ThrowBack Cars In Nigeria: Peugeot 504 Review.

The Peugeot 504 is a large family car manufactured by French automaker Peugeot between 1968 and 1983, with licensed production continuing until 2006. Known for its flourishing body structure, long suspension travel and torque tube drive. The Peugeot 504 possesses body mass, front engine, rear wheel drive primarily in 4-door sedan and wagon configurations - but also with two-door coupe and pickup truck variants. The Peugeot 504 also called Guangzhou - Peugeot GP 7200. Peugeot 504 was launched in 1968 and continued its maker's drive towards the increased market penetration by moving slightly upmarket from the 404. 504 was a very conservative mechanical package, with a longitudinal engine driving the rear wheels. The interior was roomy, the suspension soft, and the resultant saloon was an excellent long-distance cruiser. The 504 was a sunroof-equipped four-door saloon, introduced with a carbureted 1796 cc four-cylinder petrol engine 97 bhp (72 kW; 98 PS) with optional fuel injection and 82 bhp (61 kW; 83 PS). A column-mounted four-speed manual transmission was standard; a 3-speed ZF 3HP22 automatic available as an upgrade.

There are 7 models.

504 4-door saloon

504 5-door estate

504 Injection 4-door saloon

504 Diesel 4-door saloon

504 Injection 2-door coupe

504 Injection 2-door cabriolet

504 pickup

The car was rear wheel drive, with longitudinally-mounted engines, canted over to bring a lower bonnet line to the styling. Manual or Automatic transmission was offered. The suspension system consisted of MacPherson struts and coil springs at the front and with either semi-trailing arms with coil springs or coil springs and live axle at the rear. The station wagon and pickup versions were available with a live axle. The car used disc brakes at the front, and either disc brakes or drum brakes at the rear, depending on the model. The steering was a rack and pinion system. Huge suspension travel, and great strength, meant that the 504 was suited to rough road conditions, and the car proved extremely reliable in conditions found in Africa, Asia, Australia and the like.

When we talk about style, quality, chassis, ride, visibility, strong engine and refinement the 504 Peugeot was the car, after bagging the award for the European car of the Year in 1969. It was hired as "bush taxi" in Africa. In the Post-European production era, it was being manufactured in Nigeria and Kenya until 2006, utilizing the Peugeot knock down kits. Kenya production was 27,000 units while 425,000 units was produced in Nigeria, the car remained on sale to 2007, being described as "King of the African road." In 2013 the LA Times called it "Africa's workhorse.”