PEUGEOT

Peugeot 504 Dangel4x4: The brand's pioneer that reached the Dakar Rally

Traditionally, Peugeot has built its reputation around its sedans: reliable, comfortable, with excellent handling and elegant design. This image now encompasses much more, making it a benchmark among SUVs, for example, with a range that competes for top market positions and has proven its off-road capabilities on demanding terrain, such as the Dakar Rally.

The seed of this transformation was, paradoxically, one of the most successful sedans in the brand's history, the Peugeot 504. This model stood out for its reliability, robustness and performance on all types of terrain: three characteristics that made it a true legend in Africa, where it continues to serve as a taxi in many of the continent's major cities.

With these extraordinary characteristics in mind, Henry Dangel, a tuner of competition and 4x4 vehicles, conceived the idea of ​​developing a four-wheel drive version of the Peugeot sedan. The brand supported this initiative with a significant investment, resulting in the Peugeot 504 4x4 Dangel, the first 4x4 in the brand's history.

Launched in 1981, the Peugeot 504 4x4 Dangel offered permanent all-wheel drive, a limited-slip front differential, and 21 cm of ground clearance, with approach and departure angles of 53° and 41°, respectively. It was available with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine producing 96 hp and a 2.3-liter diesel engine producing 70 hp, to which a 2.5-liter diesel engine producing 93 hp was added in 1984. Initially targeted at companies and institutions such as the French Gendarmerie, the fire brigade, and Éléctricité de France (French Electricity Company), it was quickly made available to the public through the Peugeot dealership network. This decision proved crucial to its commercial success. In total, 3,186 units of the pickup version and 1,442 of the station wagon version were sold.

The Peugeot 504 4x4 Dangel has the honor of being the brand's first car to participate in the Dakar Rally: 14 cars competed in the 1982 edition. Only one reached Lake Rose, in 49th place. Few imagined that this desert experience, sponsored by the French radio station Europe 1, would be the first step in a saga of 7 victories and 13 podium finishes in the world's toughest rally.

In 1983, with the end of Peugeot 504 production in Europe, it was time to launch a new generation of the 4x4 Dangel, this time based on the Peugeot 505. Like current SUVs, the focus was on the general public, and not strictly professional use, as demonstrated by its range of engines, the same as the sedan, including the 2.2-liter 130 hp engine in the GTi version. With adventurous features, such as the spare tire mounted on the tailgate, the Peugeot 505 4x4 Dangel was in high demand in African markets, although less so in Europe. As a result, few examples remain on the continent, making them highly valued by collectors, with prices that can exceed those of the brand's new SUVs.

With 22 cm of ground clearance, a wading depth of 60 cm, and approach and departure angles of 42° and 29°, the Peugeot 505 4x4 Dangel maximized the performance capabilities of the 505. It incorporated equipment specially adapted for driving on difficult terrain, such as an inclinometer, chassis and sump guards, and front and rear limited-slip differentials.

The legacy of these two models has not been forgotten. It is very much alive in the brand's SUV range and continues in Europe with the Dangel 4x4 versions present in commercial vehicles such as the Peugeot Partner and Expert.

With reinforced underbody protection and increased ground clearance, Peugeot Dangel 4x4s can venture off-road, becoming reliable companions. They feature enhanced traction and protective elements for the engine, transmission, rear axle, and other components, allowing them to tackle the most challenging terrains.

by Autonews