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Peugeot 404

Pininfarina · 1960

Pininfarina dressed a French workhorse — and proved elegance need not cost durability.

Worth your time?3.5/5Yes.Drive the whole thing.What works, what does not, who it is for ↓
9:12in productionCh. 1 · What it is/ 9:12 · ceiling 15 min
4 chapters · 9:12Ceiling 15:00

The brief is written and checked. The video joins this page when it is cut.4 chapters · 1 min read · 9:12 planned

Read the brief

The Peugeot 404 is a large family car produced by Peugeot from 1960 to 1975. Styled by Pininfarina, it launched as a saloon, estate, and pickup. A convertible arrived in 1962; a coupé in 1963. It used a 1.6 litre petrol engine (Solex carburetor or Kugelfischer fuel injection) or a 1.9 litre diesel. A 3-speed ZF automatic was optional. It gained fame as a taxicab and earned a reputation for durability and value. Its bodyshell closely resembles that of the 1959 Austin Westminster.

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Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:53
    What it is

    A French family car, styled by Pininfarina, launched in 1960 with saloon, estate, and pickup bodies.

  2. 2:10
    How it works

    Petrol or diesel power, manual or optional ZF automatic — built for simplicity, not speed.

  3. 3:23
    Why it lasted

    Its reputation for durability and value made it a taxi staple across multiple continents.

  4. 5:13
    Where its shape came from

    Its bodyshell shares strong visual lineage with the 1959 Austin Westminster — a transnational echo, not an original statement.

1 more chapterFewer chapters
Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • durability
  • value
  • body versatility
  • styling coherence
What does not
  • driver engagement
  • mechanical distinction
  • lightness
  • tactile feedback
Drive it if
  • taxi operators
  • fleet buyers
  • pragmatic owners
Skip it if
  • driving enthusiasts
  • collectors
  • technical purists
Who should drive it, and who should skipHide who it is for
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

A large family car produced by Peugeot from 1960 to 1975. Styled by Pininfarina. Built in France. Designed for utility, longevity, and broad appeal.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It is a large family car with a saloon, estate, or pickup body. A convertible arrived in 1962. A coupé followed in 1963. Power came from a 1.6 litre petrol engine — with Solex carburetor or Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection — or a 1.9 litre diesel engine. A 3-speed ZF automatic transmission was optional.

What it gets right

It gets right durability, value, and adaptability across body styles. Its bodyshell — styled by Pininfarina — delivers clean, functional proportions. Its taxi use proves its robustness and ease of maintenance.

What it does not

It does not offer driver feedback through the steering. It does not prioritise agility or lightness. It does not distinguish itself mechanically from contemporaries beyond its diesel option and ZF automatic.

What it changed

It cemented Pininfarina’s role as Peugeot’s design partner for mainstream production cars. It showed that French mass-market engineering could adopt Italian styling discipline without sacrificing function.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for drivers who prioritise reliability over refinement, and function over flair. It is not for collectors seeking rarity, engineers seeking novelty, or drivers seeking tactile response.

Is it worth your time

Yes, if you need a durable, value-led machine built for long service and simple operation. No, if you seek innovation, driver engagement, or technical distinction.

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Peugeot 203Peugeot · 1948The Peugeot 203 is a foundational post-war saloon. Its monocoque structure, coil-sprung chassis and rack-and-pinion steering set new internal benchmarks. It carried Peugeot alone for six years. It sold nearly 700,000 units. It offered three body variants on two wheelbases. It used one engine, one drivetrain, one brake system. It was rational, not revolutionary.
11:09
Peugeot 406Pininfarina · 1997The Peugeot 406 Coupé is a front-wheel-drive large family car designed and built by Pininfarina. It shares its platform with the saloon and estate. Davide Arcangeli led its design. 107,633 were made. It succeeded in UK fleet sales, won 1997 What Car? Car of the Year, and set a world fuel-efficiency record in 2002.
9:12
Peugeot 405Pininfarina · 1987The Peugeot 405 is a large family car designed by Peugeot and styled by Pininfarina, produced from 1987 to 1997 in Europe and under license in Iran until 2020. It shares its floorpan with the Citroën BX but lacks hydropneumatic suspension except on 4x4 variants. It was voted European Car of the Year for 1988 by the largest number of votes in the history of the contest. About 2.5 million vehicles have been sold worldwide, both in left and right drive versions, as a saloon and estate. In early 2020, the 33-year production run of the Peugeot 405 was counted as the 'twentieth most long-lived single generation car in history'. Its appearance is similar to the Alfa Romeo 164, launched the same year and also styled by Pininfarina.
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9:12