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.

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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Peugeot 404 page

 Last modified on: Saturday 09 February 2002.