My father had a 504 in South Africa when I was a boy, it was the only car we had. He was offered company cars time after time during the 80's but always turned them down. He drove all across Southern Africa in it and it never let him down, if it broke he could fix it by the road or a bush mechanic would always get it running again. What a car.
Why was the 504 bakkie never offered in SA? The 404 bakkie was legendary here and in the absence of a 2.0 Cortina bakkie I'm sure the 504 would've been a massive success. Much smoother riding than a Datsun, Mazda or Toyota pickup and it had a huge load bed too. Local bakkie conversions of the Mercedes W123 was a big thing in the late '70's and early '80's, just think how much farmers and tradesmen would've loved a factory 504 bakkie!
@@jenskriek4280 This brings back memories . I was going out with a S.African girlfriend in the 90s and she always spoke of bakkies ! The Aussie equivalent of the Utt !
In the 70s and 80s Peugeot (404 and 504) were the “car of Africa” to be found throughout the continent and manufactured in Nigeria as well as SA. Well known and liked for robustness, mechanical simplicity and longevity. Anyone who was ever a passenger on the “service taxi” ride from Mombasa to Nairobi (invariably a 404 pr 504 estate) could testify to their ability to withstand continuous use on long-distance journeys with many different drivers, some of them none to kind!
which there are from every year mine is a 72 ,so 52 yars old as it happens with the DS, even had a American 504 from the 70´s if the two interiors could be changed from one to another my choice happened in the US version of it and instead of chrome bumpers and big front lights a black long bumper and two round lights with a chromed frame, one of the best cars ever in it´s range
I drove a 1974 504 from Cape Town to Lusaka Zambia in 1991.What a marvelous vehicle. Trip was over 4000km's and I only replaced the battery and had 1 puncture.Great car and so good on the open road.
What a legendary car. Back in 1977 I remember we had 2 models in Iran. Both with manual gearbox . The L version, which was cheaper, had the gear lever on the steering column . But GL was ordinary manual and more options and more expensive. We had a Range Rover and used to race it against 504. The ride softness was second to none. The owners were so happy with that car that they wouldn't change ir for a BMW or Mercedes even. In UK I remember seeing 504 estates even during 1990 -1993. We need these cars now.
@@mehdis2159 A magnificent master piece; state of the art of french engineering...Peugeot Manufacturers shall bring it back to live...do not belong to the scrap yards! Thank God we still see them running in the African roads and beyond😀
Of all the cars I've owned, the 1976 Peugeot 504GL was my favourite. It was smooth, comfortable and felt well planted on the road with excellent brakes. It was a private import from South Africa and ended up with me in Australia. I want another one.
These 504s are literally tanks, here in Argentina was the luxury car and later taxi (when the 505 was introduced) by excellence, robust mechanical components and overall reliable as hell, lived on for 30 years in production until 1999 with some units registered in 2000, people here loved it and still do.
I remember riding in a 504 taxi in Salta in your country in 2010. It had been over 20 years since I'd ridden in my Dad's 504. Still had a similar feeling it the ride and the engine note.
chalk and cheese. I had a Cortina 2000 GT Auto and ended up going the Alfa route preferring sports saloons and seats. the really good thing about Fords in that era was they were easy to maintain and the parts were dirt cheap.
My auntie Erla still has a gold “diesel automatique” 504 in New Jersey. The car is still excellent despite 227,000 miles on the clock. Thanks for the video. Cheers.
One of my favourite Peugeot. Back in the days, Peugeot designers said that, on the 504, the distinctive front headlights were inspired by Sophia Loren's eyes.
Hi from Sydney, Australia. I reckon the 504 was the last truly spectacular full sized car Peugeot made. For just 4 years out of 30 years at the same company I was forced to drive a company car, when I was first employed, for 2 years, then 10 yrs later. In the last part of the first 2 years my second in charge was T-boned right in the middle of Sydney city. My first series VB 5.ltr V8 Holden Commodore wagon was destroyed. A person who had left the company had a Peugeot 504 as a company car, prior it was about to be sold once Jack left as it was deemed an odd choice for a vehicle (back then 1980 as management you could have any car you liked up to a value of $13,000) so I grabbed it as my company car and used it until the company was sold and we could if you so preferred use your own car and have all its maintenance and fuel paid for , but in addition have a higher wage. That 504 was exceptional all those years ago Ivory white, with a "poo" brown fabric interior, Australian "Marlin" air-cond system which is artic cold on a 40 degrees Celsius day and its little 2 litre engine gave good fuel mileage too.
A quarter of an hour I was watching this video smiling. What a beauty. What a symphony in blue. The key left, the indicator control right - just the same in the 304's I owned in the 90's. Finally the numberplate: magnificient! Thanks for this roadtest à la Française et à bientôt »»» Martin
Grew up in Kenya, this was the absolute King of the Road! The long travel suspension enabled you to tackle rough corrugated roads at relatively high speed.
WOW! Amazing to see 504 in such good nick. My father had a 403 in the 60s (in Lagos, Nigeria), and later the 504 Estate, which I kind of inherited and drove for years. In between, there was the VW K70, a Toyota Crown. The 504s were fast and sleek back in the day. They were used as official cars for top military officers and the police!
What great memories that brings. Growing up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) my father started off with a 404 in the late 60s and then soon progressed to a 504 followed by 2 more after that. Both myself and my brother ended up with the older ones using them to commute to university regularly - over a 1000 miles - in supreme comfort. Overnight stop overs were easily facilitated with the lie flat front seats (one of the best features). The boot was huge in reality. Easily fitted enough luggage for 4 students plus some.
O man, brought back beautiful memories...we had the 504 GLD...I learnt to drive in it...trips between Butterworth (Eastern Cape) and Pietermaritzburg (KZN) were always comfortable in it...thank you for this review...greetings from Durban, South Africa.
My father had a 504 family estate (auto) 1978. It had the three rows of seats. It was massive . I can remember my dad loading all my mates in the back and going away for the day . Great times.
My Dad bought one New ,in 1974 a Silver Family Estate Automatic , I went with him to pick it up from Chesterfield and was only about 5 ,and remember sitting in the third row of seats sliding around on the Dark Ran vinyl seats.We even had the proper Peugeot Roof Rack ,which was fitted and loaded with a trunk and suitcases come Holiday times as there were six of us and we used to go on Holiday to France and Spain ...Still have many Holiday photos with it in shot
What a lovely car!! My dad had a white Peugeot 404 station wagon, with 3 rows of seats in glorious red/maroon....those seats got piggin hot in the sunshine - we lived in Brussels at the time - 1970 -74, and that car took us all over the low countries, into Austria and Switzerland - happy days.
I had a 1977 Ti manual when I was a teenager in NZ, in this same blue. Assembled locally by Campbell Motors in Thames. This brings back a lot of memories!
In 1978 my mother test drove for a week the 504 Family Estate automatic. The ride was amazing. My dad had Jags so we were used to nice smooth rides, but the Peugeot was on another level. Unfortunately mum didn't get it in the end, she got the Rover SD1 2600 instead, which was a lovely car.....when it started!
