1955 Peugeot 203

The auction car has been prized by the seller for a number of years, during which time it has been solely maintained by a highly regarded local marque specialist. It is offered with a recent FIVA ID card, a difficult-to-obtain and worthwhile document verifying the car’s historic accuracy and roadworthiness in an effort to preserve technical and automotive cultural heritage.

The car remains all original and is the only Peugeot model eligible to enter the 4 Hours of Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio, and the Tour Auto. Eligibility for these prestigious touring events is granted based on whether a particular model of car competed in them during their original, historic runs, and typically requires much more exotic and valuable machinery to gain access.

The car retains original paint and trim, and the latter is complete including wheel covers. Note the flat windshield, center-hinged doors, and swinging semaphore style turn signals, all delightful quirks of the 203’s WW2 era design.

Other highlights include rebuilt period-correct Marchal fog lamps, hand-painted Peugeot scripts and Lions above the windshield and on the rear deck, and a neat Lion’s head hood ornament that disappeared on later 203’s

The car presents as well worn-in but loved, and though the headliner appears to be bare metal in photos, it is in fact simply the oil-stained, 67-year-old original.

A large half-sun speedometer is flanked on either side by gauges for fuel level and amps - low oil pressure and a turn signal indicator use lights. Note the steel sliding sunroof, a feature first seen on a mass-produced scale with the 203.

Oversquare in design, the 203’s 1,290 cc ohv four-cylinder is a natural revver, and happily delivers a modest 45 hp to the rear wheels through a column-shifted 4-speed manual. This car benefits from a much-improved, fully synchronized unit introduced in 1954, and like all 203’s is independently suspended at the front by a transverse leaf spring and in the rear via a solid axle with coil springs and a Panhard rod.

Brakes have been upgraded from standard single cylinder to dual cylinder 403 drums, tires are new Michelin SWX items, and the car benefits from much further work fully documented with receipts.

Sale includes a rare factory leather tool roll and tools, as well as workshop manuals in both English and French.

According to the seller, the car has been maintained regardless of cost and is now ready to drive. See the full photo gallery for many photos of the car’s underside.

The car is sold with extensive maintenance history contained within two binders and has been used by its American owner in rallys and for touring throughout France, including four separate drives from Caen to Paris.

Ignoring the amazing access to special events it carries, this is still a hugely charming little car with excellent, documented ownership history.

The owner lives in America part of the time, and the Peugeot 203 is stored in his mechanic's workshop,

Classic Motors of Vire France. Please call Christophe Braun, owner of ClassicMotors, on 0231687274, if you have any further questions. The owner/seller will be in France from October 25 to November 9, to sign the Carte Gris and provide all the documents and accessories that will be given to the new owner.