Photos provided by the vendor

Highlights

Rare 7-seater Familiale model
Recent brake overhaul
A solid base in need of fettling and cosmetics

The Appeal

The Peugeot 504 was renowned for its durability and reliability, carrying over the virtues of both comfort and mechanical accessibility. Roomy and stylish, the 504 developed into a perfect long-distance cruiser. Upon its introduction in 1968, winning the European car of the year in the following year, an estate version was rolled out in 1971. A reworking of the sedan, the ‘Familiale’, featured a high roof line, lengthened wheelbase and solid rear axle.

It placed the car as a useful load-lugger but the addition of the boot seat effectively made it a 7-seater. Its long production run in sixteen countries continued in Nigeria as recently as 2006 and gifted Peugeot with one of their best-selling cars. A truly global car for an appreciative customer, who continues to value its ease of repair and rugged ability.

European markets discontinued the 504 in the early 1980’s as market dynamics rather than dependable no-nonsense travel took precedence, and this LHD example is one of the later cars to have been produced. Powered by the unburstable 2.3-litre XD2 fuel-injected diesel engine, this 1982 504 SRD has appeared to have seen over 200,000 miles of adventures over its lifetime. Believed to have been bought new in Portugal, it spent much of its early life travelling back and forth between there and the UK.

Very much a workhorse in every sense, this old girl is in less than perfect condition with plenty of minor issues that would benefit some attention, but the solid structure, decent mechanical health and legendary reputation could be ideal for someone looking for a piece of Peugeot heritage with historical evidence of longevity and complete durability.

The History and Paperwork

First registered in Portugal in March 1982
Believed to have been used between London and Portugal up until the late 80s
Subsequently placed into storage for an indefinite period
Recommissioned in 2015
The current owner took the car on in the summer of 2022 and used it as a leisure car
Recent Invoice for brake parts
A minor electrical overhaul has been carried out
V5c present
MOT and Tax-exempt
The last MOT in 2018 had an advisory for slight structure corrosion and steering play
Workshop manual included
Two-volume genuine parts catalogue supplied
Several spare parts included
Selling due to family commitments

The Interior

Nylon seat fabric appears to be mostly free of damage
Damage was noted on the side backrest of the nearside rear passenger seat
The rear boot seat is functional
Carpets well used but complete
The dashboard appears to be free of significant damage
Controls all said to function, with the exception of the rear wiper
An over-ride manual choke pull has been installed and is said to work well
A USB/MP3 player installed
Some of the interior trim is reported to be loose
The door cards are intact if a little grubby
The headlining appears to be largely intact
Boot trim shows signs of age and may have been subject to light water ingress

The Exterior

Structurally solid with a typical age-related sheen of surface corrosion noted underneath
The floor pan, boot floor and chassis rails appear to be in good shape with no reported issues with its suspension mounts or inner wheel wells
Blemishes at the lower flanks of the exterior, with corrosion noted on the nearside front door and lower front valance
Both sides of the rear wings show evidence of previous metalwork repair
Panel fit is acceptable with decent panel gaps
Minor dents and scuffs scattered mostly at the corners of the bodywork
The paint finish has an even coverage with age-related marks
Pop-up sunroof fitted and said to be leak-free
All doors are said to open and close with ease
The passenger side door key lock is not working but unlocks from the inside
Glass and seals commensurate with the age
Lights and lenses intact
Bumpers well mounted to the car
Mild wear was noted on the rear bumper
Missing side trim on the rear nearside and front offside wing
Chrome window trim is complete and free of significant damage
Steel wheels display age-related wear but are all complete with their chrome hub caps
The Jupiter tyres are around 20 years old, seemingly free of sidewall damage and retain a legal tread

The Mechanics

Powered by the legendary XD2 fuel-injected 2.3-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine
4-speed gearbox
The reverse gear doesn’t stay in its gate but functions if held in place
The engine starts perfectly once cranked, although sometimes requires a second attempt to engage the starter motor if it just clicks the first time
Once fired up, it doesn’t smoke and idles smoothly without undulation
The car runs well with the owner commenting that it cruises nicely at 60 mph
Subject to a minor service by the current owner
Said to use no oil or water
The electrical system has seen a minor overhaul to rectify lighting and front wiper issues
It has a slow electrical drain caused by the radio - the owner disconnects the battery to circumvent the issue
Much of the braking system has seen recent attention
New front discs/pads and calipers and new rear shoes and cylinders
The owner assures us that it now brakes safely, with no issues in terms of its steering

Summary

The applications for a 504 Familiale are far wider than you may have previously thought. A comfortable genuine 7-seater with a rugged diesel engine could easily eat up the highways of the UK. As a working vehicle, it offers plenty of space, perhaps as a promotional tool or maybe you might be tempted to take it overseas as a touring car. Character comes in many different guises, and thanks to Peugeot's legendary reputation for dependability, ease of mechanical repair and ability to tackle almost any corner of the world, this delightful and honest old bus is spellbindingly unique and utterly practical.

Notice to bidders

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