But the 404 was indestructible mechanically. Both the 404 & 504 had Welch plugs - so engine could never over heat - esp with indedgenous drivers. Eisch! Won 3 East African Safaris! Luxury and comfort in 504 GLD was unsurpassed for those years. Peugeot in ZA was owned by Chrysler - previously assembled at Natalspruit (Alberton) and later assembled & destroyed by Samcor in PTA.
My farmer landlord often talks wistfully about his 504 pick-up from years ago. And fumes about how, these days, it's so difficult to get hold of a basic 'work' pick-up that isn't monstrous and covered in bling. Love this 504, so much space, and so airy interior. Thank you for this video.
Unfortunately pick-ups have got Americanised and gone from workhorses to the sort of vehicles driven by muppets in Timberland boots who tailgate you...
My late father owned many Peugeots 2 of which were a 504 auto & an estate. I remember our 1972 model 1972cc cost £1972! Happy motoing. Suspension designed for pave roads. Still quite modern looking & a proper sunroogf unlike today
My late father had a K reg 504GL in the mid 70's. It was his first foreign car, replacing a Triumph Vitesse. The party trick of that car (apart from the refinement and ride comfort) was that the dashboard vents were so powerful, my Dad's Hamlet cigar packet would literally float when placed on the vents. For family holidays, sitting in the back with my brother and sister, it had the best space and comfort of any car he owned before that. He then went and spoilt it by swapping it for an MGB GT. Family holidays were a lot less comfortable I can tell you.
Nice video of possibly the most underrated car ever built. Rust the long term enemy of this generation of Peugeot but oh the mechanical brilliance. McPherson strut front suspension mounted inside an absurdly long travel oleo leg gave the 504 (and 404) a suppleness of ride over smooth or rough roads. I doubt there has ever been a car that handled corrugated roads better than these cars. Internally the not-flash-to-look-at front seats of the 404 and 504 are legendary. It is no exaggeration to those claims about driving for hours and getting out of the car and not feeling in anyway stiff or sore. Get in the backseat as an adult and you have FULL legroom and still comfortable seats, and none of this compromising a proper boot with luggage space for a family. They absolutely make a mockery of every other two-litre car on the road. There is that rust though, which proved to be the end of both my 404s and one of my two 504s. My current Škoda Octavia RS is as reliable as the 504, putting it in a stellar class. I’d have another one tomorrow if I could find a no rust low mileage example.
Reminds me of my old Renault 30tx. Mechanical fuel injection, seats like a sofa. Sensible suspension, and room all over the place. That Peugeot is so lovely sir. Thankyou.
@@mehrzahl2219 I nearly bought one in my early twenties, when they could be had for under a thousand quid. If anything, it seems even fewer have survived than the 16 they (and the 20) replaced. Even 25s are few and far between now.
@@mehrzahl2219 Some car manufacturers are very good at maintaining spares: I could still get body panels for my 1994 BMW E34 if I wanted. Renault used to be good at this too, but I suspect that owners clubs are the way to go.
My father had several 504Ti's in the 1970's here in the UK - he did 20,000 miles a year mostly for work and wanted a car that was solid, reliable and comfortable. Before then, he'd always had British cars but their reputation was deteriorating (and my father read the Motor and the Autocar regularly) so was able to make a wise decision. I've ridden many miles in 504's, mostly in the back being only a lad at the time, including a few trips to France - lovely car!
Thank you for continuing to acknowledge the Australian market in your reviews Ian. Older Peugeots are not so common here anymore but still much loved by enthusiasts for their ruggedness especially, amongst other virtues. If you ever come back to Oz one day, I have a few largely original Holdens and Fords which you'd be welcome to review.
Absolutely lovely example of a beautiful old car. There were loads of old 504’s in use as taxis in Gambia and Senegal when I was there about 18 years ago….they were still very comfortable even after a hard life
We had a Production Line in Kenya as well; it was the main Government Vehicle in the 90s. We still have them around. a Massive Classic, Still Reliable even today
I never used to like French tin at all (save the odd hot hatch) but more and more i'm growing to appreciate it. What a gorgeous car and another fantastic vid as always Ian. As an aside, i went to Wiki just to have a read about the 504 and what happens to be the image used for the main pic, but this very car 😄
My grandfather swore by Peugeots - 403, 404 Ti, 504 Ti - the last of which I smacked into the side of a jackknifed artic at high speed on the auroroute one wet winter night. We survived (the front seats were ripped off their runners by the back-seat passengers), which is a tribute to the 504's strength. I later had a diesel 504F 7-seater, which was the most comfortable car I've ever owned. Brilliant heating and ventilation too. When I had the seats down, looking in the rear view mirror gave the impression there was a ballroom behind me it was so big
I had a 504 with bw35 auto for 18 years alongside my fleet of DSs. You can really see how Peugeot looked at the DS weaknesses and went hard on durability, solidity and quietness. The reason few survive is that unwanted cars were exported to Africa, where the wet sleeve engines could be rebuilt indefinitely.
As a teenager in the 80s I had zero love for the 504. ....until a guy I knew bought a first gen, column shift, 504, which in my eyes were a lot worse than the generation you're driving here.....until I went on a long-ish drive with him in it. Never mind that a mk1 Fiesta was faster at a red light than us. The car was insanely comfortable, and I've loved the 504 since that drive. It's a lovely shape too, imho. Talk about falling for the inner values, and that leading to falling in love with the whole car 🙂 Great fun seeing one again. Thanks Ian. I enjoyed that 🙂
Was just describing these to my son yesterday. Parents bought one around 1974. Dad had years of Cortina’s then a VW K70 but the engine was too weak to tow our caravan. Tried to get him to buy a Triumph 2000 but he felt they weren’t well built. 504 towed high caravan very well all across the Scottish highlands and a trip to France.
Occasionally got a lift back from school in an estate seven seater. The owner was a farmers wife. Robust, hard wearing and well used. Same for the car too.
Always imagined bolting on a Garret turbo with intercooling and electronic injection....I believe the 505 (another awesome GT saloon) had a fiery iteration with such.
This is a beautiful car in its own rights... please ship this car to me... i grew up around the peugeot range of cars and its a huge part of me. thanks for the video.
504 is from that time Peugeot and Lancia were almost on the level of Mercedes, quality-wise. My family used to have 504 4x4 Dangel with six-cylinder PRV engine (not a car you can buy, Dangels were all with diesel engines and ours was order-built) and manual transmission with a reduction gear. Insane car that replaced an old, post-WWII Land Rover so my grandfather can go around the estate and hunting. Excluding fuel consumption, it was a flawless car that served for more than 25 years until it seriously broke down. My grandmother hit a tree stump when going 30mph which ripped the whole front axle off and destroyed front diff with transmission. Dangel was sadly not able to repair the car, so two local mechanics took up the challenge. And car lived for another 6 years until my cousin got T-boned in it by a drunk guy. Grandfather then bought used 1980s Land Rover 110 with Rover V8 in it and drove it until he passed away last year.
Had an Aussie 504 in Renault yellow. A 4 speed manual with a carby. Drove it in and around Alice Springs through desert, heat and towed boats and glider trailers. Had to fit a bigger radiator, but it just kept going very comfortably! Loved it
Hi 👋 Greetings from New Zealand. The Peugeot 504 was assembled and sold here. My father knew a car mechanic in the 1970s who worked on them. He would sometimes visit driving one. Their engines are very good. Very nice model you have there.
