20International Model newsNew 405s are even betterPeter WilsonIf you’re in the market for a new Peugeot 405, you’ll be pleased thatit’s had a host of improvements, including a more fuel efficient and morepowerful engine.Equipment on the new model includes front fog lamps, optimised enginemanagement system by Valeo, keyless entry, new reclining seats, new trunkrelease button, new style trim, front and rear clear light lenses and a rearspoiler, according to just-<strong>au</strong>to.com.<strong>The</strong> change to the 1,577 cc TU5 engine – also used on the Peugeot 206,207 and 307 – will boost power of the 405 SLX by 10 per cent and will meanready access to parts from Europe.But the 405 is not on Peugeot Automobiles Australia’s wishlist – theimporter has moved further along with the four-oh series, having the 4007 onsale and the 4008 on the way.Production of the Pininfarina-designed 405 is modest these days in comparisonwith other more popular Peugeot models. For instance, production ofthe 308 topped a million in September after four years.In the six months to September 22, the factories produced a total of 74,587units of the 405 as well as 107,776 units of two variants on the 405 platform.<strong>The</strong> Peugeot 405 was European car of the year when introduced in 1987and more than 2.5 million have been built. European production ended in1997.<strong>The</strong> 405 and some variations are built under licence by Iran Khodra, nowthe biggest <strong>au</strong>to maker in the Middle East, and its output of 860,000 vehiclesa year includes Suzuki Grant Vitara, Bardo utilities and Peugeot 206s as wellas its 405 and the 405-based Iranian national car, the Samand.<strong>The</strong> vehicles are sold in Iran and exported in the region, to Africa and toRussia.It also has factories in Egypt, Syria, Belarus, Senegal, Azerbaijan andVenezuela.Bomb on PugPeter WilsonThis shrouded earlyPeugeot 405 is being removedafter a classic assassination ina Iranian city street.Two men on a motorcycle rode byand attached a magnetic bomb to thecar of a university professor workingon a key nuclear facility, killing himand his driver on January 11.<strong>The</strong> slayings, near Iran’s keyenrichment site, suggest a wideningcovert effort to set back Iran’s atomicprogramme.<strong>The</strong> White House denied Americaninvolvement so it could have been anIsraeli hit.<strong>The</strong> lift equipment being used inthe recovery suggest there is an opportunityin Iran for someone to introducetray trucks to the towing business.Rennes plant to build508 hybridArange-topping diesel-electric version ofthe Peugeot 508 is due for l<strong>au</strong>nch laterin <strong>2012</strong>.<strong>The</strong> 508 HYbrid4 was mentioned by PSAPeugeot Citroën in a briefing it sent to just-<strong>au</strong>toearlier on 12 January.<strong>The</strong> new variant is expected use the samepowertrain as that of the HYbrid4 versions ofthe Peugeot 3008 and 508 RX4, as well as theCitroën DS5.That means a 163bhp 2.0-litre turbodieselengine which drives the front wheels, plus anelectric motor which acts on the rear axle producingan additional 37bhp. <strong>The</strong> two propulsionsystems allow all-wheel drive operation.While the 508 HYbrid4 is to be manufacturedalongside the existing Peugeot 508, 508 SW and508 RX4 at the Rennes plant in France, themodular hybrid rear drive axle will be assembledand supplied from PSA’s Mulhouse facility.— from just-<strong>au</strong>to.com
Peter WilsonBarn findSo manywanted itIf you fancy having a Peugeot likeLieutenant Colombo, you’ll have to work onthe case quickly bec<strong>au</strong>se there are others whoshare that dream.Our dedicated Peugeot sleuthsdetected a rare low mileage 403 cabrioleton ebay before Christmas. Its startingprice: a mere US$1,000.This white 1958 model with a blue leatherinterior was the real McCoy, not a home-builtchop-top. With 1,647 miles on the clock, it hadbeen barely used since leaving the showroom.“<strong>The</strong> car is most recognised as the carColombo drove in the TV detective seriesColombo,” European car restorer Ray Ayer saidin his ebay description. “This car is actually inabout the same condition!”Maybe not the same condition bec<strong>au</strong>se thecar was fresh from a junkyard and, despite havingbeen cleaned, it showed rust blotches onmany parts of its exterior and inside its doors,its soft top was stuffed.Actually, the famous TV car looked muchbetter, despite the dents the studio had inflictedto make it shabby.