The Peugeot D3A is characteristic for 1950’s France and was fea- tured as a police van in many films with screen icons like Louis de Funès, or in the famous TinTin comics (‘Kuifje’ in The Netherlands). Due to the almost total absence of straight angles it has an amiable appearance. This is accentuated by the split windscreen and the pro- truding radiator cover, the so-called ‘nez de cochon’ (pig’s snout). The car has front-wheel drive, which was rather modern and quite unusual for a van in those days. Up front, literally in the cabin, is the 41hp, 1,290cc Peugeot 203 engine, which had been introduced a few years earlier. Load capacity was limited to 1,400kg to keep the vehi- cle in the lower tax bracket of the ‘camionette’ (small van).
The Peugeot D3 was derived from a 1941 prototype by the French make Chenard & Walcker. Its production began in 1947 under that name, and it was equipped with the 1.1 litre Peugeot 202 engine. When Peugeot stopped production of the 202, Chenard was in des- perate need of new engines and Peugeot took advantage of this. It took over the dying brand in 1950 and fitted the vans with the new 203 engines. A more powerful version, the D4, was introduced in 1955. Its successor, the Peugeot J7, arrived in 1965.
Engine
1.3 litre four-cylinder
Power output
41hp
Load capacity
1,400kg
total production
Approx. 75.000 (1947-1965)