Mille Miglia

Between 1955 and 1967, over 1.2 million examples of the Peugeot 403 model were produced, but only 2,050 convertibles, called Décapotable. The extremely elegant cars were very expensive and many of them were sold in the USA. Today, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack! The 403 convertible became famous as the film car of Inspector Columbo in the television crime series of the same name from the 1970s and 1980s. “I have another question…” was probably the sentence Inspector Columbo used most often, which he asked suspects after he had actually already said goodbye. This link takes you to an excerpt from a film of Inspector Columbo, whose entire appearance always includes a certain “indifferentness”, which meant that the suspects he questioned never really took him seriously. The convertibles were only produced to individual order, and the factory converted saloon bodies for this purpose. Today, a Peugeot 403 Cabriolet offers a relatively affordable way to drive an individual, very rare and extremely robust four-seater convertible. The chance of encountering another example on the road is probably zero! Nevertheless, many passers-by immediately identify the car as Columbo’s car and the car enchants you with an aura of sympathy that is unparalleled.

We have known this 403 Décapotable since 2011. At that time, the car came from Bonnétable near Le Mans and was sold to a gentleman in Potsdam in 2012. According to the gentleman from Bonnétable, he had bought the car ten years previously in its original condition and had it repainted in the original pastel yellow color. This showed that the body was completely sound and no welding work was necessary. For the gentleman from Potsdam, we had overhauled the brake system and installed a new clutch. The leather of the interior, the carpet and the hood were replaced in 2013. In 2021, the gentleman from Potsdam sold the car to one of our customers, who has had the car serviced by us ever since. In 2022, we had the brake system completely overhauled again, installed an electronic distributor and repaired the heating. The car was made fit to take part in the historic Mille Miglia Rally and was certified by the FIVA as “Mille Miglia eligible”. Once granted, this certification can be extended again and again and is also transferable to subsequent owners. Only vehicle models that had already taken part before 1958 are allowed to take part in the historic Mille Miglia. So no cars built after 1957 are allowed to take part. For health reasons, the new owner was unfortunately unable to take part in the Mille Miglia and for these reasons he has now, with a heavy heart, given the car to us to market. This 403 Cabriolet can therefore be your ticket to the Mille Miglia and if you want to take part in this rally with an unusual convertible and have a very high probability of crossing the finish line, you should put this vehicle on your shortlist. The comfortable and easy-to-drive convertible allows you to take part in the rally in a relaxed and enjoyable way.

Our Économie offer for €69,800 refers to the tested and fully roadworthy vehicle with a general inspection and H-certificate valid until May 2025. The standard offer for €73,800 also includes new classic Michelin tires, calibration of the lagging speedometer, an inspection with oil change, and a new general inspection. The Suprême offer for €76,800 also includes repainting the hood to remove liquid stains, as well as cavity and underbody preservation with wax. We would be happy to send you the details of the offers.