Apart from the Mercedes-Benz SL, it has been, in our opinion, the most beautiful convertible in the world at the time: The Peugeot 504 Cabriolet in the 1970 version reappears in the 1:18 scale from the French model car manufacturer Norev. At the same time they deliver the 504 Coupé as a variant with a fixed roof. We tip are hat to Norev for the fact that they deliver these two model cars in top quality with steerable front wheels, a detailed engine compartment, true to the original interior as well as opening doors and hoods and all with a very reasonable price. Proportions and look of the designs from the prototype were of course an exactly hit. The appearance of the two vehicles has been successfully transferred to the miniatures by the mold makers from Vaulx-en-Vaulin in every respect.
Review of the history of the prototype
Before we look at the models here is a brief review: The Peugeot 504 belonged to the upper middle class. The production of the four-door sedan started in the summer of 1968 and ended in 1983. A under license pickup version ran until the end of 2005 in Nigeria off the line. A total of 3,711,556 copies were built. The Peugeot 504 is a design from the Italian design studio Pininfarina. Executive limousine designer was Aldo Brovarone. In the spring of 1969, the 504 Coupe appeared with an independent body. Which also found use as a basis for the convertible. These two offshoots were personally designed by Sergio Pininfarina. Compared to the sedan, the wheelbase was reduced to 2.55 meters: 504 Coupe and convertible were 4.36 meters long and 1.70 meters wide. The height was 1.35 meters and 1.36 meters respectively.
The coupé and convertible were manufactured at the Pininfarina factory in Turin; finally assembled in Sochaux, France. There the 504 received an engine, transmission and suspension. The author of this article has, two days ago, came encounter with one of the convertibles of this series: The timelessness of the design is still fascinating: nothing looks old on this vehicle. The four-seater Cabriolet as well as the Coupé work above all by their frills in the design. The car was powered in the 14 years of its production by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with about 74 kW / 100 hp; from 1974 on, the two sister models were also available with the 2.7-liter PRV six-cylinder engine, which initially made 100 kW / 136 hp. With its introduction was accompanied by a discreet facelift, including larger taillights.
The models in detail
The model cars from Norev, however, are still a reproduce of the original version, which can be recognized by the small, three-part taillight units with inclined individual elements. At the front end, four individual headlights conveyed a touch of sporty aggressiveness. The convertible comes in Andalou-Orange with the article number 184826, the coupe in white under 184825. As expected, the mold makers from Vaulx-en-Vaulin spared no effort to elaborate the details of the vehicles to the last detail. The headlights are accurately located in the elaborately modeled black grille grid. The turn signals carry a chrome border. Chrome is also available on the windshield of the Cabriolet as well as on all windows of the Coupé and of course the bumpers.
The hubcaps are chrome-plated; as well as the sill strip and the separately used iron door handles as well as the wiper arms of the windscreen wipers. We already knew that Norev understands replicas of the interior. In the case of the interior of the Peugeot 504 Cabriolet and Coupé, the shapes of the seats, dashboard and side panels are perfect. With the models Norev keeps the memory of two very beautiful cars awake: In the history books of the car industry, the production end of the models is recorded under June 1983. We believe that the Peugeot 504 Coupé and Cabriolet have a long-term future as model cars.
Here: Click for the Peugeot 504 in the webshop