1974 Peugeot 404
Once in a while something unusual tends to arrive at the workshop, and they always seem to have been stood in a barn for decades. This Peugeot 404 was bought new in 1974, driven for a year, and then dry stored. The car was pulled out of storage in 1985, driven for another 12 months and once more returned to storage. Since then it hadnt moved, until early August when the son of the owner decided it was time to see the road again.

Whenever a car has been standing for long periods, our Dad develops a child like enthusiasm to hear them run. He sees them as a challenge, so no sooner had we dragged the car off the trailor (seized brakes), my dad had set upon the 404 armed with a handful of spanners and a can of easy start. An air line to clear the blocked fuel lines, and the Peugeot fired into life for the first time in 22 years. Peugeot reliability for you!

Made of exceptionally thick steel, the 404 is amazingly solid, needing no welding at all. The brake system fuel system, electrical system and engine are to overhauled over the next few months in order to get the car through its MOT.