Theyre bloody wonderful cars. I had a TI as my second car (dad was a peugeot dealer in australia). Name one car i regret selling? Yeah. Tough as nails. So comfortable. Handling was beautiful.
Our two Peugeot’s a 206 and a 208 tells me that they remember their grand aunt the 504 with great respect and fondness. Even our Peugeot pepper mill talks in high regard of her 🤔 Greetings from Denmark
I'd swear, in the brief shot of turning the corner in town before cutting to parking up for the outro, that the bonnet hadn't been clipped down properly, but it was in the next scene. I haven't watched your videos in a long time, so I've a lot to catch up on. This car is amazingly beautiful, especially the plush blue seating -- that kind of blue seems to be a rare colour for upholstery.
20 years ago almost every taxi in Sharm el Sheikh was an estate 504. We took one and it stank of petrol, looking into the boot which of course had no cover by then, it was evident the fuel tank had probably rotted through many years before so a plastic fuel container bungee corded onto the boot floor was doing the job!
Due to local design regulations post 1974 Australian assembled 504's, had RHD pattern wipers. Locally assembled Renaults and Volvos also had the pattern changed. I'm sure this could have been used for other RHD markets. Great to see this video. I owned three "Banger" 504s in Australia, and all were good.
I had a lovely mint green one, with a caramel interior: I saw it driving down the street with a young chap in it who did not look like a Peugeot enthusiast, so I followed him and persuaded him to sell it to me. Trim and paint were beautiful on those. Quite robust, as you say, but mine was not endowed with any performance in either going or turning, and lacking the consequent enjoyment of same. I kept it a year and sold it for no loss: how it won any sporting contest is a mystery - must have been through attrition. Thanks for the nostalgia.
That is a lovely example of a Peugeot 504. I always remember the deputy head of Dumfries Academy had an immaculate example in the early 1980’s XAV 504L which he cherished, it broke my heart to pass a scrapyard some years later after I left school to see it laying in bits. It was probably only 13 years old at the time.
My French uncle had an early gasoline 504 with a manual transmission on the column. I remember helping my uncle collect it from the Peugeot dealership. I thought it was so cool (I was probably on 10 or 11 years old). He also owned a classic white 404 and also a 403 Fourgonnette which he used for his charcuterie business. I am probably a Peugeot fan boy because of him. We didn’t get many Peugeots models in the US, but when I see one I am always excited to check it out. Cheers.
Mme Chu used to drive my class to our weekly swimming class in her 504 break (estate). A brilliant car, perfectly comfortable to ride in and beautifully perfumed with a very 70s "feu orange" air freshener hanging from the dash. I remember the gorgeous blue velour interior almost like it was yesterday. The 504 became the classic ‘taxi brousse’ in Africa in the 80s.
I bought a 1976 sedan for my first car 4 months ago and I could not be happier. same beautiful blue as this one. this car is so absolutely delightful. it is supremely comfortable, has more than enough power, especially with the 505 5 speed manual that was swapped in by the previous owner, and oozes endless charm. my family were highly opposed to the idea of buying an 'antique' car but when we took it for a drive, they all immediately fell in love. there's some rust around and some odd consumable parts need to be replaced, but she's kicking spectacularly nonetheless. I've been restoring it month by month and am very excited to return her to her former glory. Ahmed from Egypt
These were absolutely everywhere in France when I was growing up in the 70s. My parents had one too (as well as the smaller 304). They were a big car for the time, and a little bit middle-class. Then the prices dropped as they aged, and everyone wanted to have a piece of the 504. All those people who couldn't afford one when these were new/recent, suddenly could access them easily on the used market. They had a very good reputation, and many were bought with the diesel engine too.
I can certainly vouch for the popularity of of the 504 in Africa: when I was on holiday in Egypt in 2007, I was amazed to see how many of them were on the roads. I'd estimate about 90% of the taxis in Cairo and elsewhere were 504s, and most of them were in fantastic condition.
My dad had a 504 Familiale , but because of the soft ride my sisters always got carsick! My uncle had an accident with it! So then we got the green VOLVO 245 DL and the car sickness of my sisters was over! My sisters got carsick from French cars! They couldn’t stand the soft ride! I have nice memories of the 504 , but when I think back of it I still smell the vomit 🤢! We never got rid off that smell until my uncle wrecked the car!👍🏻👍🏻 🆙 🫶
That is a truly beautiful example of one of the great humble cars of the world. It is a shame that more haven't survived in the UK, they were and are a great all round car, no wonder Africa loved them becuase they would run for ever. There's a few videos on YT of ones in Africa with astronomical mileages on them, may not look the best but are still going strong.
My neighbour (now 87) had a 504 pick up for 40 years or so and used it daily for farm duties. Absolutely robust and marvelous car. Thank you sir for the video!
Also my wife’s family drove overland from the Middle East back to the UK in a 504 estate in the 1970s … when those sort of trips were still just about possible. Awesome vehicles.
My Dad had a 78 2.0 GL manual S,roofmodel in the same colour. Had 26k on the clock ..back seat hadn't been sat on still had plastic on dr cards ..was absolutely beautiful car .Used to do 30 mpg on his daily trip to work..
My late father had a 404 injection in the early 1970s in Germany. After 3 years it got stolen. In the late 70s he bought a 504 injection. That one was stolen after two years. They were sought-after cars, you might say. After that he switched to a 204, that got rear-ended by a hot head BMW. Then he gave up and from then on bought different brands... the cars themselves were great, very comfy.
I believe Peugeot manufactured their own dampers well into the early 2000s. My 406 is still riding on its original dampers and they still do their job perfectly fine and pass the test every year at the MOT station. Beautiful video of a fantastic car! I sat in one of these as a passenger some years ago, and was very impressed by the ride. Not something a Xantia owner got to experience often.
I still remember the smell of Dad's 504TI automatique when he picked it up from Roy Chapman Berkhamsted - it was the first new car he had ever bought. Cream paint with dark brown velour. Lovely!
These were quite common here in Sweden when I was a kid, not least as taxis. There was a 504 Break 7-seater that was used as a school-taxi, ferrying the kids that lived out in the sticks, to my school when I was very little, in the first years of the 80s - in that same blue colour, i believe. I may have traveled in that car at some point, don't really remember anymore... Although I prefer the design of the Peugeots of the late 80s, 90s and early 2000s, I do think this looks so much more stylish than the fuzzy, overdesigned and mostly awful-looking things they sell today. Proof, yet again, that proportions and a perfect basic shape is key in car design, that no amount of superfluos details can hide.
Great car! I had two (Australia), the first one took us up to the Kimberleys, it floated over the corrugated rough roads superbly and I remember driving it through a river, no water came into the car, our friends' car behind us (a Holden Kingswood) filled up with water and shook to bits on the bad roads. The other one I had until 2008, it took us from Melbourne to Sydney and South Australia lots of times, it was metallic blue and had an electric sunroof. Most of them from here ended up getting shipped over the the middle east, Egypt etc. They're a very rare sight now. That's probably what happened to them all from England too.
Still very common here in Kenya, I see them most journeys. Built and sold here well into the mid 2000s. Still used extensively by the police too, I'd say about a third of their fleet is 504s!
