Peugeot 504 Break Riviera

The Peugeot 504 Break Riviera is based on a series 1 504 cabriolet with the concave bonnet line, twin headlights and chevron tail lights. Whilst the front of the car remains unchanged the differences occur along the length of the roof line changing the window lines and the rear wings have a more prominent curvature to carry (embrace) the shooting break design. The Peugeot 504 Break Riviera made its debut at the 1971 Geneva Auto Show. It was designed and built by Pininfarina who based it on the 504 Cabriolet. As soon as the lines of the 504 Coupe were unveiled, both Peugeot and Pininfarina realized they had hit the mark. Proportionate, fluid and classic from birth, this still remains one of the Italian coachbuilder’s most celebrated designs and arguably the most eye-catching Peugeot of all time. Thanks to this, the French brand finally had a model that could improve its image. All the more so when, from 1974, it was offered with a much more powerful V6 than the original 1.8 and two 2-liter engines with 90hp and 104hp, respectively. With all this, sales of the coupe were very satisfactory. In production until the 1978s, as well as winning several international rallies, including the 504 Safari. In short, the Peugeot Coupe had been a complete success. Moreover, recently claimed by the brand itself through nods to its design from the e-Legend prototype. Thanks to all this, the climate of optimism generated around the model made Pininfarina want to give it a further twist. Fact that happened in 1971 with the presentation of the Peugeot 504 Break Riviera at the Paris Motor Show. Built at the expense and risk of the designer, an attempt was made with this prototype to seduce Peugeot in the face of possible mass production. Something that would not have been bad at all, since it would have meant a Shooting Brake variant similar to what Volvo would offer only a year later from its 1800 coupe. Which, by the way, exceeded 8,000 units during its first two years on the market. A compelling reason to raise the more-than-possible commercial success that the Peugeot 504 Break Riviera could have had. However, beyond speculation, the only thing certain is that the French brand preferred to ignore the Pininfarina project. Thus leaving this unit to roam the fairs as a show car.