1979 Peugeot 504

A very popular car in many parts of the world, the 504 offered an efficient fuel-injected engine as early as 1968. At that time of course Americans couldn't have cared less about fuel-efficiency, but by the late '70s this kind of car had more appeal on this side of the Atlantic. And the 504 cost only $7,500 (about $28,000 in 2018) compared to the similar Mercedes 240 which cost $19,000 (about $70,000 in 2018).

    

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1985-6 Peugeot 505S and 505GL station wagons and sedan

Once upon a time, the French car makers found a market in the US for cars that, unlike American models, combined luxury and sophistication with fuel efficiency. That market has mostly been absorbed by German and Japanese luxury makes, and neither Peugeot-Citroën nor Renault has sold cars in the US since the 1990s. Renault has however been very successful here with the Versa, a co-production with Nissan.

 

 

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