I had 2, both GL autos a 74 and a 76. Super comfortable, nothing since has ever come close, that includes a mk 3 granada, Audi 80, 306 and a selection of megane from 04 to 12. My brother had a 74 Ti auto, he eventually had to scrap it as he towed a caravan and one day expected the rear axle to pull out when he set off! He always said it was the best tow car ever.
I remember reading an Australian road test about the 504 where the tester reckoned that if he had to travel around Australia, he would prefer the 504 to the Holden/Falcon/Valiant of the day. He summed up that the 504 was more suited to Australia than the aforementioned cars.
Yep. I used to travel from Melbourne to Canberra regularly in my 504 and it was the best long-distance tourer I have ever owned, with possibly the exception of the 505 STi (same thing, but with a few more creature comforts like better airconditioning!!)
My Father had a Yellow Manual 504 and i drove it between Gunnedah and Moree and a few other towns on our Thin one lane highways with potholes blind corners and Semis making sure you used the Dirt shoulders generously supplied by our Road Builders. The most comfortable and best handling ride for Decades.
When my family lived just along from Abergavenny in the early 80s I recall seeing quite a few of the Peugeot 504 pickups. In fact there were a few French cars in Wales in those days, indeed my Mum had a Renault 5! A terrific video, of a now almost forgotten workhorse.
That just looks like a beautiful cat offering serene travel - from a time when suspension didn't all have to be crashy and when body roll was not deemed the work of the devil - lovely
My father bought one of these in the early 80's in Algeria and the only licensed adult was my big brother, I remember having a lot of fun riding in the back seat me and his son my nephew going to the city visiting the family or going to the hills enjoying nature, They were the best days of my life.
I had a Peugot 504 Estate for a while. Sadly it was a very high mileage example, but it was extremely comfortable - both the seating and the suspension. Mine was a manual version, and I loved the very long gear lever. It was a JOY to drive.
While I didn't make it to FOTU'21, this 504 was in the Concourse de l'Ordinaire at FOTU'22, alongside an equally well-preserved five-door 104, and the Fiat Panda Italia'90 that was the cover star of a later issue of "Classic. Retro. Modern." - and there was a lefty 604 out in the "proper" car park for good measure. Good to see it's had its 2001-onwards-spec plates replaced with proper old-school plates with the rounded font and embossed letters. Now all it needs for full authenticity is the ashtrays filled with a heap of Gitanes ash... I will not volunteer to do so.
My father replaced his very late, dated, 1963 Standard Ensign 864 PTA with a base 1972 504 base manual gearboxx KYX972K. Suddenly we had arrived in the 1970's. As a 14 year old I still drolled at my neighbours mark 1 Opel Manta but less so at my friends up the road more popular Cortina mark 3 1.6L & Hilllman Avenger Estate cars. More on a par with the Consel/Granada's from "Jasons Taxis" that would take us all effortlessly to Gatwick for an early foreign holiday. I learnt the art of reversing in the 504. Learnt to drive in 1978 in a Chyrsler Sunbeam hatchback & had a tendancy to oversteer when reversing. Reversing in the 504 was a doddle To me it actually moved as well backwards as it did forwards at time. Later on, great on the open road too. Great Review of a very under rated car Ian.
We had Mazda 626 year 1990 and Peugeot 504 year 1984 at the same time. As a kid never liked it much compared to Mazda 626. But on Peugoet we travelled Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt. The car never broke down, however during our trip from Nuweiba to Suez there was a desert storm, and one of the front windows got stuck and was not fully closing (the front two windows were automatic) the car inside was full of sand. My father got the car checked in Suez and everything was good to go.
Some family friends we knew had one brand new in about 73/74, it was a champagne colour. They were originally from the Midlands but had moved to Cornwall and I remember my brother always loved this car it was so advanced for its time, he was always reminiscing how effortless the journey from Cornwall back to the Midlands to see family was, and this was the days when the M5 was two lanes and south of Bristol you picked up the A38.
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My father had a 504 in South Africa when I was a boy, it was the only car we had. He was offered company cars time after time during the 80's but always turned them down. He drove all across Southern Africa in it and it never let him down, if it broke he could fix it by the road or a bush mechanic would always get it running again. What a car.
There where only two cars in Africa in the eighties that people wanted, the W123 Mercedes and the 504. Tough and reliable.
Why was the 504 bakkie never offered in SA? The 404 bakkie was legendary here and in the absence of a 2.0 Cortina bakkie I'm sure the 504 would've been a massive success. Much smoother riding than a Datsun, Mazda or Toyota pickup and it had a huge load bed too. Local bakkie conversions of the Mercedes W123 was a big thing in the late '70's and early '80's, just think how much farmers and tradesmen would've loved a factory 504 bakkie!
@@jenskriek4280 That is a very good question. I am trying to think if I saw them in Zambia and Rhodesia.
@@jenskriek4280 This brings back memories . I was going out with a S.African girlfriend in the 90s and she always spoke of bakkies ! The Aussie equivalent of the Utt !
In the 70s and 80s Peugeot (404 and 504) were the “car of Africa” to be found throughout the continent and manufactured in Nigeria as well as SA. Well known and liked for robustness, mechanical simplicity and longevity. Anyone who was ever a passenger on the “service taxi” ride from Mombasa to Nairobi (invariably a 404 pr 504 estate) could testify to their ability to withstand continuous use on long-distance journeys with many different drivers, some of them none to kind!
A car that will be 50 years old in 4 years is a testament to the makers and the owners. Lovely car.
which there are from every year mine is a 72 ,so 52 yars old as it happens with the DS, even had a American 504 from the 70´s if the two interiors could be changed from one to another my choice happened in the US version of it and instead of chrome bumpers and big front lights a black long bumper and two round lights with a chromed frame, one of the best cars ever in it´s range
go to Egypt, majority of taxis are 504s
@@vicbauwens i´ve been there a few times in the 90´s the porshe carrera 4 was our off road vehicule, excelent
@@vicbauwens And FIATs😊
I still have a 504GL manuel drive and in the process of restoring it. What a car . It's a classic now . 52 years and 37 years in my family.
I drove a 1974 504 from Cape Town to Lusaka Zambia in 1991.What a marvelous vehicle. Trip was over 4000km's and I only replaced the battery and had 1 puncture.Great car and so good on the open road.
I owned several back in the day. The most comfortable, supportive seats ever fitted to a car. They are superb cars.
What a legendary car. Back in 1977 I remember we had 2 models in Iran. Both with manual gearbox . The L version, which was cheaper, had the gear lever on the steering column . But GL was ordinary manual and more options and more expensive. We had a Range Rover and used to race it against 504. The ride softness was second to none. The owners were so happy with that car that they wouldn't change ir for a BMW or Mercedes even. In UK I remember seeing 504 estates even during 1990 -1993. We need these cars now.
Built to Last
@@mehdis2159 A magnificent master piece; state of the art of french engineering...Peugeot Manufacturers shall bring it back to live...do not belong to the scrap yards! Thank God we still see them running in the African roads and beyond😀
Thanks - such a lovely car. Still looks beautiful today
Of all the cars I've owned, the 1976 Peugeot 504GL was my favourite. It was smooth, comfortable and felt well planted on the road with excellent brakes. It was a private import from South Africa and ended up with me in Australia. I want another one.
