Peugeot. 203

Some July vacationers are already at their vacation spots, while others are packing their bags. Naturally, a few memories come flooding back—of when the whole family would pile into the family car for the summer vacation. Whether it was a 2CV, a 4CV, or a Dauphine, everyone has their own memories of those vacation departures from the 1950s. Some, however, had a little more space than others—especially those who set off in their Peugeot 203.

The First of a Fine Lineage

The Peugeot 203 was the very first car in the 03 Series. It took over from the 02 Series, which had appeared before the war but whose production resumed after the conflict. In fact, the 202 was the only car in the lineup until 1948.

It was at that time that the Peugeot 203 was unveiled. It was a much more modern car—in fact, modernity was a key part of its specifications: classified in the 10cv tax bracket, it was designed to match the performance of pre-war cars in the 11- to 14cv range. It was quite a challenge, and one car in particular was in its sights: the Citroën Traction 11.

To achieve this, a new 1,290 cm³ 4-cylinder engine producing 42 ch was introduced. Paired with a manual transmission—not yet synchronized—it propels the “American-style” sedan to nearly 120 km/h. But the designers also considered what would happen once that speed was reached, as the braking system—a weak point of the “02” models—had been reinforced.

Available starting in 1949, production of the Peugeot 203 was initially low. This was not due to commercial concerns but rather to problems with the supply of raw materials.

Very quickly, the Peugeot 203 sedan lineup was expanded, resulting in a full range of models. The business sedan offered simplified features, while the convertible was much more upscale.

The 1950 model year saw the introduction of station wagons and commercial versions—what we would call station wagons today—as well as a pickup truck.

The lineup was further expanded in 1952 with the Cabriolet, followed by the Coupé the next year.

Sales were strong. The Peugeot 203 evolved in small ways. The small rear windows on the sedans were redesigned in 1953, and the following year the model finally received a synchronized transmission.

In fact, this was the transmission that would be fitted to the new Peugeot 403, launched in 1955. A major evolution of the Peugeot 203, featuring a larger engine and a more modern design. Some might say, “the same, but better.” And that is precisely what would dictate the design of the Peugeot s for many years to come. For with the Peugeot 203, the manufacturer with the lion emblem created a family that would continue long after the “03” model names were phased out. It’s a family of mid-range cars, with front-mounted engines and rear-wheel drive—cars designed for the whole family, yet still offered in a full lineup. The 403, 404, and 504 would thus carry on the legacy and remain popular with Peugeot’s customer base—cars for families looking for something bigger than a 4CV or a 2CV. Families often caricatured as provincial bourgeois… and, in the end, that’s actually quite true. Many would therefore set off on vacation in a 203… before making the same trip again in its successor models.

The 203 remained in the catalog until February 1960. But that didn’t mean it disappeared from the roads!

The Peugeot 203: A Star in the World of Collectibles

It is undeniably one of the iconic cars in the world of collecting. Regardless of the version, the Peugeot 203 turns heads just as much as other popular models from the same era.

The fact that nearly 700,000 cars were produced is a real plus, since it’s not a rare model.

However, in the collector’s market, its age means that certain parts can be difficult to find. Many parts are shared with the 403, particularly mechanical components, but early-model 203s require parts that aren’t always available as remanufactured items. Nevertheless , the selection of the most critical parts is quite extensive ; you’ll find no fewer than 87 part numbers for restoring a 203 “ Peugeot ” in the online store at Alepoc.

And if you can’t find what you’re looking for in this catalog, don’t hesitate to contact us—we might just be able to find THE part you need!