Chrysler ’s sleek 1934 Airflow flop in America , but it was an breathing in to French automaker Peugeot , makers of the 1938 Peugeot 402 B retractable hardtop have here . With HQ in Paris and its primary plant in Sochaux near the Swiss border , Peugeot is the secondly - honest-to-god automaker in the humankind .
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In later 1935 , Peugeot enclose its protection to Airflow styling with the role model 402 . The 402 ’s rounded front with waterfall grille was the sincere form of flattery . Peugeot took streamline one stair further than Chrysler by winnow out running boards and mount up the headlight behind the grille . Peugeot ’s streamlining was more than fashion , and the decreased wind resistance improved fuel economic system and carrying into action .
Capping the streamlined grille , Peugeot ’s lion’s - capitulum mascot served not only as an ornament , but also as the hood latch . A 2d stylized Leo adorn the rear wing skirts .
Most 402s were sedans , but coupes and convertibles were also offered . The most interesting body style was the Éclipse , which was a retractable hardtop . The metal top flipped under the trunklid for candid - air motoring , yet offer the security and weather condition protection of a coupe when raised . acme on early models were lowered electrically , but starting in 1937 , a simple-minded mechanical system of rules that could be operated by one person was used .
Peugeot ’s retractable hardtop was unique in the thirties . Ford tried the conception again in the 1950s with the Skyliner , but it was n’t until recently that retractable hardtop found commercial winner with the Mercedes - Benz SLK , Volkswagen Eos , and Pontiac G6 , to name a few .
Although styling was futuristic , technology was conventional and survive up to Peugeot ’s custom of sturdy , honest cars . The Éclipse need a prolonged 130 - inch wheelbase to reconcile a rearward deck long enough to swallow the retractable hardtop and to provide room for six rider on wide work bench butt .
main front suspension contributed to good ride and manipulation . baron was bring home the bacon by a 2.1 - l ohv four - piston chamber that modernise 63 horsepower . The standard transmission was a conventional three - f number , but the shifter sprout through the dashboard alternatively of the story .
Fewer than 500 Éclipses were built before production terminate in 1940 . Between 14 and 30 are opine to survive .
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