These 504s are literally tanks, here in Argentina was the luxury car and later taxi (when the 505 was introduced) by excellence, robust mechanical components and overall reliable as hell, lived on for 30 years in production until 1999 with some units registered in 2000, people here loved it and still do.
I remember riding in a 504 taxi in Salta in your country in 2010. It had been over 20 years since I'd ridden in my Dad's 504. Still had a similar feeling it the ride and the engine note.
@@brianquinn8242 Nice.
I was a Peugeot mechanic after I left school, I ditched my Cortina GXL after driving a 504.
Not surprised. Introduced at a similar time but could have been twenty years apart in engineering.
chalk and cheese. I had a Cortina 2000 GT Auto and ended up going the Alfa route preferring sports saloons and seats. the really good thing about Fords in that era was they were easy to maintain and the parts were dirt cheap.
My auntie Erla still has a gold “diesel automatique” 504 in New Jersey. The car is still excellent despite 227,000 miles on the clock. Thanks for the video. Cheers.
Where does the name come from, pray tell? My mother was called Erla but she was Icelandic.
@@karihardarson1234 Eastern European I’m sure.
227,000 ml it just run in.Years of life left in it.
@@karihardarson1234
Her father was an Earl.
@@karihardarson1234hmm
One of my favourite Peugeot. Back in the days, Peugeot designers said that, on the 504, the distinctive front headlights were inspired by Sophia Loren's eyes.
Eye can see that now.
@@martydavies7198 Yep !
@@yanndenis5628 In that case they should have also fitted two very large airbags
My parents had one in the early 80s - a carbureted two litre manual. Helping my Dad maintain it was one of the things that got me into cars.
Hi from Sydney, Australia. I reckon the 504 was the last truly spectacular full sized car Peugeot made. For just 4 years out of 30 years at the same company I was forced to drive a company car, when I was first employed, for 2 years, then 10 yrs later. In the last part of the first 2 years my second in charge was T-boned right in the middle of Sydney city. My first series VB 5.ltr V8 Holden Commodore wagon was destroyed. A person who had left the company had a Peugeot 504 as a company car, prior it was about to be sold once Jack left as it was deemed an odd choice for a vehicle (back then 1980 as management you could have any car you liked up to a value of $13,000) so I grabbed it as my company car and used it until the company was sold and we could if you so preferred use your own car and have all its maintenance and fuel paid for , but in addition have a higher wage.
That 504 was exceptional all those years ago Ivory white, with a "poo" brown fabric interior, Australian "Marlin" air-cond system which is artic cold on a 40 degrees Celsius day and its little 2 litre engine gave good fuel mileage too.
Nice. Edit: lack of A/C likely doomed U.S. sales even in 1970s
A quarter of an hour I was watching this video smiling. What a beauty. What a symphony in blue. The key left, the indicator control right - just the same in the 304's I owned in the 90's. Finally the numberplate: magnificient! Thanks for this roadtest à la Française et à bientôt »»» Martin
Thanks for this report! I drove a 1979 504 ti automatique back in the 80th and I still think it was a big mistake to sell it. Beautiful car!
Grew up in Kenya, this was the absolute King of the Road! The long travel suspension enabled you to tackle rough corrugated roads at relatively high speed.
WOW! Amazing to see 504 in such good nick. My father had a 403 in the 60s (in Lagos, Nigeria), and later the 504 Estate, which I kind of inherited and drove for years. In between, there was the VW K70, a Toyota Crown. The 504s were fast and sleek back in the day. They were used as official cars for top military officers and the police!
What great memories that brings. Growing up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) my father started off with a 404 in the late 60s and then soon progressed to a 504 followed by 2 more after that. Both myself and my brother ended up with the older ones using them to commute to university regularly - over a 1000 miles - in supreme comfort. Overnight stop overs were easily facilitated with the lie flat front seats (one of the best features). The boot was huge in reality. Easily fitted enough luggage for 4 students plus some.
It later became umtshovha in bulawayo
O man, brought back beautiful memories...we had the 504 GLD...I learnt to drive in it...trips between Butterworth (Eastern Cape) and Pietermaritzburg (KZN) were always comfortable in it...thank you for this review...greetings from Durban, South Africa.
My father had a 504 family estate (auto) 1978. It had the three rows of seats. It was massive . I can remember my dad loading all my mates in the back and going away for the day . Great times.
Those were the days 😊
My Dad bought one New ,in 1974 a Silver Family Estate Automatic , I went with him to pick it up from Chesterfield and was only about 5 ,and remember sitting in the third row of seats sliding around on the Dark Ran vinyl seats.We even had the proper Peugeot Roof Rack ,which was fitted and loaded with a trunk and suitcases come Holiday times as there were six of us and we used to go on Holiday to France and Spain ...Still have many Holiday photos with it in shot
We had a CX safari at the same time….. its rival!
Had much fun in one like that!
The 504 estate with three row seat is marvelous. Also the 505 estate.
I had one in Sierra leone when I worked in Freetown . It needed to be robust and by golly it was !!!! Mine came from Nigeria
What a lovely car!!
My dad had a white Peugeot 404 station wagon, with 3 rows of seats in glorious red/maroon....those seats got piggin hot in the sunshine - we lived in Brussels at the time - 1970 -74, and that car took us all over the low countries, into Austria and Switzerland - happy days.
Same nice Pininfarina design as the old Fiat 2100/2300 sedans of the 1960s.
I travelled 100s of miles in my 404 station wagon ...in South Africa late 70s
I had a 1977 Ti manual when I was a teenager in NZ, in this same blue. Assembled locally by Campbell Motors in Thames. This brings back a lot of memories!
In 1978 my mother test drove for a week the 504 Family Estate automatic. The ride was amazing. My dad had Jags so we were used to nice smooth rides, but the Peugeot was on another level. Unfortunately mum didn't get it in the end, she got the Rover SD1 2600 instead, which was a lovely car.....when it started!
The 504, best car Peugeot ever made.
But the 404 was indestructible mechanically. Both the 404 & 504 had Welch plugs - so engine could never over heat - esp with indedgenous drivers. Eisch! Won 3 East African Safaris! Luxury and comfort in 504 GLD was unsurpassed for those years. Peugeot in ZA was owned by Chrysler - previously assembled at Natalspruit (Alberton) and later assembled & destroyed by Samcor in PTA.
Those were the days Peugeot made motor cars to last forever. Not even the indedgenous could destroy them - and that’s saying something!
Along with 404s and 205s.
@@NeilBarratt
404's yes. I wouldn't put the 205 in the same class as they rotted out underneath prematurely
@@NickyB62 I've got a 1992 205. I'd argue that the older cars are far more prone to rusting; that's why so few survive in western countries.
My farmer landlord often talks wistfully about his 504 pick-up from years ago. And fumes about how, these days, it's so difficult to get hold of a basic 'work' pick-up that isn't monstrous and covered in bling. Love this 504, so much space, and so airy interior. Thank you for this video.
Unfortunately pick-ups have got Americanised and gone from workhorses to the sort of vehicles driven by muppets in Timberland boots who tailgate you...
