1937 Peugeot 402 Sedan
Offered by Dorotheum | Salzburg, Austria | October 21, 2023
The auction catalog compares Peugeot’s 402 to Chrysler’s Airflow, which debuted a year prior than the 402. It had a streamlined design, with the headlights set in the center of the car behind the grille. The basic 402 was a sedan, but more exotic versions, like the Darl’mat were also available.
For 1937, the engine was a 2.0-liter inline-four that was rated at 55 horsepower. The engine would be increased in size the following year, with a power bump alongside. This particular car is one of just 835 delivered with a Cotal pre-selector gearbox.
It was hidden in Algeria during WWII and retrieved by its German owner after the war was over. The car has received a freshened interior and an engine rebuild in the last 15 years. There were 75,000 of these built, but they are not common today. This one has an estimate of $25,000-$32,000. Click here for more info.
Isn’t this a Legere, rather than a ‘proper’ 402? It was quite a bit different from the bigger and heavier 402, with whom it shared the engine and transmission. The chasssis came from the 302.
Yeah, it would appear the auction catalog was updated after this post was written.