{"id":2544,"date":"2020-09-28T13:24:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T11:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peugeotvintage.com\/uncategorized\/2020\/12\/28\/the-miracle-on-wheels\/"},"modified":"2021-02-16T17:12:05","modified_gmt":"2021-02-16T16:12:05","slug":"the-miracle-on-wheels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peugeotvintage.com\/en\/collectibles\/2020\/09\/28\/the-miracle-on-wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"A miracle on wheels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A miracle on wheels, as Peugeot called the 203, will already exist for 72 years in 2020. The 203 was pretty much the first model for which a special club association was established. With its charming curves and excellent riding qualities, the 203 knows how to please its drivers all these years. Time for a look back! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In the year that Berlin was torn into two worlds, that of capitalism and of communism, the Peugeot 203 entered the market. Both the Berlin blockade and the 203 were the result of five terrible years of war.<\/p>\n\n

Restart after the war<\/h3>\n\n

The years after 1944 were dominated by reconstruction. Peugeot\u2019s factories were badly damaged. After they were first taken over by the occupying forces, they were later \u2013 on July 15, 1943 \u2013 badly hit by an Allied bombardment. It took a while before the manufacturer could make a restart with a new modern passenger car.<\/p>\n\n

In the first years after the war, there were more utility versions than private passenger cars. That was a matter of market forces. Gradually, the French got a budget again for luxury goods, such as cars. In 1948 the 203 appeared in the versions sedan luxury, sedan affair and d\u00e9couvrable.<\/p>\n\n

Een nieuw model<\/h3>\n\n

The development of new models had kind of stalled at the start of World War II in 1939. The development that took place in the occupation years was done in utmost secrecy. After the liberation, diligent work was done to restore the factory. The first post-war cars to leave the factory were mainly built to support reconstruction.<\/p>\n\n

With American models as a source of inspiration, a real start was made for a \u201csedan 7 CV\u201d in 1945. Round shapes, a wide grille and a pointed nose \u2013 this is what the new Peugeot would look like. In 1947 the first reports of a new sedan appeared and in October 1948 the 203 stole the show at the Parisian motor show.<\/p>\n\n

The 203 got a four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1290 cm3, good for a top speed of 115 km\/h. In addition to the sedan, the d\u00e9couvrable was also delivered from the start. Not a full convertible, but there was a good reason for it. At that time, a convertible often also got its own body. That was a costly investment in the years of the reconstruction. Take the still small customer group that could afford such a convertible in 1948 and it is logical that Peugeot opted for this interim solution. The d\u00e9couvrable has always remained a popular car, even now in 2020.<\/p>\n\n