Peugeot 604 Buying Guide

A Peugeot 604 is worth pursuing when its structure, drivetrain and remaining equipment support the way you intend to use it. Confirm the offered Peugeot 604 matches its paperwork, then book an inspection that covers its construction and fitted equipment.

I used Antony Ingram at Hagerty on the Peugeot 604 when preparing this November 7, 2026 guide. Those sources describe the model engineering and historical context, not every surviving chassis. So, the checks below turn that background into questions for a seller and a workshop; they do not assign a failure rate or current market value.

Choose the 604 by its actual mechanical condition

A Peugeot 604 is worth pursuing when its structure, drivetrain and remaining equipment support the way you intend to use it. Hagerty describes a conventional rear-wheel-drive executive saloon and examines a 604 SL with a PRV V6 and automatic gearbox. That specific example does not establish the specification of every 604. Ask the seller for engine and transmission identification, then give those details to the inspecting workshop. Request a genuine cold start rather than arriving after the engine has been warmed.

Treat an old inspection pass as dated evidence

A historic inspection result tells you what was recorded then, so current body condition still needs examination. Hagerty explicitly recommended a careful look around the featured car despite its older test history. Inspect the sills, floors, suspension mounting areas and repair seams with the car safely raised. Ask for dated restoration photographs where paint or underseal hides the metal. A claimed exemption from routine testing in one country should never become a reason to skip the independent inspection for your purchase.

Test the automatic and cooling system warm

The powertrain should be assessed after a cold start and again at operating temperature. Have the shop check fluid condition using the correct procedure, then observe gear engagement and shifts on a safe road test. Ask for a cooling-system inspection if there are stains, smells or an unexplained coolant top-up bottle in the boot. These are inspection tasks, not proof of a model-wide defect. If the seller refuses a sufficiently long test, record that limitation rather than assuming a short drive proves the car ready for touring.

Put cabin and trim completeness on the estimate

The large cabin deserves a proper equipment test before you price a restoration. Hagerty highlights the seating and rear space as part of the 604 appeal, and notes access to the retractable aerial mechanism from the boot. Test seat adjustment, windows, ventilation and fitted accessories without forcing a stuck mechanism. Check for dampness beneath carpets and in the luggage area. Ask a supplier about any broken model-specific light or trim piece before treating it as an inexpensive finishing job; an old classified asking price cannot value the car in front of you.

Put the identity and import file beside the inspection

The physical chassis identifier must agree with the sale documents before a report is ordered. Use our VIN identity checks to organise that comparison and our imported-car report guide to understand why foreign history may be thin. Ask for original registration, import and ownership papers as applicable. NMVTIS offers a U.S. title-history route with defined coverage; it does not certify a bespoke build or replace foreign records. A fake PDF can disguise an ownership gap, so verify evidence through the issuing source rather than accepting a seller screenshot.

Agree the specialist work before leaving a deposit

Tell the shop which version and components it will see, then agree lift access, a controlled road test and a written description of limitations. Our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps frame the appointment, while NYC used-car guidance recommends an independent mechanic. Ask the specialist to separate immediate safety work from cosmetic preferences and optional upgrades. Look, a repair estimate is useful only if a supplier will actually provide the required part. Have the shop obtain a response for any known missing item.

Keep the offer conditional on the findings you care about. Put any seller repair promise in the purchase agreement. If the workshop cannot establish structural condition or a route to a needed safety part, defer the deal rather than inventing a discount. The final decision should reflect the documented car and your intended use, not a figure copied from a launch story.

We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Wholesale reports cost a few dollars; confirm current coverage and the total at checkout. A quiet report can miss unreported repairs. Keep the independent inspection even if the seller sends an impressive PDF.

Sources

• Antony Ingram at Hagerty on the Peugeot 604
• U.S. DOJ NMVTIS
• NYC used-car buying guidance