A little history
Launched in 1938 as a replacement for the popular 201, the 202 model was the very last iteration of Peugeot’s striking “Fuseau Sochaux” aerodynamic styling, inaugurated three years earlier by the upmarket 402. The 202 retained all of the design cues of its bigger sister, including the peculiar “headlights behind grille” arrangement, but the much smaller car was powered by a modest 1.1-litre engine good for 30 bhp. Mostly seen as a four-door saloon, generally painted black, the 202 was also available in a commercial variant or as a rare two-door convertible coupe.
The new Peugeot sold well until the war most unfortunately interrupted its career. Late in 1945, the company, which Sochaux factory had been obliterated during the conflict, re-launched the 202 as the production vehicle in its line-up. The little car carried on until 1949, after the brand-new 203 had been introduced. The 202 left a bitter taste, the little car probably being able to become a much larger success should the war not decide otherwise.
About the models
Model: Peugeot 202
Year: 1946
Maker: Ixo
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Altaya as no.32 of its Nos Chères Voitures d'Antan press series
Acquired: brand new, in September 2005, in Souillac, France
Altaya labelled its 202 as a 1946 model, the subject of its Voitures d’Antan series being post-war French cars, but it could have equally been an early version as the car didn’t evolve much during its lifetime. The car is nicely made, but what attracts most attention is the way Ixo designed the front grille – the difficult part in reproducing a Peugeot “-02” series in die-cast. The Chinese company decided for a clear plastic part onto which is reproduced the grille – unless there’s a reflection on this part, this does the trick perfectly. My rating: 14/20.
Model: Peugeot 202
Year: c.1939
Maker: Ixo
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Altaya as no.2 of its Michelin press series
Acquired: brand new, in December 2006, in Souillac, France
It’s the very same car as the one above, with a different decoration that includes a “Bibendum”, or Michelin guy, sitting on the roof. Too bad then that this model has been botched by a totally weird placing of the stylized lion head on the rear wings: 11/20.
Model: Peugeot 202 U
Year: 1947
Maker: Norev
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Hachette as no.6 of its Collection Peugeot press series
Acquired: brand new, in May 2006, in Souillac, France
This model's proportions seem somewhat odd, with a long bonnet, narrow grille, low windshield. In the rear part, the wood's graining looks reasonnably realistic, but is unfortunately counter-balanced by the very plain plastic which is supposed to figure the canvas. My rating would be 10/20.
Model: Peugeot 202 U
Year: 1953 (in use that year, built during the late Forties I presume)
Maker: Norev
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Hachette as no.35 of its Collection Peugeot press series
Acquired: brand new, in October 2007, in Souillac, France
Norev retained the front part of the previous model in order to create this panel van, thus most of the flaws remain. The metal compartment at the rear was easier to reproduce though, and has received a lovely decoration, in vibrant colours and really "Fifties" in style, for a dairy products company long gone now. A 11/20 rating this time.
Launched in 1938 as a replacement for the popular 201, the 202 model was the very last iteration of Peugeot’s striking “Fuseau Sochaux” aerodynamic styling, inaugurated three years earlier by the upmarket 402. The 202 retained all of the design cues of its bigger sister, including the peculiar “headlights behind grille” arrangement, but the much smaller car was powered by a modest 1.1-litre engine good for 30 bhp. Mostly seen as a four-door saloon, generally painted black, the 202 was also available in a commercial variant or as a rare two-door convertible coupe.
The new Peugeot sold well until the war most unfortunately interrupted its career. Late in 1945, the company, which Sochaux factory had been obliterated during the conflict, re-launched the 202 as the production vehicle in its line-up. The little car carried on until 1949, after the brand-new 203 had been introduced. The 202 left a bitter taste, the little car probably being able to become a much larger success should the war not decide otherwise.
About the models
Model: Peugeot 202
Year: 1946
Maker: Ixo
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Altaya as no.32 of its Nos Chères Voitures d'Antan press series
Acquired: brand new, in September 2005, in Souillac, France
Altaya labelled its 202 as a 1946 model, the subject of its Voitures d’Antan series being post-war French cars, but it could have equally been an early version as the car didn’t evolve much during its lifetime. The car is nicely made, but what attracts most attention is the way Ixo designed the front grille – the difficult part in reproducing a Peugeot “-02” series in die-cast. The Chinese company decided for a clear plastic part onto which is reproduced the grille – unless there’s a reflection on this part, this does the trick perfectly. My rating: 14/20.
Model: Peugeot 202
Year: c.1939
Maker: Ixo
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Altaya as no.2 of its Michelin press series
Acquired: brand new, in December 2006, in Souillac, France
It’s the very same car as the one above, with a different decoration that includes a “Bibendum”, or Michelin guy, sitting on the roof. Too bad then that this model has been botched by a totally weird placing of the stylized lion head on the rear wings: 11/20.
Model: Peugeot 202 U
Year: 1947
Maker: Norev
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Hachette as no.6 of its Collection Peugeot press series
Acquired: brand new, in May 2006, in Souillac, France
This model's proportions seem somewhat odd, with a long bonnet, narrow grille, low windshield. In the rear part, the wood's graining looks reasonnably realistic, but is unfortunately counter-balanced by the very plain plastic which is supposed to figure the canvas. My rating would be 10/20.
Model: Peugeot 202 U
Year: 1953 (in use that year, built during the late Forties I presume)
Maker: Norev
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Hachette as no.35 of its Collection Peugeot press series
Acquired: brand new, in October 2007, in Souillac, France
Norev retained the front part of the previous model in order to create this panel van, thus most of the flaws remain. The metal compartment at the rear was easier to reproduce though, and has received a lovely decoration, in vibrant colours and really "Fifties" in style, for a dairy products company long gone now. A 11/20 rating this time.
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