The Eclipse technology of Peugeot is the forerunner of the French brand's coupé-cabriolets

When the good weather arrives and the chance to enjoy the sun comes along, perhaps the sunroof or panoramic roofs fall short for those who want the extra exclusivity that a convertible car provides.

That concept was well understood by Peugeot, since in 1934 it presented its Eclipse technology at the Paris Motor Show, a surprising innovation. The system was built on the base of a Peugeot 401. Using an electric control, the roof could be retracted and stored in the rear luggage compartment of the car.

The ability to have the roof raised and removed whenever desired turned a single car into two. This is how the first coupé-cabriolet in history was born.

The Eclipse technology was the result of a collaboration between some of the most talented names in the automotive sector. Georges Paulin and Marcel Pourtout were the architects of this technological advance.

Georges Paulin was, in addition to being a car designer, a dentist and a French resistance hero during the Second World War. His obsession was the pursuit of aerodynamics, a focus reflected in the lines and shapes of his designs. Marcel Pourtout contributed his experience in bodywork manufacturing.

It could have remained just a demonstration exercise, as can be seen at the various motor shows today, but far from being a concept, it became a reality that went into series production.

The chassis bases on which the Eclipse system was mounted were the Peugeot 401, to which the Peugeot 402 and Peugeot 601 were later added. This meant the first convertible vehicles could be seen on the streets of France.

According to the catalogues of the time, the Peugeot 401 Eclipse 2/3-seater was on sale for 34,750 French francs, and the 601 Eclipse 2/3-seater for 39,750.

Marcel Pagnol, French novelist and playwright, brought the Peugeot 601 to the world of cinema. Besides being one of the first European film directors, he also had a close relationship with the Peugeot brand.

In fact, the Peugeot 601 is also known as “Pagnol’s car”. A unit equipped with the Eclipse system was designed exclusively for the French filmmaker. This same car appeared in 1938 in the film “Le Schpountz”, directed by him.

It has now been 80 years since that debut at the Paris Motor Show, but the concept remains alive within the lion brand. Coupé-cabriolets are represented in the B-segment with the Peugeot 207 CC and in the C-segment with the Peugeot 308 CC.

In the new launch of the Peugeot 108, the system has been adapted to the bodywork of the most urban model, so that a small convertible is available in the Peugeot 108 TOP!.

Source | Peugeot