1936 Peugeot 402 Eclipse E4 Coupé Cabriolet
The 1936 Peugeot 402 Eclipse E4 Coupé Cabriolet (chassis 601504) is among the rarest surviving examples of Peugeot's most exclusive pre-war model, being one of only three known two-seat E4 variants with a functioning electric retractable roof. Assembled in March 1936 and delivered to a Nice dealer in mid-1937, it may have served as a factory demonstrator or motor-show exhibit beforehand. The front coachwork was later reworked by Nice-based Carrosserie Brandone, uniquely distinguishing it from standard 402 production. Dormant since around 1960 and stored in Germany from the 1980s until 2005, the car retains matching chassis, engine, and body numbers and is offered as a restoration project.
Ownership
- 2019-06-30Auction saleEstimate €100,000 – €150,000
- 1937-06-30 →Factory deliveryNice-based dealer (delivery recipient)partial documentation
Vehicle was manufactured in early 1936 but not delivered to this Nice dealership until mid-1937; the intervening period may have involved use as a demonstrator or show vehicle by the manufacturer.
- 1950 → 1960Acquisition unknownLucerne-registered Swiss ownerfull documentation
Swiss federal archive records confirm registration in Lucerne under plate LU 5851 during this decade; the car appears to have left the road around 1960.
- 1964 → 2005Private saleJ. Neubert and H. Griegerpartial documentation
The pair acquired the car and brought it to Germany, where it was never formally registered. A partial restoration was begun but abandoned in the 1970s; by 1980 the car had been moved to a garage in Heuchlingen, where it remained until Grieger's death in 2005.
- 2007 →Private saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Purchased from Grieger's estate two years after his death; during this ownership the engine was overhauled and missing components were sourced, though the car has not been fully restored.
- Date unknownSix successive owners (identities on file)partial documentation
A list of six owners following the Nice delivery is reported to exist, though no individual names or dates are given in the catalogue text.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —BodyworkCarrosserie Brandone
Front-end coachwork was redesigned and modified by Nice-based coachbuilder Carrosserie Brandone, differentiating this car from standard 402 production. No accident damage is associated with the alteration.
Believed to have been carried out in the late 1940s; this is the sole known example of a Brandone modification of this type on an Eclipse.
- —Restoration
A partial restoration was initiated by the German owners but was left incomplete and ultimately abandoned.
Work ceased for undocumented reasons during the 1970s; a 1975 video on file shows the car essentially in the state it remains today.
- —Engine rebuild
The engine was overhauled at a cost of approximately €2,000 and subsequently run and tested installed in a 402 saloon.
Carried out by or on behalf of the current owner prior to the auction offering.
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