Peugeot 104

Peugeot 104

Manufacturer	PSA Group
Production	1972–1988
Assembly	La Marsa, Tunisia (STAFIM)
Successor	Peugeot 205
Class	Supermini
Body style	4-door saloon 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Engine	1.0 L Douvrin I4
Wheelbase	95.25 in (2,419 mm) (4/5 door) 87.81 in (2,230 mm)(2/3 door)
Length	141 in (3,600 mm) (4/5 door) 129.25 in (3,283 mm) (2/3 door)
Width	59.8 in (1,520 mm)
Height	54.75 in (1,391 mm)(4/5 door) 52.75 in (1,340 mm)(2/3 door)
Related	Citroën LN / LNA Citroën Visa Talbot Samba
Designer	Paolo Martin

Comparison of Saloon and Coupé models

The 104 was originally available only with a four-door booted body. The hatchback version appeared four years later

The 104ZS introduced in 1976 was promoted as the sporting Peugeot 104

The 104ZS introduced in 1976 was promoted as the sporting Peugeot 104

The Peugeot 104 is a supermini motor car designed by Paolo Martin and produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot between 1972 and 1988.

Production history

Saloon launch 1972

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 1.0 L Douvrin engines / 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 1.0 L 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 1.1 L 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 1.2 L 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 brake horsepower (60 kW; 81 PS) 1.4 L 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.

ZS 2

A limited run of 1,000 ZS 2s were built in 1979. They were powered by 93 horsepower (69 kW) 1,361 cc four-cylinder .

Prototypes

three-box Saloon from rear; Estate in background

Estate

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 504 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.

Related cars

Citroën LN / LNA

By 1975, Peugeot had taken over Citroën (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.

Citroën Visa

The mechanical configuration of the 104 (with longer travel suspension), was also used in the Citroën Visa, leading to the abandonment of the Citroën Prototype Y plan for the Visa, although that plan went on to be used on Romanian-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 Samba 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.

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 205 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.

External links

• Drive Archive article