This French Beast Was The True African King!

This French Beast Was The True African King!
The Peugeot 504, born in 1968, was more than just a car - it was a symbol of toughness and reliability that conquered roads all over the world. This video tells the amazing story of a vehicle that went from the streets of France to become known as the "King of the African Road." The 504's journey began during a time of protests and strikes in France. Despite these challenges, Peugeot pushed forward with their new flagship model. The car made its big debut on September 12, 1968, at the Paris Salon, wowing crowds with its sleek design and powerful engine options. What made the 504 special wasn't just how it looked, but how it was built. Its tough construction, long-travel suspension, and high ground clearance meant it could handle rough roads with ease. This made the 504 a perfect fit for places with challenging terrain, like Africa and South America. The 504 found its true calling on the African continent. It became a common sight as a "bush taxi," carrying people and goods across long distances on bumpy roads. The car was so popular that it was built in Kenya until 2004 and in Nigeria until 2006. The 504's popularity spread far beyond Africa. In Argentina, it was built as a sedan, station wagon, and even a pickup truck. The pickup version was especially tough, able to carry over a ton of cargo. The 504 wasn't content with just being a regular car. It showed its sporty side by winning several big rally races, including the grueling Safari Rally. Some clever people even turned the pickup version into a camper! Even though Peugeot stopped making the 504 in Europe in 1983, its spirit lived on. The car continued to be built in other parts of the world for many years. Today, the Peugeot 504 is remembered as a car that could go anywhere and do almost anything. Watch this video to learn more about the incredible journey of the Peugeot 504, a true global road warrior that left its mark on automotive history!
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[@intelli.car9]

I'm extremely sorry. Yes, I use AI voice. But i really try to make my content good. But in this video, i made two crucial mistakes. Mispronounced Peugeot, and instead of 5 O 4, voice said 504. And also there are some editing mistakes. My channel is new, and I'm constantly trying to improve my content. Again, I'm truly sorry for all these mistakes.😔😔

[@myMotoring]

i didnt notice it AI voice. very sneaky

[@timonsolus]

Thank you for your efforts to improve. Most channels using AI voice wouldn’t bother.

[@josefradisz2133]

Another mistake : 00:34 This 404 model shown is not the popular one, but the coupé, which looks completely different from the saloon.

[@afriquelesud]

That AI voice gets it wrong because you didn't type it out properly. Next time, type five oh four. AI just isn't smart. Using AI makes me turn away from countless KZbin videos. Some of us were born before the woke misaligned 1980's music, and when people still used their brains. There is no intellect in AI.

[@towgod7985]

If you yourself are not comfortable reading the script, find a volunteer to do the narrative, it will be more authentic. Really nice video, Cheers

[@Bernd-sb2sh]

That was really the best what the French ever made. In Germany we called it the French Mercedes. So robust and reliable and well designed. It was a good towing vehicle too for the campers. Only rust was the biggest problem, especially after our those days strong winters, when they used tons of salt to keep the roads free from ice and snow. In 1981 my father was nearly about to buy a 504 TI with the 104 HP engine to replace his rusty 1973 VW K70. But finally he purchased an Audi 100 L5S, because he didn't like rearwheeldrive. With the frontwheeldrive K70 he drove in the winter circles around all those rearwheeldrive cars while they were stucking in the snow. Only by towing our caravan sometimes he had traction problems, more than the following Audi 100. This video is very interesting and shows the history of a very importent car of its time.

[@Kaisan-vc8fw]

One of my business interests in the 1980's & 90's was shipping 2nd hand Pug 504's to Africa from Europe … Good business, fantastic cars,.

[@zenbandit19]

I come from a family of Volvo and Benz lovers (fanatics) but I was finally lucky enough to drive my friend's 504 saloon over urban and highway conditions at very high speeds, when I was in my mid 20s (back in the 80s). Le magnifique! No other words to describe this phenomenal car.

[@theyjustwantyourmoney4539]

I was raised in Southern Africa and this was a middle class car in the 80s and 90s, my dad had an Estate and as kids we loved it.

[@cronos925]

I grew up in Africa in the 70s and 80s, this car was a status symbol, hard as nails, a cult car in Nigeria where it was produced.

[@bleizbreizh6264]

Known as the 'five -oh-four' in England, though if you ask for parts in France they will have no idea what you are on about as its a 'cinq cent quatre' or five hundred and four. I still see many in daily use, mainly pick ups and station wagons

[@davebutterworth5800]

Never called the five zero four! Always the five oh four!

