This 1958 UK ad for Peugeot claims a 70 mph cruising speed for the 203C, no doubt as a response to the 70 mph limit on the new M1. Some Australian ads for early cars also claimed a 70 mph cruise. Probably optimistic for the early cars. They could attain a 72 mph top speed on test with enough road but acceleration beyond 65mph was slow. The Autocar could get no more that 66 mph from their test 203 at Montlhery in 1951. Beyond 55 mph a 203 became noisier but they really didn't make any more noise at 65 mph than 60 mph. Conservative mechanics urged against driving them flat out - perhaps they were thinking of the drivers. An early car in good order should have no difficulty with a modern 100kph freeway.
A 203C had a claimed top of 75 mph and on test usually reached 74 mph. In 1962 Autocar tested a second hand 1960 model 203. They found it would hold 70 mph on the M1 but thought a headwind would challenge it.
Note the 403 cabriolets. Two right hand drives were listed in the for sale columns of Motor. A 403C was listed as an import into the ACT in 1964 but nothing seems known about it. Possibly a diplomatic car that was taken home.
A 203C had a claimed top of 75 mph and on test usually reached 74 mph. In 1962 Autocar tested a second hand 1960 model 203. They found it would hold 70 mph on the M1 but thought a headwind would challenge it.
Note the 403 cabriolets. Two right hand drives were listed in the for sale columns of Motor. A 403C was listed as an import into the ACT in 1964 but nothing seems known about it. Possibly a diplomatic car that was taken home.