Peugeot 404 Overview: Specs, Generations and Which One to Buy
Peugeot 404 specs at a glance: a rear-wheel-drive cabrio built from 1960 to 1975 with 60–96 hp, covered across its single generation with buying advice.
The Peugeot 404 is a rear-wheel-drive cabrio produced from 1960 to 1975 with outputs ranging from 60 to 96 hp. For anyone checking Peugeot 404 specs, the model spans a single generation with seven modifications, offered with both manual and automatic gearboxes. It suits classic-car enthusiasts who want an open-top French cruiser with straightforward mechanics rather than outright speed.
Peugeot 404 generations
1 generation (1960–1975)
The first and only generation of the Peugeot 404 ran from 1960 to 1975 exclusively as a cabrio. Power outputs range from 60 hp to 96 hp across seven modifications, all with rear-wheel drive, and buyers could choose between manual and automatic transmissions. Two versions stand out in the lineup: the Peugeot 404 1.6 MT (72 hp), the mass-market choice with a 1618 cc engine and a manual gearbox, and the Peugeot 404 1.6 AT, the most powerful version at 96 hp, pairing the same 1618 cc engine with an automatic transmission.
Which Peugeot 404 to buy
- 1.6 MT (72 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market version with 72 hp from a 1618 cc engine and a manual gearbox — the configuration most 404s were built in, which makes it the easiest to find.
- 1.6 AT (1 generation): the top of the range at 96 hp, a third more power than the 72 hp manual, from the same 1618 cc engine but with an automatic transmission.
Since every Peugeot 404 comes from a single generation built between 1960 and 1975, there are no cross-generation differences to weigh when buying used — the choice comes down to gearbox and power output. The single-generation, single-body lineup also keeps the search simple: any car you find shares the same basic layout of rear-wheel drive and a 1618 cc engine in the notable versions.
Peugeot 404 quick facts
- Body style: cabrio only, across the entire 1960–1975 production run.
- Power range: 60–96 hp, with the strongest version being the Peugeot 404 1.6 AT at 96 hp.
- Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive on every modification.
- Gearboxes: manual and automatic, with the manual fitted to the mass-market 1.6 MT (72 hp).
- Modifications: 7 in total within the single generation.
The spread between the base 60 hp versions and the 96 hp Peugeot 404 1.6 AT is 36 hp, so the automatic flagship offers 60 percent more power than the entry point of the range — a meaningful gap in a car of this era, and the main number to keep in mind when comparing listings.