[@zbf5h89ftb]

Perhaps it's because in France they speak a different language, called French.

[@stefanhammerschmidt2807]

@@zbf5h89ftb😂

[@adrianmonk4440]

I HAD NO IDEA !!! It was so versatile, reliable, and well thought of. I heard the radio ads, and I thought ho, hum, another temperamental FIAT. Growing up in Detroit, it was hard to pay attention to anything smaller than 3500cc (210 cid) I-6 or V-6. I now know the Toyota Corolla was started in 1966, sold 50 million units since over 12 generations. WORLD CARS GIVE THE COMPANY A CHANCE TO PUT Economies of Scale into effect and resources for major revision improvements.

[@AdarshRai-yc1gu]

Looks like you misunderstood the car a lot back then! But don't worry. You're not the only one who did. The entire North American market did it. But on the other hand, the South American market embraced it & made it a chapter to remember in the history of their automotive market. Also, Peugeot took the North American market too lightly & did not make a good dealership & service network! Hence, the company was bound to fail in the market. The South American Market was as important to them as the other 4 automotive markets including Southeast Europe, West Asia, Africa & Australia; mainly because these were rough-terrain regions which they had made their place in. So, they had to cater for these 5 markets

[@adrianmonk4440]

@@AdarshRai-yc1gu // Thanks for your input.

[@BobVeldkamp-l9l]

Had a lovely ride and super comfortable seats

[@adrianmonk4440]

When a car is well accepted in many countries and has a long production run.... THAT SAYS A LOT. It means features, styling, price, & reliability, HIT A SWEET SPOT. FIAT, for instance, only has 12% of the Italian market. It does not do that well in Europe. But it does alright in South America & Turkey on an individual model basis.

[@mattm9619]

The cabrio and coupes are really nice looking.

[@MsJoao101]

I remember my dad trading the 404 Break in for the 504 Break Renforcé, he had it for over 10 years, it had an extra row of seats and a button/switch thing to start it, i learned to drive in it, i loved it! Indestructible diesel engines! Noisy tho, people knew you were coming...

[@fuzzi1002]

We had a 1977 504 TI with leather seats, sunroof and power windows. I learned to drive it, and I can still remember the fantastic road holding. Unfortunately, after 10 years it was a heap of rust and the engine, which already had 2 engines, gave up the ghost.

[@ColinMill1]

Peugeot had a great reputation in Africa long before this model. The 203 and 403 were extremely popular as they coped very well on the potholed roads. So Peugeot were well set in the marketplace in the 1950s.

[@maxfern]

Wonderful documentary of a wonder of a car !

[@nadermansour7487]

Called "the Diamond" in Egypt because it still retains its value.

[@Retroscoop]

Grew up with seeing lots of these 504's here in Belgium and during the Tour de France for ex., but had no idea they were so popular in Africa, nor that they were produced there until the 2000's. And well, if the pick-up could carry 2400 pounds, you can rest assured the Africans in reality moved 3000 pounds with them.

[@clive373]

I encountered them in 1975, after the 404 anything seemed wonderful.

[@htimsid]

The 404 is also a wonderful car!

[@youssefhakim1055]

Thank you for your video. Indeed, it is a good-looking and very robust car. The interior (mainly the dashboard) of the Volvos 240 was maybe more upscale and the suspension smoother. The 504 ground clearance is great. It deserves to be a collectible vehicle.

[@paulhicks3595]

Peugeot had a large market in Africa and the Middle East and the 504 was designed with this in mind, especially its suspension. I owned one for a few years and found it do be a great highway car but a little underpowered in the city.

[@robertbarth1362]

As Red Forman once said on 📺That 70's show, "I think the French🗼 should stick to what they do best,baking🍞🥖 bread & losing wars."

[@Salman-sc8gr]

Red must be an ignoramus

[@marcmatthieu1939]

Not a bad video as the talking is right, but the slides/footages do NOT match with the talking. A french can see that immediatley. You show one with withewall tyres, it was obviously sold in USA but no mention of that fact. The first 505 you talk about shows a 205 etc..

[@Sean-f1j3k]

Very informative video on such a great car. Thanks and keep up the good work 😎

[@myMotoring]

Among the first cars to have angry face

[@adrianmonk4440]

We have to remember, right after WWII, and for quite a while thereafter, FRENCH LAW & TAXES limited the size of automobile engines to just 2 Liter.

