A superb and rare photo, of the new 1955 Peugeot 403 , photographed for its introduction in the new model year 1955.

The Peugeot 403 was produced by French automobile manufacturer Peugeot from 1955 to 1966. The 403 debuted in saloon body style on 20 April 1955 at the Trocadéro Palace in Paris. The engine size gave the car a fiscal horspower of 8 CV (8 hp) which placed it a class below the soon to be replaced 11 CV Citroën Traction, but at least one class above the small cars produced by the principal competitor manufacturers. When it was first shown, and through until after 1958, the leading edge of car's nose carried an angular, forward-leaning chrome lion hood ornament, the lion image being Peugeot's trade mark — which was removed in 1959 due to safety concerns, the logo incorporated into a shield-shaped grill emblem. Subsequently the semaphore-style trafficators on the C-pillars were replaced with flashing indicators within the light cluster. The front lights were modified to conform to new standards and parallel-parking windscreen wipers were substituted for the original "not quite parallel" ones featured at launch. In the television detective series Columbo, the main character (portrayed by Peter Falk) drove a 1959 convertible model 403. Peugeot ran an advertising campaign that described Columbo as the most famous driver of the car. Superseded by the Peugeot 404 in 1960, the 403 remained in production as a budget alternative until 1966. Styled by Pininfarina, the 403 featured ponton, three-box styling incorporating an opening roof panel — and an enlarged version of the Peugeot 203's 1290 cc petrol engine. Displacing 1468 cc, the Straight-4 unit employed pushrod-actuated valves and a hemispherical or cross-flow combustion chambers to produce 65 hp (48 kW) at about 5000 rpm and 75 lb·ft (102 N·m) of torque at 2500 rpm. A diesel powered Peugeot 403 estate was introduced in the Autumn of 1958, the first of a long line, followed by a diesel saloon a year later. Upon the 203's discontinuation in 1960, its 1.3 litre powerplant became available as an option on the 403. The six-seat 403 had a solid rear axle fitted to an aluminum differential case. It came with a manual column shift and fully reclinable front seats. Sunroof and steel belted radial tires were standard. Reliability was considered excellent for the time.

Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker in Europe. Peugeot's roots go back to nineteenth century coffee mill and bicycle manufacturing. The Peugeot company and family is originally from Sochaux, France. Peugeot retains a large manufacturing plant and Peugeot Museum there. It also sponsors the Sochaux football club, founded in 1928 by a member of the Peugeot family.

This is a very nice and very rare non period photo that reflects a wonderful era of Peugeot 's automotive history in a wonderful way.  This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 9" (ca. 20 x 22 cm).  It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.