There are two 504 pickups still on the road here where I live in Portugal, which means they're still passing the annual inspection. 🙂
Mahindra Pik Up
@@Pyjamarama11wish we could get that one in the States!
In love with that interior ! 😊
My late father owned many Peugeots 2 of which were a 504 auto & an estate. I remember our 1972 model 1972cc cost £1972! Happy motoing. Suspension designed for pave roads. Still quite modern looking & a proper sunroogf unlike today
My late father had a K reg 504GL in the mid 70's. It was his first foreign car, replacing a Triumph Vitesse. The party trick of that car (apart from the refinement and ride comfort) was that the dashboard vents were so powerful, my Dad's Hamlet cigar packet would literally float when placed on the vents.
For family holidays, sitting in the back with my brother and sister, it had the best space and comfort of any car he owned before that. He then went and spoilt it by swapping it for an MGB GT. Family holidays were a lot less comfortable I can tell you.
Nearly bought an up market one of these from an old boy giving up driving but had a pug 309gti 1.9 but the 504 was In VG c .right.decision??
Nice video of possibly the most underrated car ever built.
Rust the long term enemy of this generation of Peugeot but oh the mechanical brilliance.
McPherson strut front suspension mounted inside an absurdly long travel oleo leg gave the 504 (and 404) a suppleness of ride over smooth or rough roads. I doubt there has ever been a car that handled corrugated roads better than these cars.
Internally the not-flash-to-look-at front seats of the 404 and 504 are legendary. It is no exaggeration to those claims about driving for hours and getting out of the car and not feeling in anyway stiff or sore.
Get in the backseat as an adult and you have FULL legroom and still comfortable seats, and none of this compromising a proper boot with luggage space for a family.
They absolutely make a mockery of every other two-litre car on the road.
There is that rust though, which proved to be the end of both my 404s and one of my two 504s.
My current Škoda Octavia RS is as reliable as the 504, putting it in a stellar class. I’d have another one tomorrow if I could find a no rust low mileage example.
Reminds me of my old Renault 30tx. Mechanical fuel injection, seats like a sofa. Sensible suspension, and room all over the place.
That Peugeot is so lovely sir.
Thankyou.
30 TX is my dream car. Incredibly rare nowadays!
@@mehrzahl2219 I nearly bought one in my early twenties, when they could be had for under a thousand quid. If anything, it seems even fewer have survived than the 16 they (and the 20) replaced. Even 25s are few and far between now.
@@HowardLeVertthat's a pity. Getting parts must be a nightmare!
@@mehrzahl2219 Some car manufacturers are very good at maintaining spares: I could still get body panels for my 1994 BMW E34 if I wanted. Renault used to be good at this too, but I suspect that owners clubs are the way to go.
Fabulous car - made when Peugeot was known for well made solid cars - lots in Egypt.
My father had several 504Ti's in the 1970's here in the UK - he did 20,000 miles a year mostly for work and wanted a car that was solid, reliable and comfortable. Before then, he'd always had British cars but their reputation was deteriorating (and my father read the Motor and the Autocar regularly) so was able to make a wise decision. I've ridden many miles in 504's, mostly in the back being only a lad at the time, including a few trips to France - lovely car!
Thank you for continuing to acknowledge the Australian market in your reviews Ian. Older Peugeots are not so common here anymore but still much loved by enthusiasts for their ruggedness especially, amongst other virtues. If you ever come back to Oz one day, I have a few largely original Holdens and Fords which you'd be welcome to review.
The last one I saw was years ago. A Melbourne assembled 1980 Automatique in apple green. Simply lovely.
Absolutely lovely example of a beautiful old car. There were loads of old 504’s in use as taxis in Gambia and Senegal when I was there about 18 years ago….they were still very comfortable even after a hard life
They were probably not that old. Until 2006 Peugeot 504 were built in Nigeria.
We had a Production Line in Kenya as well; it was the main Government Vehicle in the 90s. We still have them around. a Massive Classic, Still Reliable even today
I never used to like French tin at all (save the odd hot hatch) but more and more i'm growing to appreciate it. What a gorgeous car and another fantastic vid as always Ian.
As an aside, i went to Wiki just to have a read about the 504 and what happens to be the image used for the main pic, but this very car 😄
My grandfather swore by Peugeots - 403, 404 Ti, 504 Ti - the last of which I smacked into the side of a jackknifed artic at high speed on the auroroute one wet winter night. We survived (the front seats were ripped off their runners by the back-seat passengers), which is a tribute to the 504's strength. I later had a diesel 504F 7-seater, which was the most comfortable car I've ever owned. Brilliant heating and ventilation too. When I had the seats down, looking in the rear view mirror gave the impression there was a ballroom behind me it was so big
These were the best of the rugged Pugs
I had a 504 with bw35 auto for 18 years alongside my fleet of DSs. You can really see how Peugeot looked at the DS weaknesses and went hard on durability, solidity and quietness. The reason few survive is that unwanted cars were exported to Africa, where the wet sleeve engines could be rebuilt indefinitely.
Not hard to weld up either, so there you go.
As a teenager in the 80s I had zero love for the 504. ....until a guy I knew bought a first gen, column shift, 504, which in my eyes were a lot worse than the generation you're driving here.....until I went on a long-ish drive with him in it. Never mind that a mk1 Fiesta was faster at a red light than us. The car was insanely comfortable, and I've loved the 504 since that drive. It's a lovely shape too, imho. Talk about falling for the inner values, and that leading to falling in love with the whole car 🙂 Great fun seeing one again. Thanks Ian. I enjoyed that 🙂
The 504 in Kenya is a legend, it was called Simba which means lion in Swahili and similarly so in native dialects.... It took to Africa like a lion
Was just describing these to my son yesterday. Parents bought one around 1974. Dad had years of Cortina’s then a VW K70 but the engine was too weak to tow our caravan. Tried to get him to buy a Triumph 2000 but he felt they weren’t well built. 504 towed high caravan very well all across the Scottish highlands and a trip to France.
Occasionally got a lift back from school in an estate seven seater. The owner was a farmers wife. Robust, hard wearing and well used.
Same for the car too.
Ha ha.😂
😅😅😅....both❤
Always imagined bolting on a Garret turbo with intercooling and electronic injection....I believe the 505 (another awesome GT saloon) had a fiery iteration with such.
This is a beautiful car in its own rights... please ship this car to me... i grew up around the peugeot range of cars and its a huge part of me. thanks for the video.
watching from Kenya, Africa.
Now that’s a proper car. They were once everywhere but it’s years since I last saw one. Wonderful 👌
504 is from that time Peugeot and Lancia were almost on the level of Mercedes, quality-wise. My family used to have 504 4x4 Dangel with six-cylinder PRV engine (not a car you can buy, Dangels were all with diesel engines and ours was order-built) and manual transmission with a reduction gear. Insane car that replaced an old, post-WWII Land Rover so my grandfather can go around the estate and hunting. Excluding fuel consumption, it was a flawless car that served for more than 25 years until it seriously broke down. My grandmother hit a tree stump when going 30mph which ripped the whole front axle off and destroyed front diff with transmission. Dangel was sadly not able to repair the car, so two local mechanics took up the challenge. And car lived for another 6 years until my cousin got T-boned in it by a drunk guy. Grandfather then bought used 1980s Land Rover 110 with Rover V8 in it and drove it until he passed away last year.
