Closing date June issue -> April 21
Peugeot 204 (1967) Nice find for Duco
It's not easy to find remnants of France's rich automotive history. What you do come across is often more a parts supplier than a restoration project. Yet, there are still special discoveries to be made, such as the Peugeot 204. For Duco, it's the urge to poke around old garages and farmyards, places where unexpected discoveries sometimes still appear. vintage cars worth saving. The discovery of this 1967 Peugeot 204 Estate was therefore extra special, especially because it came with a folder containing the car's complete history. This kind of documentation not only makes such a car more interesting but also demonstrably more valuable.
1967-2008
The first owner kept the Peugeot for a full forty years. A second owner followed, who drove the car from 2008 to 2018. Then the 204 surfaced at Oliver Körber, who offered it for sale through a French sales website. From that moment on, the journey to the Netherlands began.
Who is Duco Wiersma?
Duco comes from a family of Citroën-experts. His father ran the largest Citroën-dealership in Friesland. His love of French cars was literally instilled in him from birth and goes back even further than a generation. His hobby is tracking down French classics, such as the Peugeot 204, sometimes as a restoration project, sometimes as a donor for coveted parts. Always with a keen eye for history.
Who is Oliver Körber?
Oliver is professeur de langue d'allemand In Paris, communication with Duco went smoothly in German. During the inspection, Duco discovered numerous small weld spots on the bodywork and wondered how they had gotten there. Oliver had a down-to-earth explanation: welding is done on the Eiffel Tower year-round, and the wind does the rest. This is how the weld particles ended up on the light blue paint, with all the ensuing consequences. For Duco, this meant a new coat of paint for his Peugeot 204. The photos show that this was not a bad decision.
A day in the past?
We'll never experience it literally anymore, but in a beautiful classic car, you can certainly touch that feeling. The Peugeot 204 once played a vital role in daily traffic, both in the Netherlands and far beyond. With its sleek lines and fresh, slightly sporty look, it was a car you could be proud of. No frills, just style.
Yesterday's car
Duco: "The Peugeot was praised for its longevity and reliability. It's a trustworthy companion. And with this baby blue Peugeot 204, that feeling of bygone years is briefly brought back." The enthusiasm for ownership is infectious. Before you know it, you're part of the classic car and vintage car family. Perhaps that love is simply in your blood.
Vital part of the car hobby
On our website you can enjoy stories and cars from the past every day. A subscription It adds even more sparkle to the hobby; in fact, it keeps the (automotive) romance alive. For €49,50, you receive twelve issues, which is hardly expensive considering so much recognition, history, and passion, often surrounding classics like the Peugeot 204.
(Below are some more pictures.)
I once broke down in a friend's 204 Estate with a broken multi-belt (back then it was called a dynamo belt, iirc). I vividly remember the belt bending at right angles countless times, so it wasn't a simple fix.
Furthermore, only good memories of the Peu's such as 403, 404 Break, 504, etc.
Dear editors, your derogatory comments about older French cars are, in my opinion, unwarranted and inappropriate. The three Peugeot clubs in the Netherlands have 1.500 members with beautiful Peugeots. Three warehouses successfully support the goal of keeping all members' classic Peugeots on the road.
If you take the time to visit Citro-Classica in early May, you will see a similar situation.
I'd appreciate a response from you. Best, Ton Karelse.
Do you mean the sentence in the introduction? You might be misreading it; what the editor means is that most classics in good or restorable condition have now been found and found by enthusiasts.
My very first Peugeot 204 van in 1977, not bought new, but sold a lot of bread with it and eventually built up a chain of 15 bakeries
Brilliant! And of course, it drove really smoothly too.
Response from Ton Karelse?
In 1977, I had a new 204 Break shipped to Tanzania, where I initially worked as the only doctor at a mission hospital in Ndala, 60 km from Tabora, so in the bush. After six months, it finally arrived. Aside from annual new shock absorbers (washboard roads!) and regular denting of the underbody, I had no problems with it. I did have to patch a few flat tires, though. Luckily, tubeless wasn't available back then. I crossed several game reserves, but wasn't allowed into the Ngorongoro Crater because it wasn't a four-wheel drive. In April 1981, I managed to sell it to a local shopkeeper. Seeing these photos brought a smile to my face again!
In 1977, I had a new 204 shipped to Tanzania where I started working, initially as the sole doctor at a mission hospital in Ndala, 60 km from Tabora, so right in the middle of the bush. Six months later, it finally arrived. I had a lot of fun with it, including in the wildlife parks, but unfortunately, I wasn't allowed into the Ngorongoro Crater (only 4-wheel drive). Every year, I needed new shock absorbers and had the underbody dented. I patched quite a few inner tubes (fortunately, tubeless wasn't available at the time). After 3,5 years, I was still able to sell it to a local shopkeeper.