French Gem: 1936 Peugeot 302
We rarely correlate Peugeot with any but the most pedestrian of cars, meant to ferry middle-class drivers to work and the grocery. But in the 1930s, Peugeot took a walk on the wild side, very successfully. Instrumental in this adventure was the Chrysler Airflow, introduced in 1934. With its curvilinear components, the Airflow was like nothing that had come before it. Unfortunately, American buyers rejected the new look. But in France – ground zero for the Art Deco movement – Bugatti, Citroën, Delage, and Delahaye were creating streamlined cars to considerable acclaim. Peugeot, with its 201/301/401 series of family sedans already scampering the streets, shortcut its way to the new trend by embracing the lines of the Airflow. The company redesigned its long-wheelbase 401 in 1935. The new 402 featured a radically raked grille, flowing fenders, a slanted windscreen, and a round tail. Headlights were centered behind the grille. In 1936, it extended the new design to its shorter wheelbase 302. The “baby” 202 followed. While Peugeot sold tens of thousands of its new series, these cars are extremely rare in the US. Here on facebook Marketplace is a 1936 Peugeot 302 for restoration, with an asking price of $4100. The seller notes that he’s working on the car now, and its price is likely to rise. The car is located in Annapolis, Maryland. T.J. found this French gem – thanks!
Not only were the new models’ looks utterly unlike previous Peugeots, but the engines were upgraded as well. The 1936 302 was supplied with a 45 hp 1758 cc in-line four-cylinder, providing a top speed of about 65 mph. This motor is stuck, so we have no mph at the moment. The gearbox is a three-speed manual. Though Citroën’s Traction Avant had introduced hydraulic brakes by 1934, the 302 was making do with cables. On the other hand, Peugeot was the first of the “big three” French car makers to adopt independent front suspension, and the company made much of the resulting increase in comfort as it advertised against arch-rival Renault.
Inside, the layout is conventional, with a floor shifter, a single round gauge centered in front of the driver, and individual seating for driver and passenger. The two windscreen panes crank out for ventilation. The seller notes that virtually all the rubber on the car has “perished”, and rust resides in the rockers and the trunk floor.
The 302 has an externally accessible trunk, unlike the earliest Traction Avant. Styling similarities to the Airflow are particularly apparent from the rear: both have wheel spats decorated with an emblem, a split rear window, and a rounded trunk lid. Parts are wickedly difficult to come by in the US, but keeping an eye on PreWarCar.com can pay off. Joining a club would be helpful. Once restored, any of the “02” series cars are spectacular, but no question – this project will be challenging.
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Comments
I love it ! . Very cool ! .The price seems O.K.. .I’d put another engine in it and drive the heck out of it. .Have fun ! .Bet you won’t see another one here in the states. 😎😂
Seems like other countries like the Airflow better than the Americans. The first Toyotas were also a copy of the Airflow and just as big too. They even had a 6cyl engine but were built on a full frame. The oldest Toyota to exist was found in Siberia about ten years ago. This Peugeot needs to be restored but will be a big undertaking and would have to be a labor of love. I wish good luck to the seller and potential buyer to preserve this piece of history.
🤙
Interesting that the front and rear numbers don’t match; the rear one is from Paris (75), while the front one appears to be from Indre-et-Loire (around about Tours, 37).
Nice-looking bolide.
Plenty of spare part are still available here in France.
Restaure the engine, the 302 is a good runner.
They made only 25000 302, against 75000 402, and 104000 202.
Even in France, the 302 is rare, and it’s a real eyecatcher!
Hi Eric, I read, the cars catch phrase was for this car ” Une Femme, deux inseparables”, from what I gather, never took French, but targeted at women, the 2 inseparable. Not so in America, where according to my grandfather, women had no business driving a car then,,:0,,, The Europeans were so much more experimentive with car designs. Pretty clear, a bit too much for Americans.
An article that complements Michelle’s and Eric’s comment…“Even in France, the 302 is rare” Is available at ‘classicandsportscar dot com with a quick search for “Peugeot 402 Special Sport: Darl’mat’s Le Mans dream”.
Peugeot’s 302 and 402 were the base for Darl’mat sports cars.
I have to applaud the seller’s effort to cull the usual hacks and would be tire kickers by requiring any queries to state something unusual about the car’s brake system. Should at least cut down on the automated scammers.
I noticed that as well, justpaul! But the answer is provided by the description of this car on BF! I feel like I would be cheating on a test in high school, if I answered the seller’s pop quiz! 😅
Collect a dollar from everyone that asked “what is that ?” and you will amass a small fortune. My first guess would have been chrysler airflow. Good find Michelle!
My friend bought one of these as scrap in South Africa and restored it to Gold medal standard and nobody new what it was until it stopped and they could check it out. He only kept it for about 2 months as every person that had any kind of connection to France just had to own it. He sold it to a Frenchman from Mauritious who shipped it back home.
Unmatched license plates, but I love where rear one is placed. Hidden headlamps…what’s not to love about this treasure!
Buy it – leave as is – haul it on a trailer to every car show around – and you will never regret the small $ outlay for this ULTIMATE conversation piece.
This would be stunning with the same treatment as the 34 Ford Victoria also on today’s post, might I even say, better, due to it’s more quirky shape and style.
I believe a tin top convertible was available Al la Tickford style put a big handle in a hole on the rear quarter panel to turn sprockets and chain.
Yes; I’ve seen one at Retromobile. The big ‘ole for the ‘andle was between the door and the front of the rear wing and, as I remember, on the left side of tthe car. I think that it was on a bigger car than this, though. I’d need to find the photos (actual photos) to be sure.
It would make a great streetrod. You’d be the only one at Cars and Coffee.
That’s exactly what I thought when I saw it, cherry out the body & the interior , drop an LS series Chevy in it with an O/D automatic and fill it up with all the modern amenities , modern suspension & brake system and just enjoy its unique crowd gathering appeal, GO FOR IT !
Last November there were 2 of these in a garage on the N332 in Spain between Benidorm and Altea. Similar condition…
I have an even more rare 402 Legere (light). It is a 302 body with the 2L engine from the 402. Thé sports car of the 02s—less than 10K made. It’s the only one I know of in North America. But I didn’t know about this car either.
Bali Blue has a good idea….very unique car, well worth the effort any way you go with it. If I had the room, I would jump on it
Restore to original or leave as is in mothballs.
My parents moved to Paris a couple of years after the war. Their first car ever was a convertible pre-war 302 that they nicknamed “Big Frog”. It had been commandeered by the German occupation forces during the occupation of Paris, and it had been assigned as the personal transportation of a junior general under the command of von Choltitz–the commander of the Greater Paris Area. The Germans had maintained the car so well, so as to qualify within the parameters of fanaticism. When I was a child in the 1960s, my parents used to often comment that it “would be worth a fortune today”…