1935 | Peugeot 402 Eclipse

Peugeot 402 L Eclipse, built in 1935. This beautiful Peugeot 402 L Eclipse is painted in pale yellow with a black roof combined with a black leather interior. The Peugeot 402 L (longue) Eclipse is a very rare car. Only 473 examples were built, and unfortunately no distinction was made between the standard versions and the L (longue) version with a longer wheelbase. The Peugeot 402 series was introduced at the 1935 Paris Motor Show and captivated the public with its radical, aerodynamic “Sochaux spindle” styling, with a running-board-free streamlined body and striking headlights placed behind the radiator grille. This design was a bold step in the Art Deco movement and distinguished the 402 from its contemporaries. The true wonder of this model, however, lies in its “Eclipse” designation: The 1934 Peugeot 401 Eclipse was the world's first production car with a retractable metal hardtop. The 402 Eclipse took this concept to an unprecedented level with its magnificent design. An ingenious mechanism allowed the car to seamlessly transform from a refined coupé into an elegant open-top convertible, offering the safety and weather protection of a fixed roof combined with the pleasure of open-air motoring. This beautiful 1935 example has a unique and well-documented history. According to the old blue coloured “carte grise”, which lists the first owner's profession, the car was delivered new to a French farmer. The car was found in France with a partially sawn-off rear end but otherwise virtually complete. The restoration began in 2000 at Classic Jaap (now Classic Job). The coachbuilders travelled to France to take measurements and create drawings of a sister model to reconstruct the missing rear section. The demanding restoration would take over twenty years due to the owner's illness and prolonged storage. The car was eventually purchased by Classic Job. A new owner was found, and the project was completed between December 2017 and July 2021. The restoration was carried out very thoroughly. In addition to the rear, several parts had to be recreated by hand, such as the chrome trim and the rear bumper. The result is a superbly restored Peugeot 402 L Eclipse that retains 98% of its original details. A remarkable achievement for a vehicle of this age and complexity. Since the restoration, the car has been driven approximately 2,000 kilometres. This rare Peugeot drives superbly. A special feature is the presence of the luxurious original “OS” dashboard instrument, which includes the speedometer, odometer, oil pressure, fuel gauge, and clock! A rare and working piece! This beautiful Peugeot 402 L Eclipse is in concours condition. A beautiful, museum-worthy collector's item. A work of automotive art that combines sculptural Art Deco design with groundbreaking technical innovation.
Price: On application.