Peugeot 304 convertible

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Purchasing classics there

This morning while walking the dog I heard birds singing again instead of coughing. And the pear in the garden is full of blossoms. Monday suddenly seems like a nice day. It is spring. Topless driving can be considered again. To convertibles.

Convertible driving is fun

A convertible does not have to be an 1962'er Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II HJ Mulliner Convertible from € 465.000. Despite the fact that such a Rolls certainly has its charm. At our advertiser Iwan van Lankvelt from Uden we saw the clearer alternative: A Peugeot 304 convertible.

The Peugeot 304

The Peugeot 304 was introduced in September 1969 as a new mid-sized car. The Pininfarina design leaned on the 504 from the year before. The newcomer was largely based on the 204. He had to close the gap between the 204 and the 504. The front had been given the face with the raised eyebrow corners of the larger 504. A convertible and a coupé appeared in 1970. Later there was also a break and an order execution.

The 304 series went well. And rusted firmly

In total, nearly two million Peugeot 304s have been built. According to our sources, those were 849.101 sedans, 216.183 breaks, 34.305 fourgonettes, 18.647 convertibles and 60.186 coupes. A lot of the cabriolets are left over. Not because they were better. They just had an easier life.

The production of the 304 coupé and convertible was discontinued in July 1975.

Until then, the elegant car was available with a (65 hp) 1300 cc block that also came on the market in a more powerful (74,4 hp) version (the “S” versions). That extra power came from a different carburettor, larger intake valves and a new exhaust system. The 'S' could be recognized in all modesty by the small 'S' on the back. Inside, a rev counter, round clocks and head rests completed the story.

Despite the 'S', the Peugeot was not a sporty, but rather a relaxed car. In the winter, the Peugeot remained usable because a great hardtop was supplied. In the winter, the Peugeot could better stay inside. Because, like many contemporaries, these cars had a fierce attraction for brine and steel-consuming rustworms. But with the hardtop, the 304 was at least autumn-storm proof.

Today, the convertibles are loved by collectors

While there are most survivors there. The breaks and the sedans have largely disappeared; the little Peugeot could rust quite well, especially if they were treated to a sliding roof. Technically the cars were very reliable. The head gasket is a point of attention, the axial thrust rings of the crankshaft must do their job. (If the crankshaft can be moved 'back and forth' via the pulley, it is too late.) The temperature management of the block, the cooling, is also something that needs to be monitored. The water pump and the camshaft chain, those are things that we would replace preventively.

During the test drive, also put the car 'skewed' with a wheel on a curb. If the fitting of the doors suddenly changes, then it will be a matter of searching a little further.

A Peugeot 304 cabriolet is a very nice - and pretty nicely lined - relaxation car. The design and reliability are excellent. And outside of the rear screens, the component supply is that too. So let the spring come.

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