Sorry for your loss but great car .
We had two 504 at the embassy in Lagos in the early 80s. Close to 100 diplomatic representation & each had at least one 504😂. Robust & reliable.
Had an Aussie 504 in Renault yellow. A 4 speed manual with a carby. Drove it in and around Alice Springs through desert, heat and towed boats and glider trailers. Had to fit a bigger radiator, but it just kept going very comfortably! Loved it
Hi 👋 Greetings from New Zealand. The Peugeot 504 was assembled and sold here. My father knew a car mechanic in the 1970s who worked on them. He would sometimes visit driving one. Their engines are very good. Very nice model you have there.
Theyre bloody wonderful cars.
I had a TI as my second car (dad was a peugeot dealer in australia).
Name one car i regret selling?
Yeah.
Tough as nails. So comfortable. Handling was beautiful.
What a beauty. A time when car manufacturers took pride in what they built.
Not only that, their engineering design and quality was way above the competition
Our two Peugeot’s a 206 and a 208 tells me that they remember their grand aunt the 504 with great respect and fondness. Even our Peugeot pepper mill talks in high regard of her 🤔 Greetings from Denmark
I'd swear, in the brief shot of turning the corner in town before cutting to parking up for the outro, that the bonnet hadn't been clipped down properly, but it was in the next scene.
I haven't watched your videos in a long time, so I've a lot to catch up on. This car is amazingly beautiful, especially the plush blue seating -- that kind of blue seems to be a rare colour for upholstery.
Yes, there are two bonnet catches and for a time one of them wasn't properly latched. Didn't notice until the edit!
20 years ago almost every taxi in Sharm el Sheikh was an estate 504. We took one and it stank of petrol, looking into the boot which of course had no cover by then, it was evident the fuel tank had probably rotted through many years before so a plastic fuel container bungee corded onto the boot floor was doing the job!
Due to local design regulations post 1974 Australian assembled 504's, had RHD pattern wipers. Locally assembled Renaults and Volvos also had the pattern changed. I'm sure this could have been used for other RHD markets.
Great to see this video. I owned three "Banger" 504s in Australia, and all were good.
I had a lovely mint green one, with a caramel interior: I saw it driving down the street with a young chap in it who did not look like a Peugeot enthusiast, so I followed him and persuaded him to sell it to me. Trim and paint were beautiful on those. Quite robust, as you say, but mine was not endowed with any performance in either going or turning, and lacking the consequent enjoyment of same. I kept it a year and sold it for no loss: how it won any sporting contest is a mystery - must have been through attrition. Thanks for the nostalgia.
My dad had one in the late 70's. Maroon with mid-brown interior. 5 kids in the back, and it took us on family holidays every summer. It was a manual.
That is a lovely example of a Peugeot 504. I always remember the deputy head of Dumfries Academy had an immaculate example in the early 1980’s XAV 504L which he cherished, it broke my heart to pass a scrapyard some years later after I left school to see it laying in bits. It was probably only 13 years old at the time.
It's like choosing between Tiswas and Swap Shop when you and Matt release videos at exactly the same time, Ian. 😋👍
Oh gawd. Have we done it again?!
But which is which? Anyhow, Tiswas had Sally James..
@@HubNutJust Matt getting his own back 😂
@@stevewilson8467I think we all know; chaos + custard pies + de condensed milk sandwiches = Hubnut! 😂
@@stevewilson8467 Ah, Sally "I didn't know there were two full stops in Tiswas" James!
Fantastic beautiful car. In my younger years (I am from 1968) these 504's were everywhere in the Netherlands.
My French uncle had an early gasoline 504 with a manual transmission on the column. I remember helping my uncle collect it from the Peugeot dealership. I thought it was so cool (I was probably on 10 or 11 years old). He also owned a classic white 404 and also a 403 Fourgonnette which he used for his charcuterie business. I am probably a Peugeot fan boy because of him. We didn’t get many Peugeots models in the US, but when I see one I am always excited to check it out. Cheers.
Mme Chu used to drive my class to our weekly swimming class in her 504 break (estate). A brilliant car, perfectly comfortable to ride in and beautifully perfumed with a very 70s "feu orange" air freshener hanging from the dash. I remember the gorgeous blue velour interior almost like it was yesterday. The 504 became the classic ‘taxi brousse’ in Africa in the 80s.
I bought a 1976 sedan for my first car 4 months ago and I could not be happier. same beautiful blue as this one. this car is so absolutely delightful. it is supremely comfortable, has more than enough power, especially with the 505 5 speed manual that was swapped in by the previous owner, and oozes endless charm. my family were highly opposed to the idea of buying an 'antique' car but when we took it for a drive, they all immediately fell in love. there's some rust around and some odd consumable parts need to be replaced, but she's kicking spectacularly nonetheless. I've been restoring it month by month and am very excited to return her to her former glory.
Ahmed from Egypt
My dad had one in 1976, got it from a dealer that brought it from police in Holland. Perfect travel car it was, we drove it to spain and loved it.
Air force friend had one to drive up and down Belgium-Germany occupation force. Spacious inside. Plenty of torque. Great drive.
These were absolutely everywhere in France when I was growing up in the 70s. My parents had one too (as well as the smaller 304). They were a big car for the time, and a little bit middle-class. Then the prices dropped as they aged, and everyone wanted to have a piece of the 504. All those people who couldn't afford one when these were new/recent, suddenly could access them easily on the used market. They had a very good reputation, and many were bought with the diesel engine too.
Nice.
I can certainly vouch for the popularity of of the 504 in Africa: when I was on holiday in Egypt in 2007, I was amazed to see how many of them were on the roads. I'd estimate about 90% of the taxis in Cairo and elsewhere were 504s, and most of them were in fantastic condition.
What a lovely car and in beautiful condition. I only ever travelled in one once in about 1974 but still remember it to this day.
I owned a 1978 2.3 diesel one. It was an absolutely fantastic car. I towed car trailers with it and it was a rock solid tow vehicle.
My dad had a 504 Familiale , but because of the soft ride my sisters always got carsick! My uncle had an accident with it! So then we got the green VOLVO 245 DL and the car sickness of my sisters was over! My sisters got carsick from French cars! They couldn’t stand the soft ride! I have nice memories of the 504 , but when I think back of it I still smell the vomit 🤢! We never got rid off that smell until my uncle wrecked the car!👍🏻👍🏻 🆙 🫶
Maybe your parents smoked ?
That is a truly beautiful example of one of the great humble cars of the world. It is a shame that more haven't survived in the UK, they were and are a great all round car, no wonder Africa loved them becuase they would run for ever. There's a few videos on YT of ones in Africa with astronomical mileages on them, may not look the best but are still going strong.
These cars were absolutely 💯 legend...amazing longevity ❤
My neighbour (now 87) had a 504 pick up for 40 years or so and used it daily for farm duties. Absolutely robust and marvelous car. Thank you sir for the video!
Also my wife’s family drove overland from the Middle East back to the UK in a 504 estate in the 1970s … when those sort of trips were still just about possible. Awesome vehicles.
