It can hardly be found on the streets in the Netherlands and Belgium anymore: the Peugeot 104, which was built from 1972 to 1988. That rarity is especially true for the four-door version with the short tailgate, the body style with which the 104 debuted fifty years ago. A handful of sedans with a short tailgate are still known in the Netherlands. One of these is by Chris van Haarlem. He has a Peugeot 104 GL from 1976 (the last year of construction of the four-door with short tailgate). We made a report with this Peugeot and its owner.
The Peugeot 104 is therefore fifty years old this year, and that is a good reason for us to put the little Peugeot in the spotlight. Or rather: to get it out of the shadows, because the 104 celebrates its birthday in a modest way. One of the cherries on the birthday cake is Chris's Peugeot. The Peugeot is in excellent condition and Chris regularly travels long distances with it. Later in the day it becomes clear why the born Amsterdammer makes so many enjoyable kilometers with his French classic.
104 Saloon L and GL: two versions for model year 1975 and 1976
On the sunny and windy Friday morning we come face to face with the white 104 GL. That is the cheerful classic with which Chris drove from the Zaanstreek to the Kop van de Afsluitdijk. And that location is the starting point for a beautiful day. The 104 GL is the protagonist in this. Those who pay close attention know: this 104 comes from the second Berline series with the short tailgate. For the 1975 and 1976 model years (so before Peugeot came out with the five-door 104) Peugeot released the saloon in the L and the GL version. Compared to the L, the 104 GL received more complete equipment, but you happily paid for rear window heating (it is on Chris's car), a folding rear seat and a right exterior mirror. Under the skin, the 104 L and the 104 GL played the same fiddle. Both versions received the transversely mounted 72 cc Douvrin engine, which was tilted 954 degrees. It was built entirely of light metal. In addition, an overhead camshaft was installed.
Extremely cleverly designed
The two Saloon versions shared more: the striking and extremely clever design. Today we see that again. Unlike many four-door cars from that time, the 104 had a sloping rear. In addition, the wheels were mounted independently of each other and close to the body corners of the Peugeot. This resulted in a maximum wheelbase, and partly because of this, the space available was optimal. In addition, the roofline sloped upwards towards the rear. Good news for the rear passengers, who therefore have enough headroom today and find a good place in the back anyway. This is also due to the installation of thin and well-supporting backrests on the front seats, which are adjustable in the report car. The trunk space behind the small flap is, as we see today, also perfectly usable. If desired, this could be enlarged by mounting a folding rear seat. In short: the space in the 104 is excellent for a car of this size.
Stubborn ergonomics, neat interior
We're going to drive. Inside the interior it is immediately noticeable that the 104 is a real Peugeot of its time. The interior of the 104 is not lavishly equipped, but the 104 GL is by no means bare. Rather, call the equipment a chic form of minimalism. In addition, all materials are of an enticing quality. Also in terms of operation, the 104 is a real seventies Peugeot. The buttons are not logically clustered, but are located in different places. The lever for the turn signal is on the right, which takes some getting used to. And the heating/ventilation control is just a bit too far away, especially if you are strapped in the three-point belt. He still has to do without a reel in this 104. Yet that stubborn Peugeot ergonomics of the time has its charms, it indicates that the lion does not just surrender to careless operation.
Particularly comfortable, fine XV3 engine
The 104 does not show itself in other areas either. Anno 1976 in the Supermini class there was no limit to the perfectly tuned and excellent driving comfort of the 104. The chassis with coil springs and damping all round and a stabilizer at the front is excellent, and the long wheelbase reinforces the comfortable balance. The Peugeot allows the asphalt and unevenness to slide under the wheels very smoothly. This comfortable image is enhanced by the well-fitting furniture (upholstered with a fine combination of Teppluxe artificial leather and fabric) and the excellent sound insulation. Yes, you hear driving noises, but they are not disturbing. The engine noise also does not sound prominent, unless you end up in a higher speed range. But in fact that is superfluous, because the power source offers a lot of flexibility. In combination with the pleasant overlap of the well-shifting four-speed gearbox, the 104 can also be driven fairly smoothly with the 954 cc XV3 engine. The fact that the maximum torque is already available at 3000 rpm also tells part of that story.
Well deployable
There is more that works pleasantly: the clutch and braking system function with a lot of feeling. And you will not notice anything at all from drive reactions in the well-communicating control. The Peugeot drives very well and behaves exemplary. In addition, the 104 has the plus that it is relatively easy to use in daily traffic. With its 954 cc engine, it comes along quite reasonably well. In its own way, in peace, chic, without being elitist. He never urges you to look for the edge, even though the power source climbs very smoothly in the revs on demand. But that's an unnecessary exercise, especially if you use the 104 GL in places where it feels most at home today: on nice country roads.
Technically refined tour de force
At the time, the 104 GL was certainly not a bargain. Peugeot did not make it easy for itself within the increasingly crowded class of compact front-wheel drive cars. In particular, the compatriots of Renault (the R6 TL 1108 and especially the R5 TL) were formidable and competitively priced competitors. Not to mention the regularly larger motorized and lower priced competition from the more conventional corner. But the 104 was in a higher league. Those who opted for a Peugeot 104 were assured of a technically sophisticated and modern tour de force, offering optimum space for its dimensions and understated individualistic chic.
Modest on stand
You drove modestly with a Peugeot 104. He sang his own song, and its melody is hardly heard today. That's a shame, because the Peugeot 104 (also) brilliantly designed by Paolo Martin is today a very nice, relaxed and striking classic to be on the road with. A classic too, which makes it clear why owner Chris likes to make his leisurely kilometers with his 104 in excellent condition. We understand that, because Peugeot, the shortest four-door car in Europe at the time, is simply a car that offers a lot of unabridged driving pleasure.
I had another 104S, a red one with black stripes, 1400cc with double carburetor.
How special. In my youth this was my parents' car. We have had 4 copies in 14 years. The first 2nd hand, the rest new. Always a joy to drive.
Wonderfully comfortable and economical.
Especially with the large tailgate very practical.
The 1124cc was certainly punchy enough. They sometimes rust, later the quality has improved.
'Extremely smart design', 'brilliant car'; I don't quite see that. It's a nice little car, but what's so special about it? It mainly misses the large tailgate, which made rival R5 so popular.
Peugeot has mastered the art of giving a compact car the feeling of a much larger car like no other. It is a pity that the quality is not always optimal.
They were pretty nice cars at the time. But as a mechanic you were often not so happy about it .
Valve cover against the bulkhead, (at that time still had to check the head and adjust the valves), distributor in the corner near the master cylinder (special tool to adjust contact points, later from the outside) and nasty spark plugs with conical seats that could sometimes be terribly stuck (had to tightened at the moment which not everyone did) and then sometimes broke off so that the 6 side came loose from the screw thread that remained in the head and sometimes the cylinder head had to be disassembled. Also sometimes a camshaft fell due to sludge formation over short distances. Furthermore, sometimes the front struts are stuck because they turned at the bottom instead of at the top. Later on next to the GL came the GL6 , with 1124 engine ( I think ) , a customer with this engine had problems with the camshaft , but the wrong one was ordered , from the GL 954cc engine . The car went like a rocket through different cam angle and height. † But nice memory of the 104 .
It looked nice then and still does now. Special cart that I once made a long trip with. Even then you could notice that it was not cheap. It was just above
the R-6. Imho, the proportions of the car are good, and it still shows. some cars
age like milk, this one like a good wine..
Nice article by the way, thanks editor.
Bass.
How nice: my very first car in 1985. Still quite young at the time, but already virtually free because of rust. Drove very well indeed, and quite fast too.