Peugeot 403 - Engine

Engine

The 403 came with an enlarged version of the Peugeot 203's 1290 cc petrol engine. Displacing 1468 cc, the Straight-4 unit employed pushrod-actuated valves and a hemispherical or cross-flow combustion chambers to produce 65 hp (48 kW) at about 5000 rpm and 75 lb·ft (102 N·m) of torque at 2500 rpm. An unusual feature at the time was the thermostatically controlled engine fan which cut out when the engine temperature fell to 75°C and reengaged when the engine temperature increased to 84°C. Claimed advantages included an improvement in fuel consumption of between 5% and 10% according to average speed and the avoidance, under many conditions, of fan noise.

A diesel powered Peugeot 403 estate was introduced in the Autumn of 1958, the first of a long line, followed by a diesel saloon a year later.

Upon the 203's discontinuation in 1960, a 47 hp version its 1290cc powerplant became available as an option on a reduced specification version of the 403, branded initially as the "403 sept" and soon afterwards as the "403 Berline Luxe". Car tax in France was based on engine size, and the smaller engined 403 fell within the 7CV taxation class.