The Classic Luxury of Peugeot: 60 Years of the 600 Series

Over the past nine decades, Peugeot's 600 series has distinguished four models where the Sochaux brand has left its unmistakable mark in the classic luxury segment, with the most advanced technologies, high-performance engines, and the finest materials.

The Peugeot 601, the first car of this lineage, hit the market 90 years ago, but its story begins in the autumn of 1931, when the brand's dealers conveyed to Jean-Pierre Peugeot, then president of Peugeot, and his brother François, Commercial Director, the need to diversify the range to reach new types of customers.

From there, commissioning the Peugeot Design Studio to create a larger model with more powerful engines than the 201 was just a step away. Thus, the Peugeot 301 was commercially launched in 1932, followed by the Peugeot 401 and 601 two years later, giving rise to Peugeot's first range of models. Anticipating the concept of a modular platform, they all shared bodywork, axles, and suspensions. These innovations strengthened the brand's generalist vocation and defined how it would name its cars for almost a century.

As its name suggests, the Peugeot 601 was the pinnacle of this vehicle offering. This model, of which 3,999 units were produced, marked the return of 6-cylinder engines to the brand, absent from catalogs since 1931. With an elegant and imposing line, it was aimed at wealthy clients who loved cars with long hoods, due to its 2-litre side-valve engine. This massive engine developed 60 horsepower, managed by a silent 3-speed gearbox. It could reach 105 km/h.

Another striking aspect of the Peugeot 601 is the great diversity of its range. Its catalog allowed choosing from no less than 15 different body styles, including the main silhouettes that have defined the luxury segment in automobiles, such as the sedan, limousine, roadster, convertible, and the unforgettable Eclipse version, a spectacular coupé-cabriolet that has inspired many models of the brand throughout history.

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The roof of the Peugeot 601 Eclipse was rigid, matching the body color. It folded and automatically retracted into the luggage compartment with the help of an electric control. A revolution resulting from the work of designer Georges Paulin and coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout. French film director Marcel Pagnol fell in love with this version, which had a starring role in his film "Le Schpountz" (1938).

This was the first step in the cinematic career of the Peugeot 601, which is experiencing a second youth in Spanish films and streaming series released in recent years such as "While at War," "Cable Girls," "The Thirteen Roses," or "The Devil's Backbone."

More than four decades had to pass to see the rebirth of the 600 series with the Peugeot 604, an elegant classic sedan that was the flagship of the Lion between 1975 and 1985, years marked by the Oil Crisis. Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who arrived at the Élysée Palace the year before its launch, made it his favorite car during his presidency, which lasted until 1981. He did not hesitate to take it on his official trips and use it outside France. It also became the official vehicle of a large number of high-ranking officials of the French administration.

It was no wonder: this sedan manufactured in Sochaux stood out for its simple and elegant line, designed by Pininfarina, and an interior designed by Paul Bracq, known for his work on Mercedes and BMW models between the 1950s and 1970s, and who later also created the interior of the Peugeot 505. Spacious and luxurious, it featured elements uncommon at the time, such as electric windows, air conditioning, a sunroof, and power steering. Its road performance and comfort were excellent, with very good grip and safe braking. The qualities of the 604 made it cross borders: it was sold both in the United States and South Korea. Originally equipped with a 6-cylinder gasoline engine, it was also the first car with a turbo-diesel engine marketed in Europe. One of the limousine versions, developed by Heuliez, was used as a "popemobile" during a visit by John Paul II to France in 1980.

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As for its cinematic presence, it starred in one of the last Yugoslav films "204-272," a comedy in which a high-ranking official abused the privileges of the position in the company of his lover.

The next generation of this saga arrived in 1989 aboard the Peugeot 605, which was marketed until 1999. This 4.72-meter-long sedan was tasked with replacing two icons of the brand's 1980s range, the Peugeot 505 and 605. Its classic design incorporated elements from both its "little brother," the Peugeot 405, and the Oxis concept car. It stood out for its high level of comfort and ride quality, with a chassis unanimously praised by the press. It offered a very complete level of equipment for the time, with advanced variable power steering and heated electric seats, to which, in 1994, pyrotechnic pretensioners in the seat belts and side impact protection were added.

Launched in 1999, the Peugeot 607 was a vehicle widely used by French presidents Jacques Chirac (1995-2007) and Nicolas Sarkozy (2007-2012). Manufactured in Sochaux and, in its final stage, in Rennes, it was the first diesel car equipped with a particulate filter. Under a classic and conservative design with innovative features such as teardrop-shaped headlights from the Peugeot 206, it incorporated advanced equipment in the early years of the 21st century, such as variable damping suspension, 8 airbags, ABS brakes, low tire pressure detector, and central locking.

Special mention deserves the Peugeot 607 Paladine, chosen by Nicolas Sarkozy for his inauguration. Originally, it should not have touched the asphalt: it was a concept car presented at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show. Considered the representation vehicle of the future, it featured all the elements to make an impression as a presidential car.

With an elongated body developed in collaboration with Heuliez, it had 5 seats, all upholstered in leather by Hermès: two front and two prestige seats behind, plus a reclining seat in front of the rear right seat. Its rigid roof was divided into two parts. One of them could be electrically concealed in the trunk, leaving the rear part open so that the president could greet the crowd. Otherwise, it had all the comforts and technological advances, with a refrigerated bar, air conditioning, and a communication center with a plasma screen.