Peugeot 104
Encyclopedia
The Peugeot 104 is a supermini
motor car
designed by Paolo Martin
and produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot
between 1972 and 1988.
On its launch in 1972, the Peugeot 104 was offered as a four-door saloon, with a sloping rear end that suggested a hatchback. Power was provided from a 1.0L Douvrin engine
s / PSA X engine
, (all aluminium alloy, chain driven overhead cam, with gearbox in the sump, sharing engine oil, mounted almost on its side), which was jointly developed with Renault
. This transmission-in-sump arrangement was similar to that pioneered by the British Motor Corporation
in the Mini
. It gave good levels of economy and refinement as well as having an impressive chassis which made ride and handling excellent.
Coupé launch 1974
A three-door coupé was launched on a shortened chassis, with the same 1.0L engine as the saloon. Headlights were larger and rectangular in shape, rather than square.
1976 facelift
A facelift in July 1976 saw the four-door saloon replaced with a five-door hatchback
. Rear light clusters were modified slightly with indicators that wrapped around to the sides of the car, and a 1.1L engine was also made available. The coupé was made available in two versions, ZS and ZL. A modified camshaft on the 954 cc engines also retarded the valve timing in order to favour fuel economy at the price of a slight power reduction. The revised models only appeared in right-hand drive form at the end of the year.
1978 facelift
The coupé gained a third variant, the ZA, and all coupé variants were given large rear light clusters with integral reversing lights. Higher specification 5-door models gained the larger headlights and grille introduced for the coupé.
1980 facelift
The 1980 facelift was minor, with model designations changing in line with other vehicles in the Peugeot line-up. However, a 1.2L engine was now offered.
1982 facelift
This facelift incorporated smaller headlights, a new grille and rear light clusters that included reversing lights. The amount of chrome trim was reduced and generally replaced by black plastic. The ZS coupé variant was given an 80 bhp 1.4L engine to improve its performance.
1983 on
In 1983, the number of models offered was reduced to make way for the new 205 and exports to most foreign markets finished. It remained on sale in France until the end of production in 1988.
estate. The M23 was a dark red 3-door van concept based on the saloon rather than the existing 3-door coupé. A yellow three-box
saloon (pictured) is also known, as is a white pick-up truck.
(forming the PSA Group), and the 104 coupé bodyshell then formed the basis of the 602 cc two-cylinder engined Citroën LN. In 1982 this car was fitted with the more modern 652 cc engine of the Visa
in 1983 to become the LNA
, before production finally ceased in 1985.
, leading to the abandonment of the Citroën Prototype Y
plan for the Visa, although that plan went on to be used on Romania
n-built cars. The Visa, unlike the LN / LNA, had its own distinctive body style and packaging.
was launched in 1981, following Peugeot's acquisition of Chrysler Europe
(and its Talbot marque) in 1978. A cabriolet version of the Samba was developed.
in 1983, the 104 was withdrawn from most European markets, including Britain. But it continued in France as a budget choice until production finally ceased in May 1988 after 16 years in which 1,624,992 Peugeot 104s were built.
Supermini car
A supermini is a British term that describes automobiles larger than a city car but smaller than a small family car. This car class is also known as the B-segment across Europe, and as subcompact in North America....
motor car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
designed by Paolo Martin
Paolo Martin
Paolo Martin is a car designer, presently working for Pininfarina. He has styled:* Fiat 130 Coupe* Rolls-Royce Camargue * Peugeot 104* Ferrari Modulo show car -External links:*...
and produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
between 1972 and 1988.
Production history
Saloon launch 1972On its launch in 1972, the Peugeot 104 was offered as a four-door saloon, with a sloping rear end that suggested a hatchback. Power was provided from a 1.0L Douvrin engine
Douvrin engine
The Douvrin family was an all-aluminum straight-4 automobile engine designed in the early 1970s and produced from 1977 to 1996 by Compagnie Française de Mécanique, a joint-venture between Peugeot and Renault located in the town of Douvrin in northern France...
s / PSA X engine
PSA X engine
The PSA X engine is a family of internal combustion engines used in Citroën, Peugeot, Talbot and Renault automobiles. The X family was mainly used in superminis and the entry level models of midsize vehicles. It is commonly called the "Douvrin" engine....
, (all aluminium alloy, chain driven overhead cam, with gearbox in the sump, sharing engine oil, mounted almost on its side), which was jointly developed with Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
. This transmission-in-sump arrangement was similar to that pioneered by the British Motor Corporation
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
in the Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
. It gave good levels of economy and refinement as well as having an impressive chassis which made ride and handling excellent.
Coupé launch 1974
A three-door coupé was launched on a shortened chassis, with the same 1.0L engine as the saloon. Headlights were larger and rectangular in shape, rather than square.
