Motorhome with pig snout

If you convert a vintage car into a camper, you can create your own time bubble and spend many days in it.

 

A rolling project

The car in the pictures has registration numbers from more recent times, but lacks a visible insurance certificate in the windscreen, which is mandatory in France. Through the front window I could make out the wood or wood veneer furnishings that are typical for camper vans. The superstructure above the roof looks like a sleeping alcove and the patina testifies that it has accompanied the car for many years. This may seem like a rolling project. A fully equipped car can be used for retro camping.

Hippie culture

I took the photos earlier this autumn - in a village in the south of France. There, it is possible for people seeking freedom to live in mobile homes all year round. Not big, expensive camper vans, but simple "hippie buses" based on older Volkswagen T3, Ford Transit or similar that can easily be parked in regular public car parks with public toilets nearby.

 

Few copies left

The vehicle in the pictures may have had a past as a hippie bus, but now it was parked in a nice residential area. A car like this is special in several ways. First of all because it is more than 60 years old Peugeot D4 - a model that is very rare - even in France. The Doningen is also interesting for its very special superstructure. With some work, this could be the coolest RV on any campsite!

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It's not every day you come across a Peugeot D4 with active registration numbers.

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Model history

The first edition of this model was called D3. It was developed during the war and put into production from 1947 by the car manufacturer Chenard-Walcker. The engines were supplied by Peugeot and were the same engine that was in the Peugeot 202 of the time. However, the engines went out of production when the Peugeot 203 was launched. According to the websites of Friends of Chenard & Walcker refused Peugeot to deliver the new 203 engines to Chenard-Walcker, which contributed to the company's failure and eventually being taken over by Peugeot. The D3 was the company's last model - which became a new, long-awaited model at Peugeot. The Peugeot D3 was produced in several series - all with engines taken from Peugeot's passenger car programme, first from the 203, - later from the 403. From 1955, the model was called the Peugeot D4.

Modern technology

Apart from the changes under the engine compartment, only minimal changes were made to the appearance. In the vernacular, the special front part was referred to as the "pig's snout" (nez de cochon). Despite the old-fashioned appearance, the D3 and D4 were advanced cars for their time with self-supporting bodywork, front-wheel drive and independent suspension on all 4 wheels and a 12-volt electrical system – thanks to Chenard-Walcker who had been producing cars since 1898.

In public service

The Peugeot D3/D4 could be delivered as a bus and van - and many cars were delivered to the police, fire and rescue services. The cars were also popular as stretchers. Some were specially decorated as food trucks. It is unknown whether anyone offered furnishing solutions and conversion to a camper van. The successor, the Peugeot J7, had in any case been very popular as a camping car. Several roof solutions for camping were made for this model - in the same way as for the Volkswagen T2 and T3. Nevertheless, certain Peugeot D3/D4s live on as sympathetic motorhomes, but most likely rebuilt afterwards.

Facts about the Peugeot D3/D4

Production series:
1947-1950 Chenard-Walker D3 with engine from Peugeot 202. 1,3 liter 30 HP with 3-speed gearbox.
1950-1952 Peugeot D3A with engine from Peugeot 203. 1,3 liter 32 HP.
1952-1955 Peugeot D3B with stronger engine 40 HP.
1955-1960 Peugeot D4A with engines from Peugeot 403. First 1,5 liter 45 HP - later 1,8 liter diesel 48 HP - all with 4-speed gearbox.
1960-1965 Peugeot D4B with a stronger petrol engine of 55 HP.
Length, width and height in cm: 443 x 184 x 211
Height of depicted model: Approximately 300 cm.
Top speed: Approximately 80 km/h.
The car depicted is a Peugeot P4A produced between 1955 and 1960.

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