Who wants to start their day with a mystery? The absolutely least-important mystery ever considered by a human or corvid mind? You do, that’s who! Today let’s look at this 1968 Peugeot 404 brochure and wonder why a particular decision was made. Because no matter how minor it is, it’s still a really strange decision. And one, again, we need to discuss.
Okay, so look up there, at the brochure page. I’ve highlighted the part that talks about the wonderful reverse lamps you can get if you aren’t some miserable cheapskate and don’t spring for the DeLuxe model. But you’re a class act, surely you know the value of a lovely, crystal-clear reverse lamp! So wouldn’t you think the brochure would show the damn reverse lamps in the picture right next to the words that talk about the reverse lights?
And yet, they’re nowhere to be seen. In fact, it’s making me wonder, do these reverse lamps even exist? Let’s check out the service manual:
Dammit, no reverse lamp! What the hell? Why is this such a secret? Wait, hold on, what’s this?
There it is! In the base of the taillight, just like they promised, and yet, somehow, never showed. The hell is wrong with these likely long-dead French brochure makers? I guess they had more important things to include in the brochure, like this:
Yes, the doorless-you-can-ride-with-a-dog pic! I’m sold! I need a 404! A motherflapping DeLuxe one with reverse lamps. Even if Peugeot doesn’t want to show me what the hell they look like.
404 File Not Found, explains everything
I’m thinking that the reverse light was on the right hand rear light and left hand had a fog light as I believe in Europe you only need one of each on the rear of your car.
You are likely correct, the brochure photo next to the highlighted text does show the taillamp with the red fog light in the lowest position, as you suggest, which is correctly on the drivers side. The reverse light is on the passenger side, as shown in the subsequent photo.
Many European vehicles continue to have the fog light on the drivers side and reverse light on the passenger side today.
And the same light fitting but swapped sides for the Right hand drive models – they look like they could be a symmetrical lens molding which would save money when swapping sides.
Reverse lights weren’t required at all for the longest time, too, as evidenced by this brochure making a big deal out of it! Same with the high brake light.
when did fog lights become mandatory? I think high brake lights were a late 80’s thing.
The one in the service manual has the reverse in the middle lamp, in Argentinian built cars it came in white or green-blueish color depending the year of fabrication. The ones with the lower Reverse lamps are from the european fuel injected top trim version.
My wife and I bought a 1969 Peugeot 404 for her earlier this year. It has a manually-operated reverse lamp switch under the dash. So shifting into reverse does not illuminate the reverse lamps. I assumed this was a half-ass repair to make an inspection some time in the past, but maybe it came that way factory. Odd.
Amazing!
So for everything in the brochure you get 3 pictures? So why waste 1 of them on a picture that doesn’t even show what they’re writing about?
Maybe they should have shown the AC control, which is the focus of 2/3 of the brochure.
And I would think the safety features would be a little more important to show than a map pocket. Or maybe that’s the last picture. Yep the safety features they’re in there. Can’t see a one of them despite cutting the doors off, but nobody’s looking at them anyway.
Nobody at Poo Show cared about that old archaic car with gothic 50ies Checker Marathon design in 1968, when the new 504, with the beautiful heel shaped tail lights, including 3 color lamps within one frame, had just come out.
Yes, I did love my beautiful sharp Pininfarina 504!
Green?! Repaint?
50K miles granddad car, I was the second owner of, original paint “1510 Vert Doré Metalisée” (golden green metallic), with part resprays here and there after rust repairs 🙂
Wow I’ve never seen one like that!
You do not think they would let a poorly paid photographer near the DuLuxe model?
Mind you I am sure my Dad’s office 404 had a under the bumper reversing light right in the middle which looked as though it was tacked on as an after thought… Same for the DS21 we had. Did not complain, after all it meant us kids were not kicked out of the warm car — first car with heater — to guide reversing manoeuvres in the dark….
“…if you aren’t some miserable cheapskate and don’t spring for the DeLuxe model.”
The Volvo 66 was available in two trim levels, DL and GL. The cheaper version is the DL (De Luxe) whereas the fancier version is the GL (Grand Luxe). Mine, of course, are both GL cars.
As it turns out, the differences are that the GL has (1) a 1.3 instead of a 1.1 liter engine and (2) driving lights in the grille. From what I can tell, every other option was available at either trim level. Such luxury!
Who doesn’t need a half a soda of displacement in their life?
I have to assume every last bit of performance was important to the original owner of my sedan, as this would explain why it was ordered without the superfluous burden of a radio.
Genuinely, at those horsepower levels, I bet you noticed that extra umf. Especially going uphill or when loaded up
I assume (having never driven a 66 DL) that it is honestly significant, particularly since the Variomatic is not the most efficient of transmissions. Every little bit must help.
“….human or corvid…”
Uhm, is Corvid the formal name of The Bird Flu?
Well played.
At least he’s not crowing about it.
Uhm, perhaps the reason the reverse lights are hidden is that the French have become sensitive about the hint of anything that even implies they might retreat….again.
You’ll note the reverse lamp is white… Like a flag.
Why don’t they show them? Because this is a family publication! You can’t just go putting pictures of reverse lights where kids might see them!
Mystery solved. I can’t believe Jason, of all people, would struggle with this
Brochure Rule #1: Never waste illustration space on tail light assemblies when you can show a nice pair of headlights instead.
ooh la la
The brochures were probably done by Monsieur Hulot during his accidental (and unauthorised) wandering in the Peugeot building…
That movie looks amazing.
404: Taillight Not Found
Snort
You jest but if you get a 404 error at the Peugeot France website, a 404 appears. e.g. https://www.peugeot.fr/lost
Do they have a “forbidden” page with a 503 on it? Don’t have time to investigate that one.
Maybe right side doors only came on the Super DeLuxe model?
From his hospital bed while recovering from open-heart surgery the esteemed automotive journalist Jason “Torch” Torchinsky doggedly pursued and exposed one of the darkest scandals of our time, the missing reverse light on the 1968 Peugeot 404 [Ed note: Pronounced Pee-You-Gee-Ought -10].
For reasons yet to be revealed those in command of the French automobile manufacturer during the late 1960s chose to obscure this feature in all external communications. What were they hiding? The rest of the world gave up on this mystery decades ago but not Mr Torchinsky, our man in recovery, who will not rest until he sheds some light into the shadows of this enigma.
No doubt about it, Torch is feeling better!
Ah yes. Torch, the man who goes into the automotive history hinterlands in search of…a torch.
Turns out, he was The Torch all along. Go back, back from the light Torch!
The clue to the mystery is right in the name: 404 (not found).
COTD!
Having been informed that their taillights were of the wrong orientation to qualify as layer cakes, Peugeot marketing skulked away without completing their assignment.
I mean, she is cute, and it does show off an admirable amount of leg room
Dang near doppelganger for Audrey Hepburn!
This is the hard-hitting investigative reporting I come here for every morning! Great work Torch!