Peugeot 504 Diesel Pickup

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The Peugeot 504 got off to a shaky start in 1968, its launch being put back three months due to industrial unrest.

Such trivialities couldn’t mask the brilliance of the product when it finally went on sale, scooping the coveted 1969 Car Of The Year award, gaining particular commendations for its styling, quality, chassis and ride characteristics, good visibility and engine refinement. The judging panel clearly found a lot to like!

Over three million were to leave the French plant before it was replaced by the more sharply styled 505 in 1983, the robust and much loved pickup version remaining in production for a full 10 more years, its design rights being sold off after that to the Chinese who have only just stopped making it.

Hugely popular in French-speaking Africa and known as the ‘bush taxi’ because they were about the only things that would survive the beating they got on a daily basis, they were for a time high up the list of the UK’s most stolen vehicles, being broken up and sent to far flung places of the earth for spare parts.

This super looking example managed to avoid that fate and was acquired by the vendor slightly by accident. A local farmer had passed away and his wife was clearing the place. The local scrap man spotted that it was far too good to dispose of and tipped-off the current owner. Purchased around five years ago, the bodywork was found to be in excellent condition and after a few dents had been removed, the car was given a professional respray bringing it back to the condition you see here.

It has covered a mere 76,500 miles from new, its diesel engine having had a new water pump and hoses. It is described as driving just as it should with everything working. The vendor has lined the rear tray out very carefully, informing us that the only thing that isn’t up to scratch is the front seat which presently has a removable waterproof cover fitted.

This two owner vehicle is taxed until January 2015, MOTd until August 2015 and ready for work. These characterful pickups had a very loyal following in their day, but being such tough and hard worked vehicles did not enjoy a very good survival rate so this is a rare find indeed.