As with the Volvo's, the breaks, the station wagons, were a solid part of the revenue model at Peugeot. And where there is quite a bit of confusion among people about what awaits us after our final departure, the answer to the question when it came to Peugeots was “Africa”.
The last life in the old colonies
In the former French colonies and other ex-colonies, the large Peugeots were completely 'hot'. They were strong, large and technically simple. And that with all those 504 breaks there were a lot that no longer had MOT or commercial value here? No problem!
At importer Nefkens in Utrecht, the export of used Peugeots to Africa was a serious revenue model. They left the Lage Weide industrial estate with wagon loads. In Africa, the cars were treated like the local donkeys or camels. Without reason, understanding or respect. In addition, they continued to function considerably longer than the competition on four legs.
Classics in the sun
The idea of scoring classics in what we call 'Africa' for the sake of convenience is therefore not a world idea. The only advantage in the region is that there is no sprinkling. As an aside: Originality lovers should not be blinded by the much-praised Cuban classics. There are more Ladas driving there than US tanks. And many of those Americans now have a Lada four-cylinder under the hood.
What speaks for the locals is that they have brought improvisation to new, great heights.
Opportunities and dangers
In the old days there were still discoveries to be made in - here we go again - 'Africa'. After several colonial pasts were closed, many cars and motorcycles were left behind. If they were not simply forgotten when they ran out of gas, they were used until they broke beyond the technical level of the local residents at the time. Then they were just put down. And forget. That also happened at the government level.
And so, about twenty-thirty years ago, a warehouse with forgotten Jeeps, ambulances or state limousines was often discovered. But in the meantime, all those ex colonies have been sorted out by enterprising businessmen. Of course there is still a chance that a whole batch of ZGAN Ford Transits or Harleys will come from Greece again. But that chance is small. In former British India, all the old sheds and garages of the local maharajas have also been emptied.
Yet…
Still, it can be nice to visit some 'African' countries when we can fly around the world again for small change. Or to dream about it. Because we know someone who also had that plan. He had built up a whole network and was about to make the discovery of his life. He was subsequently kidnapped by his local business partner and his family had to pay a ransom. So should you, on your voyage of discovery in Kananga, bump into a friendly classic enthusiast who shows you photos of his collection that he unfortunately has to part with… Let him walk.
Ah. Dreaming is fun. You prefer to do it in bed. But why would you travel to Africa to buy classics while people from all continents come to the Netherlands to buy classics. However?
This original NL 504 was found by Jan Tinga. And stayed here in the Netherlands after sale
Dear Editors
I have been coming to West Africa and mainly Benin since 1982. There are still a lot of Peugeot 404, 504 and 505 driving there. I myself drove a Peugeot 404 pick up for work and privately I had a 504 and 2 x a 505 in Africa. I now have a 504 and a 404 in the Netherlands. I use the 504 for daily use. So I have a lot of pictures of Peugeots in Africa and I would love to show them here.
For a few years I drove with great pleasure and without rust in beautiful dark blue 504 Familiale until it became too small for our family. Exchanged for 2 x 305 break, also very nice cars!
Dear Peter and Jan,
Mercedes cars also rust!
JP, that's why I always get annoyed by those Indians stories, at Opel and Ford the wheel arch edges were also not to be dragged, at the Capri the headlights fell from the screens, at the Escort the doors rotted out, etc. Even with a Rolls there was none sheet metal over behind the headlights. I worked for Peugeot for 12 years and drove 4 types 504 myself, 1 of which was indeed a less exemplary, but as said, a Spanish manufactured one. And with some attention to the well-known places, it was not too bad. In addition, the complainants did not have 00 guilders left for a serious anti-rust treatment.
The 504 & 505 was still made by PAN (Poegeot Automobile Nigeria) until 2004,
all government cars were black 505s when I worked there from 2000 to 2004.
Nowadays in Senegal you come across a lot of 504 "Familias" (stations 9 seater),
with which people are transported to neighboring countries.
Inland Mali, many farmers still have a 504 pick-up.
Engines of these cars seem to be "Bullit Proof" because it still drives !!! ...
In Gambia (Ex English colony) not -1- 404/504/505,
but in the surrounding (ex French Colonies) still a lot !!! ...
