Peugeot 604 Berline
The Peugeot 604 of 1975 was an entry into the European Executive market. This was the first large car from Peugeot for 40 years, and was based on the earlier 504.
At this point parent company had purchased Citroen, and so had two entries in this vehicle segment, and strangely, went on to purchase Chrysler France's assets, and introduced a third market segment competitor, the Talbot Tagora.
The 604 was available initially with V6 petrol engine only, though later introduced a turbocharged four-cylinder diesel (the first sold in Europe). Because of the low bonnet line, the tall diesel engine had to be canted over to the side.
The late 1970s fuel crisis precipitated a decline in the sales of vehicle with large engines, compounding the 604's somewhat uncomfortable market position. Peugeot introduced the 504 replacement (the 505) at this point, with both I4 and V6 engines. The 604 was not directly replaced until 1990, with the 605 - a car that also struggled to find traction with the segment buyers.
The 604 is a handsome car, styled by Pininfarina, and somewhat reminiscent of their work on the large FIAT 130 (again, a large market entrant from a maker of generally smaller cars that found difficulty in finding buyers). The styling sits slightly askew of the period Peugeot look, in part due to the 604's added width, but also due to the very wide format front lights.
Peugeot 604 Berline
The Peugeot 604 of 1975 was an entry into the European Executive market. This was the first large car from Peugeot for 40 years, and was based on the earlier 504.
At this point parent company had purchased Citroen, and so had two entries in this vehicle segment, and strangely, went on to purchase Chrysler France's assets, and introduced a third market segment competitor, the Talbot Tagora.
The 604 was available initially with V6 petrol engine only, though later introduced a turbocharged four-cylinder diesel (the first sold in Europe). Because of the low bonnet line, the tall diesel engine had to be canted over to the side.
The late 1970s fuel crisis precipitated a decline in the sales of vehicle with large engines, compounding the 604's somewhat uncomfortable market position. Peugeot introduced the 504 replacement (the 505) at this point, with both I4 and V6 engines. The 604 was not directly replaced until 1990, with the 605 - a car that also struggled to find traction with the segment buyers.
The 604 is a handsome car, styled by Pininfarina, and somewhat reminiscent of their work on the large FIAT 130 (again, a large market entrant from a maker of generally smaller cars that found difficulty in finding buyers). The styling sits slightly askew of the period Peugeot look, in part due to the 604's added width, but also due to the very wide format front lights.