Remembering the Peugeot 402 on its 75th anniversary
17/04/2017.
Peugeot
metalocus, INÉS LALUETA
metalocus, INÉS LALUETA
The iconic model of the lion brand, launched in 1935, was the first to embed headlamps into the calandra and follow the steps of the American streamline "Moderne" in Europe. It was a pioneer in equipping a convertible and retractable steel roof in the trunk, and its coupé version ran in the last 24 Hours of Le Mans just before World War II. A piece of automotive history that turns 75 years since it was stopped manufacturing in 1942 because of World War II.
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Eclipse. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Darl’mat. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Darl’mat. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Darl’mat. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Darl’mat. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Darl’mat. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Darl’mat. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Darl’mat. Image courtesy of Peugeot
Peugeot 402 Darl’mat. Image courtesy of Peugeot
It was a pioneer in equipping a convertible and retractable steel roof in the trunk, and its coupé version ran in the last 24 Hours of Le Mans just before World War II. A piece of automotive history that turns 75 years since it was stopped manufacturing in 1942.
The 1930s, the golden age of everything that came from the United States, and the style issues were no less. The Streamline Moderne (or aerodynamic style) triumphed around the world since 1937. Art Deco long horizontal lines, curves, nautical elements like guardrails and portillo windows ... All car manufacturers wanted to implant it in Europe, but the only one that would really get it, according to the experts was the Peugeot 402, a mythical model for what it meant and for its heritage, today more fashionable than ever.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of its ceasing to be manufactured in 1942. And the end of its production was not due to the drop in sales or because it did not taste aesthetically - otherwise, since it was a success of the new industrial mass production - but because the military expenditures of World War II ended the civilian version of a single model.
The 402 had a very strong similarity with the models of the American brands that triumphed at that time - rounded profile, curvilinear fins, very long body with six windows and a windshield in two parts - but it brought a peculiarity that would advance the future design of the vehicles Produced from that moment: headlamps integrated in the calander, both delate and behind. A new artistic movement in the automotive world called "Fuseau Sochaux".
But if something is remembered the Peugeot 402 is for its version convertible, the 402 Eclipse. Peugeot was the first builder to produce a roof of convertible and retractable steel sheet in the back of a car.
A technological advance that used an electrical system for the despondency and that, at first, did not have the expected success, since the experts of the time still preferred the manual system considering it "more reliable and energy saver". The later years would take them the opposite, being the Coupé Cabrios object of desire by bon vivant and the lovers of the sportsmanship until our days.
In addition, the Peugeot 402 was also very famous for its racing version: the 402 Darl'mat. Its name is inherited by Emile Darl'mat, a businessman who loves the lion brand and owned one of the most important concessions in Paris and was the precursor not only of this version of racing but also of the convertible.
It is a mythical model for motor lovers, as it participated in the last edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans before World War II. Although their participation was not very outstanding - three were those who arrived in 7th, 8th and 10th place - it will always remain in the motorsport that would have happened if the production of this model had not been interrupted by World War II, since The experts predicted it as a potential winner of the great test gala.
The 1930s, the golden age of everything that came from the United States, and the style issues were no less. The Streamline Moderne (or aerodynamic style) triumphed around the world since 1937. Art Deco long horizontal lines, curves, nautical elements like guardrails and portillo windows ... All car manufacturers wanted to implant it in Europe, but the only one that would really get it, according to the experts was the Peugeot 402, a mythical model for what it meant and for its heritage, today more fashionable than ever.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of its ceasing to be manufactured in 1942. And the end of its production was not due to the drop in sales or because it did not taste aesthetically - otherwise, since it was a success of the new industrial mass production - but because the military expenditures of World War II ended the civilian version of a single model.
The 402 had a very strong similarity with the models of the American brands that triumphed at that time - rounded profile, curvilinear fins, very long body with six windows and a windshield in two parts - but it brought a peculiarity that would advance the future design of the vehicles Produced from that moment: headlamps integrated in the calander, both delate and behind. A new artistic movement in the automotive world called "Fuseau Sochaux".
But if something is remembered the Peugeot 402 is for its version convertible, the 402 Eclipse. Peugeot was the first builder to produce a roof of convertible and retractable steel sheet in the back of a car.
A technological advance that used an electrical system for the despondency and that, at first, did not have the expected success, since the experts of the time still preferred the manual system considering it "more reliable and energy saver". The later years would take them the opposite, being the Coupé Cabrios object of desire by bon vivant and the lovers of the sportsmanship until our days.
In addition, the Peugeot 402 was also very famous for its racing version: the 402 Darl'mat. Its name is inherited by Emile Darl'mat, a businessman who loves the lion brand and owned one of the most important concessions in Paris and was the precursor not only of this version of racing but also of the convertible.
It is a mythical model for motor lovers, as it participated in the last edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans before World War II. Although their participation was not very outstanding - three were those who arrived in 7th, 8th and 10th place - it will always remain in the motorsport that would have happened if the production of this model had not been interrupted by World War II, since The experts predicted it as a potential winner of the great test gala.
