Edited revisions: - bottom line: I quite confidently estimate 2765 404s total built in Canada.
Upon re-examining James Mays' estimates of the proportion of Peugeot 404 production made at SoMA in St-Bruno-de-Montarville Québec in light of period articles from the local newspapers, I discovered yesterday that the last production year for the 404 at SoMA was 1968. Mr. Mays had estimated that 404 production continued right through 1970. This is why his estimates are so much higher than mine. He added 2.5 years of extra production figures that in fact did not happen.
An article from La Presse on April 17th 1968 reported that the 404 had ceased production, officially because demand for the 404 had diminished with the arrival of the 204.
Peugeot also knew at that time that they were about to introduce the 504 the following year, plus they were keen to disengage from the SoMA production facility for a whole host of reasons. Two of which were: its cars cost more than ones made in France and there was considerable labour strife and (possibly related) quality control issues.
For my own estimates I was able to verify the total production figures cited by James Mays broadly speaking through period press reports from about 40 articles in the Québec press. The total numbers are similar, at just over 57,000 cars made in total (about 54,000 of which were Renaults) versus James' estimate of over 54,000.
The proportion of production that I assigned to Peugeot was based upon a news release in early 1966, that predicted total production (had there not been ay strikes or other glitches) of 6500 cars in 1966, 1500 of which would be 404s and 5000 Renaults. That is 23.07% of production being 404s and I expect that - all other things being equal - this would hold throughout the facility sharing period. The yearly estimates of production are all based on this.
So, here are my own revised estimates, which I won't say are completely accurate, but much more so than the ones I posted last week. I don't know if we'll ever know the actual total, so this will have to do!
1965: 90 cars
1966: 890 cars (one of which was my Dad's Injection sedan)
1967: 1240 cars
1968: 545 cars (production ended by mid-April 1968)
Total Canadian 404 production: estimated at 2765 cars.
The non-Injection sedans from 1967 onward had "Alouette" badges affixed to the rear panel ("skylark" in French - take THAT, Buick!)
Peugeot decided not to assemble the 504 in Canada and the 404 was phased out in the 1970 model year over here in North America, and Canadian Peugeot assembly ended more than two years before that (unless you count bicycles
).
Renaults were built at SoMA through the start of 1973, but terrible sales in the USA and labour strife permanently ended SoMA in 1973 - the last Renault 16 rolled off the line in late '72. In total, about 54,000 Renaults were built there (R-8, R-10, R-12 and R-16). From 1969, some were exported to the USA.
Does anyone know the total 404 production figures for Australia, and perhaps New Zealand?
Upon re-examining James Mays' estimates of the proportion of Peugeot 404 production made at SoMA in St-Bruno-de-Montarville Québec in light of period articles from the local newspapers, I discovered yesterday that the last production year for the 404 at SoMA was 1968. Mr. Mays had estimated that 404 production continued right through 1970. This is why his estimates are so much higher than mine. He added 2.5 years of extra production figures that in fact did not happen.
An article from La Presse on April 17th 1968 reported that the 404 had ceased production, officially because demand for the 404 had diminished with the arrival of the 204.
Peugeot also knew at that time that they were about to introduce the 504 the following year, plus they were keen to disengage from the SoMA production facility for a whole host of reasons. Two of which were: its cars cost more than ones made in France and there was considerable labour strife and (possibly related) quality control issues.
For my own estimates I was able to verify the total production figures cited by James Mays broadly speaking through period press reports from about 40 articles in the Québec press. The total numbers are similar, at just over 57,000 cars made in total (about 54,000 of which were Renaults) versus James' estimate of over 54,000.
The proportion of production that I assigned to Peugeot was based upon a news release in early 1966, that predicted total production (had there not been ay strikes or other glitches) of 6500 cars in 1966, 1500 of which would be 404s and 5000 Renaults. That is 23.07% of production being 404s and I expect that - all other things being equal - this would hold throughout the facility sharing period. The yearly estimates of production are all based on this.
So, here are my own revised estimates, which I won't say are completely accurate, but much more so than the ones I posted last week. I don't know if we'll ever know the actual total, so this will have to do!
1965: 90 cars
1966: 890 cars (one of which was my Dad's Injection sedan)
1967: 1240 cars
1968: 545 cars (production ended by mid-April 1968)
Total Canadian 404 production: estimated at 2765 cars.
The non-Injection sedans from 1967 onward had "Alouette" badges affixed to the rear panel ("skylark" in French - take THAT, Buick!)
Peugeot decided not to assemble the 504 in Canada and the 404 was phased out in the 1970 model year over here in North America, and Canadian Peugeot assembly ended more than two years before that (unless you count bicycles
).Renaults were built at SoMA through the start of 1973, but terrible sales in the USA and labour strife permanently ended SoMA in 1973 - the last Renault 16 rolled off the line in late '72. In total, about 54,000 Renaults were built there (R-8, R-10, R-12 and R-16). From 1969, some were exported to the USA.
Does anyone know the total 404 production figures for Australia, and perhaps New Zealand?
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