Peugeot 401 Longue TAXI green and black from 1935 - An exceptional miniature
This 1935 Peugeot 401 Longue TAXI miniature transports us back to the golden age of Parisian transport, when these elegant sedans crisscrossed the capital's boulevards. With its two-tone green and black livery characteristic of vintage taxis, this faithful reproduction captures the essence of a France undergoing automotive modernization.
This collector's item represents an authentic testimony to the history of French urban transport, combining Peugeot's expertise in the interwar period and the evolution of taxi services in major European cities.
Characteristics of the miniature
- Model: Peugeot 401 Long TAXI
- Brand: Peugeot
- Year: 1935
- Scale: 1/43rd
- Color: Green and black
- Protective case included: Yes
The Peugeot 401, symbol of French elegance of the 1930s
Launched in 1934, the Peugeot 401 marked the Sochaux-based brand's entry into the modern automotive era. Developed under the direction of Eugène Peugeot, this sedan succeeded the 301 by offering a more refined design and increased performance. The "Longue" version offered an extended wheelbase, providing additional comfort for rear passengers, making it the ideal choice for taxi services.
Equipped with a 1.7-liter, 4-cylinder engine developing 42 horsepower, the 401 Longue offered respectable performance for its time. Its robust chassis and spacious body made it a vehicle particularly appreciated by transport professionals. Production continued until 1937, with nearly 20,000 units assembled in the Sochaux factories.
This Peugeot perfectly embodied the French spirit of the time: elegance, robustness, and practicality. Its commercial success confirmed Peugeot's position as a major manufacturer in the European market, paving the way for the brand's future innovations.
Peugeot, two centuries of automotive innovation
By 1935, Peugeot already had a century of experience in the industry. Founded in 1810 by Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frédéric Peugeot, the family business had gradually evolved from metalworking to the automotive industry. In the 1930s, under the leadership of Eugène Peugeot, the lion brand experienced a period of remarkable expansion, multiplying technical and stylistic innovations.
The 1930s represented a crucial turning point for Peugeot. The company invested heavily in modernizing its production lines and developing new models. The 401 was part of this dynamic of renewal, demonstrating the brand's ability to combine French artisanal tradition with modern industrial techniques. This period of creative effervescence would lay the foundation for Peugeot's postwar success.
Parisian taxis and their green revolution
The adoption of the green and black livery by Parisian taxis in the 1930s was no aesthetic accident. This distinctive color was chosen by the police headquarters to facilitate the identification of vehicles authorized for public transport. The green, combined with the black of the fenders and roof, created a striking contrast that allowed users to immediately recognize an official taxi on the busy streets of Paris.
These Peugeot 401 Longues in taxi livery represented the pinnacle of Parisian urban transport. Their drivers, often former workers who had been converted, proudly displayed their caps and professional plates. These vehicles reflected the gradual democratization of automobile transport, allowing a growing bourgeois clientele to travel comfortably around the capital.
A delightful anecdote tells that Ernest Hemingway, during his stays in Paris, was particularly fond of these Peugeot taxis for their spacious seats that allowed him to write during his journeys. The American writer is even said to have immortalized one of these vehicles in his notebooks, describing the 401's smooth suspension as "comparable to that of a yacht sailing on the Seine."
These green taxis also marked a time when Paris was rapidly modernizing. They stood alongside the last horse-drawn hackney carriages on the grand boulevards, symbolizing the transition between two worlds. Their presence on Parisian streets was part of the great urban transformation of the 1930s, a period of optimism and technological progress that preceded the upheavals of war.
Complete your miniature collection
This Peugeot 401 Longue TAXI naturally finds its place alongside other iconic vehicles of the era. It harmonizes perfectly with the Citroën model cars of the 1930s, notably the Traction Avant which revolutionized the French automobile. Collectors will also appreciate associating it with Renault models from the same period to recreate the French automotive world of the interwar period.
For utility vehicle enthusiasts, this miniature is ideal for a collection dedicated to commercial vehicles and public services . It sits harmoniously alongside the ambulances, fire engines, and other utility vehicles that once made up the urban landscape of major European cities. Automotive history enthusiasts will find it a valuable testament to the evolution of public transport.
This piece will appeal to both expert collectors and novices eager to discover the world of exceptional French cars . Its 1/43 scale makes it a reference model, perfectly suited to 1/43 collections . It also constitutes an excellent entry point for exploring the world of automobiles from the 1930s , a prosperous period of creativity and innovation in the French automobile industry.
