After 5 years of development, the Peugeot 404 was presented in May 1960.

The first prototypes began running in 1957 and would go on to cover more than two million km of testing on the brand's test tracks, located in the woods of Valentigney, with the purpose of ensuring the desired robustness, as well as the build quality, one of Peugeot's primary factors.

At the time of the 404's launch, they already had more than a thousand inspectors or quality control technicians among their employees.

The 404 featured much more attractive lines than its predecessor, the 403, with a slightly lowered hood, increased power, and a compression ratio that allowed the use of regular gasoline.

The design of the 404 was entirely the responsibility of the renowned Pininfarina, at the time noted for the similarity of all its models... and indeed the similarity cannot be denied between the 404 and the Austin A55 Cambridge and the Morris Oxford, or between these and the Italian Lancia Flaminia.

Be that as it may, it was the Pininfarina design that was considered by Peugeot as the most appropriate for the 404 model.

This model was produced in Europe between 1960 and 1975, although the pickup body was produced until 1988, and in some African countries its production extended until the early 1990s.