1976 facelift
A facelift in July 1976 saw the four-door saloon replaced with a five-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
. Rear light clusters were modified slightly with indicators that wrapped around to the sides of the car, and a 1.1L engine was also made available. The coupé was made available in two versions, ZS and ZL. A modified camshaft on the 954 cc engines also retarded the valve timing in order to favour fuel economy at the price of a slight power reduction. The revised models only appeared in right-hand drive form at the end of the year.
1978 facelift
The coupé gained a third variant, the ZA, and all coupé variants were given large rear light clusters with integral reversing lights. Higher specification 5-door models gained the larger headlights and grille introduced for the coupé.
1980 facelift
The 1980 facelift was minor, with model designations changing in line with other vehicles in the Peugeot line-up. However, a 1.2L engine was now offered.
1982 facelift
This facelift incorporated smaller headlights, a new grille and rear light clusters that included reversing lights. The amount of chrome trim was reduced and generally replaced by black plastic. The ZS coupé variant was given an 80 bhp 1.4L engine to improve its performance.
1983 on
In 1983, the number of models offered was reduced to make way for the new 205 and exports to most foreign markets finished. It remained on sale in France until the end of production in 1988.
Prototypes
Several prototypes based on the 104 are known to exist. Different power sources were tried out, including electric and diesel. The M18 prototype (circa 1976) was a blue 5-door estate, with rear light clusters similar to those that were used on the 504Peugeot 504
The Peugeot 504 is a large family car manufactured by French automaker Peugeot between 1968 and 1983, with licensed production continuing until 2006.-1968 — introduction:...
estate. The M23 was a dark red 3-door van concept based on the saloon rather than the existing 3-door coupé. A yellow three-box
Three-box styling
Three-box design is a broad automotive styling term describing a coupé, sedan, notchback or hatchback where — when viewed in profile — principal volumes are articulated into three separate compartments or boxes: engine, passenger and cargo....
saloon (pictured) is also known, as is a white pick-up truck.
Citroën LN / LNA
By 1975, Peugeot had taken over CitroënCitroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
(forming the PSA Group), and the 104 coupé bodyshell then formed the basis of the 602 cc two-cylinder engined Citroën LN. In 1982 this car was fitted with the more modern 652 cc engine of the Visa
Citroën Visa
The Citroën Visa is a supermini that was produced by the French car marque Citroën from 1978 to 1988.-Development History:The Citroën Prototype Y to replace the 2CV based Citroën Ami that dated back to 1960 in the early seventies, was originally developed in co-operation with Fiat...
in 1983 to become the LNA
Citroën LNA
The Citroën LN and Citroën LNA are supermini automobiles produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1976 and 1986....
, before production finally ceased in 1985.
Citroën Visa
The mechanical configuration of the 104 (with longer travel suspension), was also used in the Citroën VisaCitroën Visa
The Citroën Visa is a supermini that was produced by the French car marque Citroën from 1978 to 1988.-Development History:The Citroën Prototype Y to replace the 2CV based Citroën Ami that dated back to 1960 in the early seventies, was originally developed in co-operation with Fiat...
, leading to the abandonment of the Citroën Prototype Y
Citroën Prototype Y
The Citroën Prototype Y was a project to develop a replacement for the Citroën Ami, conducted by Citroën in the early seventies. It was superseded by project Citroën VD ....
plan for the Visa, although that plan went on to be used on Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n-built cars. The Visa, unlike the LN / LNA, had its own distinctive body style and packaging.
Talbot Samba
A derivative of the 104 coupé with a slightly longer rear section, the Talbot SambaTalbot Samba
The Talbot Samba is a supermini car manufactured by the PSA Group in the former Simca factory in Poissy, France, and marketed under the short-lived modern-day Talbot brand. Based on the Peugeot 104, it was the only Talbot not inherited from Chrysler Europe, engineered by PSA alone. It was also the...
was launched in 1981, following Peugeot's acquisition of Chrysler Europe
Chrysler Europe
Chrysler Europe was a division of the Chrysler Corporation that operated between 1967 and 1979.-Formation:In the 1960s, Chrysler sought to become a world producer of automobiles. The company had never had much success outside North America, contrasting with Ford's worldwide reach and General...
(and its Talbot marque) in 1978. A cabriolet version of the Samba was developed.
Market impact and replacement
The Peugeot 104 was one of the most successful European small cars of the 1970s but it was starting to show its age against more modern rivals by the turn of the 1980s. When Peugeot launched the stylish all-new 205Peugeot 205
The Peugeot 205 is a supermini produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot between 1983 and 1998. It was declared 'Car of the Decade' by CAR magazine in 1990. The 205 won 1984 What Car? car of the year.-History:...
in 1983, the 104 was withdrawn from most European markets, including Britain. But it continued in France as a budget choice until production finally ceased in May 1988 after 16 years in which 1,624,992 Peugeot 104s were built.