Take a taxi from Dakar Senegal to Banjul Gambia,
or from Dakar to Bamako Mali,
you're bound to be in a 504 Familia.
Also at the taxi centers in Gambia, where taxis arrive from Guinea - Cokancry,
are a lot of 504 Familias.
Nice, they no longer make cars that last 50 years,
and keep you talking with -1- hammer and screwdriver !!! ...
Bart.
Senegambia, the Gambia.
Bart, the great thing about the 504/505, but also some other engines, for example in the 104, is that the engines are equipped with separately replaceable cylinder liners (wet liners), so if the rotating part gets worn out, you can just add a set of pistons with order bushings and bearing shells.
There is also a gasket set with rings in different thicknesses for under the cylinder sleeves that separate the cooling water from the engine oil.A lot of the head gasket problems with the 504/505 were because the correct rings were not used (to place the bus slightly above the block out and these sets are still, does not mean easy, to purchase, so an engine overhaul is actually very simple.
Always those highly exaggerated rust stories. There were indeed rust-sensitive vintages, which mainly occurred on the underside of the front fenders, around the number plate behind and under the lower window frames R and L. The only really bad copies came from the Spanish assembly around 1978 and 1979, French had securit windows, I don't remember the Spanish brand. It also mattered whether the counter clocks were supplied by Veglia or Jaeger, the ones with Jaeger and Frankani heating units were generally slightly better, I had 4 myself from GL to Ti Automatic with leather, and only the Spanish assembled one did indeed give a bit stronger rust behavior. Furthermore, many automatic and injection engine models converted for export, Saudi Arabia and African countries did not want to have automatic machines and injection engines (Kugelfisher), they had no knowledge of it, so complete cylinder head with manifolds, gearbox with intermediate shaft and clutch cylinders and pedal system left ( everything fit without a doubt, all the fixings were there, only a van had to be turned to bridge the space between the power steering (which was allowed to stay) and the engine block. The rest of the donor went to the scrapyard here, and a former TI og Ti automatic transmission as GL with power steering across the border Nice time
Oh, my dad's 504 breaks (where does that word come from?) In the mid / late '70s. The first - SL-45 a gold and, if my memory doesn't deceive me, with steering gears, back and buttocks were great on the beige upholstery.
“That's because of the metallic paint, Mr Van Oudheusden”. The answer to my father's question why, after about a year, a cauliflower nursery appeared on the sills of the estate. Despite refurbishing, the “SL” gave way to a metallic red burgundy, 504 estate. This DZ-69-JZ was delivered in a "Familiale" version, with a nice extra bench in the back. For us children it was always a point of contention who could now take a seat at the very back of the “red bus”.
Incidentally, the latter, with floor acceleration, lasted a little longer than the first 504, before giving way to, if I remember correctly, a VW Polo,
Break comes from the Dutch name for a type of carriage with a hood, the brig!
It is said that the word BREAK comes from BRIK, which was a carriage in NL. It was the name that (André) citroen gave to the station wagons. Also strange, because I think André was long dead by then.
404 from 1971, ditto. Unfortunately, after three weeks, the plaster of filler fell out of the mudguards… I was not that handy or fast enough to keep track of the rust!
Lucky Luke shot faster than his own shadow. Perhaps something like that with fillers is also learning
My father once bought 3 new cars in 7 years, all 504GL.
The first (before 1974 with door handles on top) had better steel quality sheet metal. (no rust after 5 years)
The 2nd was destroyed after 3 weeks,
Then for convenience, but ordered the same again (1976) This had recessed door handles and was terribly susceptible to rust. This car was shipped to Africa after 4 years when the towbar fell off spontaneously.
My uncle also ordered a 504 in 1978. After 9 months it got rust blisters everywhere.
Motor and mechanical they were top cars. A Mercedes 200 petrol was then 3x more expensive.
If I were to buy one, I would personally go for the years 1967-1974, from 1975 I would leave them because of the rust sensitivity.
Ah… It is being considered. Thanks for the purchase advice!
My first and last experience with steering gear shifting took place in a semi-MOT worthy Peugeot 504 break. Now 30 years ago. But it shifted smoothly and 'without having to think twice'.