<strong>The</strong> <strong>au</strong>ction c<strong>au</strong>sed considerable excitementin the international Peugeot community and thelink was spread and discussed on several forums.Mike Tippett, the international 404 registrarfrom Vancouver Island, Canada estimateda 403 cabriolet was worth US$45,000 in topcondition. “It’s worth restoring for sure, especiallyfor someone who loves the cars,” hesaid. A Dutchman said he knew someone in theNetherlands who had restored a 403 convertiblethat he bought in Guadeloupe – “spent a fortuneon it and indeed it’s worth a lot of money”, hesaid, suggesting €50,000).As the talk was warming up and more peoplewere inspecting the photos on the <strong>au</strong>ctionsite, the cabriolet was suddenly withdrawnfrom sale.Someone in France had made a killer offerto live the Colombo dream.Reiner Plass in Germany solved the mysteryof its disappearance a few days later: “<strong>The</strong> carwas sold directly. I got the information fromour 203/403 (German-speaking) forum that itis already on its way to Europe to be restoredthere.”As principal of Ayer European Auto, Rayhad run his eye very carefully over the dilapidatedFrench restoration prospect, recognisingit as “a stunningly be<strong>au</strong>tiful <strong>au</strong>tomobile”.His firm is in Gardiner, Maine, a historicvalley citywhere thefirst workableUSsteam <strong>au</strong>tomobilewasmade. Itspecialisesin restoring European collectorcars and converting high lineimports to US regulation standards.Ray has restored Peugeot504s and 505s, and he thoughtworking on the 403 would befun, but the return would notbe as good as those from thePorsches and early Mercedes heusually revived.After some research on thecabriolets, which were built onthe sedan platform, and discovering therewere possibly only three examples survivingin the US, including the TV car, hedecided to sell it.Ray noted on ebay that the car was completein all aspects but conceded it had beenexposed to the weather for many years.His only clue to its history was that itturned up in a coastal resort town.All of these cars were outfitted withcomplete leather interiors and four speed onthe column shifters, he said.“<strong>The</strong> rockers are rusty but floors aresolid. All mechanical parts are availableas the model 403 was produced for manyyears and in many variations,” Ray said inhis sales talk.“Every part is here including the toolroll, engine manual crank, spare tyre etc. Wehave not tried to start the engine but it turnsover easily.”<strong>The</strong>n the phone started ringing.“You could almost say it went viral,” hetold <strong>The</strong> <strong>Pugilist</strong> from Maine. “It got a lotof interest. People from all over the worldcalled. I got calls from the US, a lot fromFrance, Switzerland, Canada …”“He knew the cabriolet was unusual, buthe did not expect the response he got.“<strong>The</strong>re was this fellow in France whohad close contact with the Peugeot factoryand he asked if I would take it off ebay andsell it to him,” he said.Sebastien Waint from Be<strong>au</strong>ne made anexceptional offer that Ray accepted.A contact already in Maine visitedGardiner the next day and paid for the car.A weekend later, the Peugeot was ina container and beginning its journey toFrance for restoration and appreciation.“You should have seen it when I got it,”Ray said of the 403.<strong>The</strong> cabriolet was recovered fromWickedville Road – what a marvellousname! – in Bar Harbor from the yard of analcoholic junkman who had no idea what itwas and could not remember where it hadcome from.Ray called in friends in the state policeto check its provenance. <strong>The</strong>y reported thatit was last registered in 1978, but found noother information.He said it could have spent years in agarage at one of the many resort homesalong the coast before the junkman got it.To discover more, it might need anLAPD inspector with one eye, a shabbyraincoat, a cabriolet and considerable persistence.21
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