Peugeot celebrates 50-year anniversary

Fifty years ago a car was launched that heralded the birth of the stylish, high quality small cars that Peugeot is famous for today. We take front-wheel drive cars for granted now, but half a century ago they were out of the ordinary, revolutionary even. That meant the 204 was at the forefront of automotive innovation when it was revealed to surprised Peugeot Dealers in Paris on 22^nd April, 1965.

Although the stylish Pininfarina designed saloon appeared relatively conservative, its four-door shape cloaked some true innovations. After nearly eight years in development, the 204 was the first Peugeot to have the driven wheels at the front. It became the first production Peugeot to have disc brakes at the front and there was independent suspension all round.

From the end of World War Two, Peugeots had gradually grown in dimensions. By the 1960s the French firm was known principally as a large car maker. The models were chic and sophisticated but their price put them out of reach of buyers with more modest budgets. The 204 changed that and brought Peugeot back to its basic principles with characteristics that still define its range today: stylish, high-quality and fun to drive cars that are affordable.

At less than four metres long, the 204 was touted as one of the first examples of the 'small-medium' sized segment. It was a car that promoted downsizing, long before the concept became a motoring phenomenon. The aim was to offer the space of a family car in a smaller package. The resulting segment has gone on to spawn popular models such as today's 308.

The reason that the 204 managed to combine generous interior space with smaller exterior dimensions was helped in part by the layout beneath the bonnet. The transversely mounted engine had a transverse gearbox located beneath it. This liberated sufficient space for the car to be front-wheel drive. The 1130cc single overhead camshaft petrol engine was made from pressure-moulded aluminium. This kept both cost and weight down. Three years after launch a 1255cc diesel engine joined the range. It is believed to have been the smallest capacity diesel engine in a production car and it certainly made the 204 one of the most efficient cars of its era.