970s contemporaries were majoring on the wood and chrome, Peugeot foresaw a more nineties approach, with sturdy plastics and robust switchgear. There’s plenty of room too, the car being a relatively spacious four-seater with a decent-sized boot.

The black leather seats are in good condition and very comfortable, the fronts tilting correctly to allow rear access, and there are seatbelts fitted in the back.

It's all in original condition aside from the fitment of a Porsche CD head unit, and the gauges are all working correctly. The electric window motors work but the mechanisms require some attention . The two-spoke steering wheel is elegant and free from undue wear, and the dash-top and centre console are in good order.

It's all dry and neat inside the boot – the carpet is clean and it’s very tidy underneath.

Pininfarina’s design for the Cabriolet is one of supreme flair and panache, with details such as the slanted triple taillights, slender chrome bumpers and tapering tail imbuing it with a profile that’s more Italian than French.

Finished in Metallic Champagne, you can see from the photos how straight and true the body is, with no evidence of surface corrosion or parking dings, and pleasingly even panel gaps. Clearly a car that’s been cared for and kept indoors, it presents beautifully throughout. 

The light lenses and window glass are all good, and all of the correct trim is present and correct – including the all-important badges. The original alloy wheels wear a set of matching tyres with good tread. The soft-top is a quality item that’s easy to raise, affix and lower; it’s in good condition with no tears or holes, just a little surface patination to the internal frames, and a nice clear window pane.

Robustness is the watchword here: the 504 Cabriolet may be dripping in Italian style, but it suffers none of the potential histrionics. Its fuel-injected 2.0-litre engine is as smooth as it is strong; we know that this one was rebuilt around 1,400 miles ago, and on our test drive it behaved impeccably, starting readily on the first turn of the key, idling smoothly and pulling willingly through the revs.
 
The gearbox is appropriately precise in its shift action, the brakes feel strong, and car rides well on its suspension with the comfort of a true grand tourer. A very pleasing machine indeed to drive.

There’s something a little bit magical about a 504 Cabriolet. A design so pretty, it almost comes as a surprise that such a thing can operate as a functional machine, as it performs so well simply as a piece of art. But they do more than merely function; these cars are so well engineered and they’re thoroughly entertaining and pleasant to drive – creamy-smooth when you want to cruise, and impressively eager when you find the right roads. 

And the likelihood is slim of finding another right-hand-drive UK example that’s this straight and original, with this low mileage and a rebuilt engine, that’s ready to enjoy right now… get your bid in, you won’t want to let this lovely example get away.

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