What you see is not always what you get. Outwardly, we seem to be in the presence of a 1955-66 Peugeot 4-door saloon. But this is Thailand, not Africa. This Pug is very far from its time zone. Parts and expertise must be quite an issue with a car like this. Think Cuban thoughts as we delve a little deeper into this 60-year-old survivor.
I won’t be trying to repeat Paul’s seminal post on the 403. But as a quick refresher, this was the first Peugeot to be styled by PininFarina; it came out in 1955 to succeed the 203 (1948-60) and was succeeded itself by the 404 (1960-75). The 203 / 403 / 404 models were evolutions of the same car, each slightly more powerful and bigger than the last. The middle child 403 came as a saloon, a 2-door cabriolet, a 5-door station wagon, a 3-door delivery wagon and a pick-up.
Unlike the other Peugeots of the era, the 403 never got a production 2-door coupé, perhaps due to the 1953-54 203 coupé’s dismal sales. As a small aside, here are a few early 403 specials. As Peugeot didn’t attempt one themselves, the coachbuilders usually went for the 2-door coupé. Around 1957, Chapron (left) attempted a short wheelbase and a long (saloon) wheelbase version, while Pichon-Parat (upper right) went for a hardtop with a panoramic windshield. The handsome Darl’Mat special (bottom right), which had shared none of the standard 403’s sheetmetal and had a beefed-up engine, was the only one to see limited production, but only a half-dozen were made in 1955-56.
But back to our featured saloon. There were some external signs that this Peugeot was a bit modified. One of the model’s most endearing period gadgets is the fuel filler cap, which is supposed to be hidden in the left-hand taillamp. Though not far off, the units on this 403 were manifestly not the standard model, and neither seemed to be operated as originally designed.
Brochure with standard taillamps and interior.
That was only the beginning. I’ve written about a few of the questionable (but perfectly understandable, given their location) classics I’ve encountered in Southeast Asia, including American vehicles that got Japanese engines put in. But at least, those examples seemed like they tried preserving as much of the original interior as possible.
Suddenly, it’s 1980?
In this case, though, we’re talking of a full Pug-ectomy. This left me a bit shaken. What in the world could be living under this poor car’s bonnet? Did they just take a locally-made Mazda Familia engine/transmission (and more, or perhaps with some Nissan or Toyota bits as well) and adapt it to the 403’s bodyshell? Who knows.
I was not able to identify the donor car(s) for this dash, but it’s looking very ‘80s Japanese there as well. I’m confident someone can ID this for us. That’s what CC does best time and again, and that’s why I’m posting another picture of this eyesore.
The grille is correct for early-to-mid-production run models; late model 403s had a simpler design with less chrome. But it’s definitely not pointing the way it should be, adding to the cobbled-together feel of the whole car. I’m being harsh. This is a classic car in the Cuban sense of the word, with a committed effort to keep the exterior rather glitzy and whatever can be scrounged to make it roadworthy. it’s not like an umpteenth custom VW Beetle made in a rich country by some guy. It’s a last-ditch effort to keep this 403 running out in the tropical sun. The world is all the better for it.
I’m pretty sure whatever dosh was available went to sourcing this lion’s head hood ornament. These were outlawed by the French authorities after the 1958 model year, but quite a number of 403s were retrofitted with one, kind of like how Jaguar leapers are now adorning many an XJ6.
Ad speaking of VW Beetles, there was a green 1300 parked right in front of the immobile Pug. The VW was still able to move under its own power, while the 403 had been gathering dust for a while (about two years, according to the road tax receipt on the windshield). Still, it had made it to the 21st century, unlike the majority of its cohort.
Had I seen this car but a couple years ago, it might have been filed under “In-Motion Classic.” It never fails to amaze me how durable these old Peugeots are. This one had to do a full Peter Sellers and have its “personality surgically removed” in order to get here at all. But sometimes, that’s what it takes.
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Cohort Capsule: Peugeot 403 , by PN
The closest guess I have on the tail lights are Volvo Amazon. But they don’t look quite right.
Tail lights look very 57-59 Hillman Minx with a reverse light added, theres a few 403s still in use around here but in restored condition.
I tried Cuban thoughts, but only ended up overthrowing the government ( a perfectly sensible thought here at the moment, as it happens. I had lots of supporters). As for Peter Sellers, this Thai bumblebee frog hasn’t so much had the personality removed to make the performance so much as it has had the essence altered. And how! It’s like a Mona Lisa traced over by a kid with a thick crayon, especially that interior.
But you’re right. It’s a long way from it’s birthplace, so even as it is now (perhaps, who knows, a FWD Nissan turbo with a Honda interior), it at least still IS. And “is” is always better than “ain’t”.
Btw, those 403 coupes are all varying degrees of loveliness, and I can’t recall seeing them before, so thanks for that Dr T.
Mmmmm… that Darl’Mat special is rather nice. I imagine PF’s version of a 403 coupe would have looked something like their Rover P4.
The Darl’mat looks very Loewy to me.
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned its Studeishness.
Steering wheel and instrument cluster are early-mid 80s Honda.
The steering wheel is from a 1981-5 Honda Accord
https://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/gallery/HONDA-Accord-4-Doors-2971_3.jpg
but the dash looks more like the early Civic
https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/honda/civic-mk1/
We have a winner for correctly identifying the dashboard and steering wheel! Congrats, a gold star to you, Bernard!
That’s one of many things I like about the Curbside Classic: no matter how obscure they are, the readers always find something…
Wow, the idea that a modern dash would fit so well in this old Pug is just amazing. Not that I really like the idea. I wonder what led to the change? I would guess that a basic dashboard may be the single most durable component of nearly any car ever built.
Since this is a RHD version, might it have been built in Australia or New Zealand, which did assemble 403s?
As to the taillight, since it fits so well, I can’t help but wonder if it was an alternate version, or used for certain export countries, or for those assembled in NZ. But how does this 403 get filled up?
And what’s that thing sticking out under the rear bumper on the near side? The exhaust is on the other side. Maybe a propane fill? Or??
Too bad you couldn’t get a look under the hood. But maybe it’s just as well…
An early 403, the later versions have Peugeot on the bootlid.
First model designed by Pininfarina for Peugeot, a relationship that would last till the 406.
These were great driving cars well built but sensitive for the tinworm.
Perhaps it’s me, or maybe the angle of the shot and the effect of the two tone colour scheme, but I wonder if the rear wings have been reprofiled, losing the gentle dowmward fade at the rear, compared with the car in the brochure shot? Also, the LH rear axle looks to be a smidgen further back, though the angle may be teasing me.
My guess is some Japanese, Nissan, Isuzu perhaps, engine and transmission, Hindustan Ambassador style.
Guess the rear wings were re-styled by Thai craftsmen to meet its new taillights.
1962, Dad brought home his first in a short line of Diesels, a 403 ‘indenor’ Diesel which lasted well into 1967 to be succeeded by a black 404 Diesel which did over 300000 kilometers after which it ‘retired’ to the African continent.
My biblical faith in Peugeot is entirely based on these two cars.
My sister and brother to this day drive Peugeot, my sister a 208 estate, my brother a 106 XSI .
How cool would it be to today sell a car of this style (with windows you can see out of!) with modern safety and electronic conveniences? Hybrid for bonus points…
Dash is a 1st gen Honda Civic .