A Peugeot 404 Sedan from New Zealand
Mark Wolk's 1965 Peugeot 404. This car was assembled
in New Zealand ! The details below show a turn indicator and
the water bottle placement. |
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Mark Wolk reports :
Peugeots have been imported in significant numbers into New Zealand
from the 203 onwards. These cars came from France in right hand drive.
The only change was then to put a new label, as the P in Peugeot could
be confused with a 9 by New Zealanders who had hardly heard of that
car make.
Then 403s, 404s and 504s had been assembled in Otahuhu (an Auckland
suburb) and in Thames, a lovely village on the Coromandel Peninsula,
in a factory where tradition dates back to the goldmining days of
last century.
Many elements of the New Zealand assembled Peugeots were made in New
Zealand (i.e. the upholstery, exhaust, wiring loom, paint, glass of
the 404). Nonetheless, these cars have a chassis number plate with
the mention "Made in France"; only a small sticker on the
bulkhead says "Assembled by Campbell Industries, Thames, New
Zealand".
The Thames assembly plant assembled Renault 12, Hino Contessa, Isuzu
Bellett, Rambler Classic V8, Fiat and Datsun as well.
The plant was later purchased by Toyota, where Corollas and Coronas
were assembled until 1998. In 1998 all car assembly plants in New
Zealand (all Japanese manufacturers had their plants in New Zealand
by then) were shut down, as the new import taxes made local car assembly
unprofitable.
There are 3 Peugeot 404 cabriolets here in New Zealand, one being
right hand drive. They were converted by a dealer in the UK. They
were sold over there by Peugeot in right hand drive, but the English
brochures show left hand drive (continental) cars!
Thames assembly plant in New Zealand (where the 404 was assembled
from 1964 to 1974).
There are several local Peugeot clubs in New Zealand, and there is one national
club. Lots of cars are still at the wreckyards, where you can help
yourself to parts. New parts are available through the Peugeot dealers.
They have a small stock (amazingly some parts are still available
locally, whereas they are no longer available from France) and can
order from France.
Want to get in touch with Mark - mark@nzst.co.nz
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