1939 Peugeot 202 Berline Luxe | The Audrain Auction 2026
1939 Peugeot 202 Berline Luxe | The Audrain Auction 2026
Chassis No. 835646
Body No. 15623
A pivotal model for the French marque founded in 1896, the Peugeot 202 was conceived in 1938 as the accessible little sister to the larger, more luxurious 402, the direct rival to the Citroën Traction Avant. Its streamlined "Fuseau Sochaux" styling placed a strong emphasis on aerodynamics, drawing inspiration from Chrysler's pioneering work in the field. Power came from a 1,133 cc four-cylinder engine fitted with an inverted Solex carburetor, driving through a three-speed manual transmission, with second and third gears synchronized, and good for a top speed of approximately 60 mph. Independent front suspension contributed to its remarkably supple road manners.
Light, smooth-riding, and robust the 202 was marketed as "the car for all French people." With the outbreak of the Second World War, it was pressed into French military service: some 400 examples were requisitioned in 1939 for reconnaissance and liaison duties, as well as command cars, with some even adapted for anti-aircraft use by mounting machine guns on the roof.
This Berline Luxe, equipped with a sliding sunroof, presents today in an attractive Burgundy livery, complemented by a period-correct beige interior. It rides on Michelin Pilote tires with full wheel covers, while the distinctive tricolor 202 badging remains proudly displayed at the base of the grille, which itself conceals a pair of closely set headlamps, one of the model's most recognizable design signatures.
Still carrying its old French registration plate from the Orléans area, roughly 60 miles south of Paris, this 202 was imported to the United States from Belgium in 2013 by a French doctor and collector living in California. In 2015, it joined the renowned Mullin Collection, where it stood alongside a 402 and a 302 in this museum devoted to some of the finest French automobiles of the prewar era.
Rarely seen today on American roads or in U.S. collections, this charming Peugeot 202 Berline Luxe offers a distinctive connection between France and America. Once celebrated as "the car for all French people," it now equally suited to "all Americans," united by the same three colors: blue, white, and red.