My Dad had a 78 2.0 GL manual S,roofmodel in the same colour. Had 26k on the clock ..back seat hadn't been sat on still had plastic on dr cards ..was absolutely beautiful car .Used to do 30 mpg on his daily trip to work..
SUPERB Car.I had a 76GL in NewZealand in the 90s blue AUTO. Hard to find a good 504 these days .I have a peugoet 406v6sadan 2003love it joy to drive 😊
I like 604, 605 and 607 more
My late father had a 404 injection in the early 1970s in Germany. After 3 years it got stolen. In the late 70s he bought a 504 injection. That one was stolen after two years. They were sought-after cars, you might say. After that he switched to a 204, that got rear-ended by a hot head BMW. Then he gave up and from then on bought different brands... the cars themselves were great, very comfy.
I believe Peugeot manufactured their own dampers well into the early 2000s. My 406 is still riding on its original dampers and they still do their job perfectly fine and pass the test every year at the MOT station. Beautiful video of a fantastic car! I sat in one of these as a passenger some years ago, and was very impressed by the ride. Not something a Xantia owner got to experience often.
I still remember the smell of Dad's 504TI automatique when he picked it up from Roy Chapman Berkhamsted - it was the first new car he had ever bought. Cream paint with dark brown velour. Lovely!
These were quite common here in Sweden when I was a kid, not least as taxis. There was a 504 Break 7-seater that was used as a school-taxi, ferrying the kids that lived out in the sticks, to my school when I was very little, in the first years of the 80s - in that same blue colour, i believe. I may have traveled in that car at some point, don't really remember anymore... Although I prefer the design of the Peugeots of the late 80s, 90s and early 2000s, I do think this looks so much more stylish than the fuzzy, overdesigned and mostly awful-looking things they sell today. Proof, yet again, that proportions and a perfect basic shape is key in car design, that no amount of superfluos details can hide.
My Dad used 505 7 seater as a school bus/taxi. It also served as a hearse.
Good god old chap, I must say, how would you put it, right on the money, hoh hoh hoh
Great car! I had two (Australia), the first one took us up to the Kimberleys, it floated over the corrugated rough roads superbly and I remember driving it through a river, no water came into the car, our friends' car behind us (a Holden Kingswood) filled up with water and shook to bits on the bad roads.
The other one I had until 2008, it took us from Melbourne to Sydney and South Australia lots of times, it was metallic blue and had an electric sunroof.
Most of them from here ended up getting shipped over the the middle east, Egypt etc. They're a very rare sight now. That's probably what happened to them all from England too.
Still very common here in Kenya, I see them most journeys. Built and sold here well into the mid 2000s. Still used extensively by the police too, I'd say about a third of their fleet is 504s!
Oh wow, Imagine owning a 2005, 504, I might have to go to Kenya to get one.
I had 2, both GL autos a 74 and a 76. Super comfortable, nothing since has ever come close, that includes a mk 3 granada, Audi 80, 306 and a selection of megane from 04 to 12. My brother had a 74 Ti auto, he eventually had to scrap it as he towed a caravan and one day expected the rear axle to pull out when he set off! He always said it was the best tow car ever.
I remember reading an Australian road test about the 504 where the tester reckoned that if he had to travel around Australia, he would prefer the 504 to the Holden/Falcon/Valiant of the day. He summed up that the 504 was more suited to Australia than the aforementioned cars.
Yep. I used to travel from Melbourne to Canberra regularly in my 504 and it was the best long-distance tourer I have ever owned, with possibly the exception of the 505 STi (same thing, but with a few more creature comforts like better airconditioning!!)
That mag had the Yellow 504 vs the XC GXL if I remember correctly.
My Father had a Yellow Manual 504 and i drove it between Gunnedah and Moree and a few other towns on our Thin one lane highways with potholes blind corners and Semis making sure you used the Dirt shoulders generously supplied by our Road Builders. The most comfortable and best handling ride for Decades.
My compliments to the owner!
When my family lived just along from Abergavenny in the early 80s I recall seeing quite a few of the Peugeot 504 pickups. In fact there were a few French cars in Wales in those days, indeed my Mum had a Renault 5! A terrific video, of a now almost forgotten workhorse.
That just looks like a beautiful cat offering serene travel - from a time when suspension didn't all have to be crashy and when body roll was not deemed the work of the devil - lovely
My father bought one of these in the early 80's in Algeria and the only licensed adult was my big brother, I remember having a lot of fun riding in the back seat me and his son my nephew going to the city visiting the family or going to the hills enjoying nature, They were the best days of my life.
Thank you, Mr. HN, one of my favourite cars.
My uncle had an identical spec one and the same colour. A fine motor car. And a very fine man.
That 504 interior is stunning😍😍
I had a Peugot 504 Estate for a while. Sadly it was a very high mileage example, but it was extremely comfortable - both the seating and the suspension. Mine was a manual version, and I loved the very long gear lever. It was a JOY to drive.
While I didn't make it to FOTU'21, this 504 was in the Concourse de l'Ordinaire at FOTU'22, alongside an equally well-preserved five-door 104, and the Fiat Panda Italia'90 that was the cover star of a later issue of "Classic. Retro. Modern." - and there was a lefty 604 out in the "proper" car park for good measure. Good to see it's had its 2001-onwards-spec plates replaced with proper old-school plates with the rounded font and embossed letters. Now all it needs for full authenticity is the ashtrays filled with a heap of Gitanes ash... I will not volunteer to do so.
My father replaced his very late, dated, 1963 Standard Ensign 864 PTA with a base 1972 504 base manual gearboxx KYX972K. Suddenly we had arrived in the 1970's. As a 14 year old I still drolled at my neighbours mark 1 Opel Manta but less so at my friends up the road more popular Cortina mark 3 1.6L & Hilllman Avenger Estate cars. More on a par with the Consel/Granada's from "Jasons Taxis" that would take us all effortlessly to Gatwick for an early foreign holiday.
I learnt the art of reversing in the 504. Learnt to drive in 1978 in a Chyrsler Sunbeam hatchback & had a tendancy to oversteer when reversing. Reversing in the 504 was a doddle To me it actually moved as well backwards as it did forwards at time. Later on, great on the open road too.
Great Review of a very under rated car Ian.
Looks exactly the same as my 504Ti I had in New Zealand, our ones were built in the Toyota factory haha! Although the Ti was imported fully assembled.
We had Mazda 626 year 1990 and Peugeot 504 year 1984 at the same time. As a kid never liked it much compared to Mazda 626. But on Peugoet we travelled Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt. The car never broke down, however during our trip from Nuweiba to Suez there was a desert storm, and one of the front windows got stuck and was not fully closing (the front two windows were automatic) the car inside was full of sand. My father got the car checked in Suez and everything was good to go.
Another awesome review. Hubnut is back on top form. In fact better than ever. The production is high quality these days as well as the content.
Some family friends we knew had one brand new in about 73/74, it was a champagne colour. They were originally from the Midlands but had moved to Cornwall and I remember my brother always loved this car it was so advanced for its time, he was always reminiscing how effortless the journey from Cornwall back to the Midlands to see family was, and this was the days when the M5 was two lanes and south of Bristol you picked up the A38.