A French Icon Hits 90 — And Still Looks Younger Than You
From May 16 to 18, 2025, the annual Klassikwelt Bodensee exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany, will honor the Peugeot 402, a model celebrating its 90th anniversary. First introduced in 1935, this vehicle continues to stand out with its bold, streamlined design and technical innovation.
Design So Smooth, It Slipped Through Time
The Peugeot 402 debuted at the 1935 Paris Motor Show. Its body, inspired by the Chrysler Airflow, featured integrated headlights behind the front grille—a radical design for its time.
Powered by a 1,991 cc inline-four engine with 55 horsepower, it reached 75 mph. Later models offered a 2,142 cc engine with 63 horsepower. The car also included independent front suspension and a rigid rear axle with leaf springs.
Variants: Because One Flavor of Innovation Wasn’t Enough
- Peugeot 402 Légère: A shorter-wheelbase version built for agility and urban driving.
- Peugeot 402 Eclipse: Featured one of the first retractable hardtops, designed by Georges Paulin.
- Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat: A limited-production sports variant with aerodynamic bodywork. It competed in the 1938 24 Hours of Le Mans and placed 5th overall.
How It Died — And Why It Never Really Went Away
Production of the Peugeot 402 ended in 1942 due to World War II. Still, its influence survived in later models like the Peugeot 403 and Peugeot 404. Design elements such as aerodynamic styling and integrated lighting became standard in automotive design.