[@laurlaur5230]

Strictly speaking it was not limited. Selling cars with engine beyond 2 liters in France has always been possible ( the V6 of the 504 coupé was a 2,7 l), but cars with big block were highly taxed (and nowadays it remains the same btw with another tax system)

[@adrianmonk4440]

@laurlaur5230 // Interesting anecdote, the great President Charles de Gaul was chauffeured in a Citroën DS (the Goddess; 2L). An attempt was made on his life by a sniper who shot out a tire. Because of the dynamic suspension system, that wheel was raised, and the chauffeur sped away.

[@SandraHommen]

Blue 505 picture in africa

[@eurouc]

Did he say “Poojh-oh” ?

[@carlyleroad]

And Five-Zero-Four - it was the Five-Oh-Four.

[@steenlassen5718]

😂

[@FearlessFinlay]

I read American car mags in the 60's and Peugeot was one of the foreign advertisers. At the bottom of the ad' it would say 'pronounced Pooj-oh'. Always made me laugh.

[@sheenapearse766]

I had a 504 station wagon in South Africa in the mid 80s , and I was told the suspension in the African models was different to the European models , having a longer travel . Is that true ?

[@hamzaouamrouche57]

504 Peugeot the Lion

[@1phildefer323]

FRENCH ICON......

[@dungbetel]

Robot commentary... oh dear! And the 404 you showed was the coupé, not the 404 saloon (sedan). Plus many other mistakes (sunroof was an option etc etc ...)

[@mrmarcuscars2072]

So you show a Cadillac when you talk about automatic gearbox?

[@neilmckay8649]

French equivalent of the MB W123.

[@jameskrell4392]

I had the Ti model in 1980, the i was for fuel injection, it was rare in those days. The injection was mechanical not electronic. I toured the South West on England with it, I have very fond memories of it. I have to say the mispronunciation's are a real trun off.

[@Pinzpilot101]

You showed a picture of the 4x4 version by DANGEL and yet never mentioned that this was available .....

[@htimsid]

Did you listen to the narrator throughout the video? Dangel is mentioned!

[@Pinzpilot101]

@@htimsid Thank you I will listen again...Dangel 504's are surprising off road..

[@marksilcock2961]

PooJo ? 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Pretty sure it's pronounced PewJo

[@Roddy_Zeh]

We call it Peh-Jo here. 😂

[@MikeArott]

Why does the narrator keep mis-pronouncing "Peugeot". Such a great car as the 504 (five-oh-four, not five-zero-four), is definitely not 'poo', but it purrs. Think 'Purr-jo' without pronouncing the 'Rs, not 'poo-jo'.

[@AdarshRai-yc1gu]

0:11 to 0:19; as if it happened by mistake! It was clearly pre-planned & deliberate. They did want to make such a car to replace the already introduced & proven 404. Such cars are definitely not made by chance! Nor was the Mercedes W123!

[@JakobKsGarage]

Probably perfect for dry Africa, but around here (northern europe) it rusted like shit. And please learn to pronounce Peugeot (get google tranlate to say it for you in french...)

[@jeroenstaal4907]

So it's about the 504 but you also throw in a 505( at 06:52min) Oh dear...

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

@1:50 looks like U.S. spec look close at the number plate there is a blue California plate under it

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

7:04 ...505 was a great handling car . opt turbo

[@charleshulsey3103]

Peugeot always pronounced the zero in the middle as "oh". Ai voice is cringe AF 🤮

[@307pug205]

Five oh four, not zero

[@uwegrafer6456]

The 404 cleared the path for his younger brother. "La gazelle du rue"

[@user-om3vg2uk7v]

It is NOT P-OO- ZHO .... Pronounce: P-E- ZHO ( E like in: LEARN )

[@taunuslunatic404]

3:55 Isuzu engine in a 504?

[@laurlaur5230]

If I am not mistaken because isuzu wasn't able to design its own reliable diesel engine, they were using peugeot's diesel from the 504 ( whose common name was Indenor) and just rebadged them

[@Hipyon]

in English it's the 5 oh 4

[@sol2soul77]

5 oh 4 not 5 zero 4......

[@riannevanrossum2912]

I can't listen to this

[@ahoj7720]

Pronounced pee-djoh in Africa

[@rameses1979]

Only in anglophone countries. Not the whole of Africa