Peugeot 601 Coach Profilé: "Airline" Type Body

Around the mid-1930s there was a styling fashion related to increasing interest in streamlining car shapes.   This "streamlining" was done on the cheap.  Since it wasn't practical or economically feasible to quickly redesign car bodies for most carmakers, the solution was to round off rear-ends.  This improved aerodynamic efficiency only a little -- what was actually needed were rounded front ends such as on the new 1934 Chrysler Airflow line.  But those "streamlined" afts had the sales virtue of at least seeming streamlined.

I posted "Gallery of English 'Airline' Designs" here, British carmakers being the fashion leaders for that style.  "Airline" was the term used for it.  Some examples I posted about were the "Airline Bodied Triumph Gloria" here, and "1935 Clément-Talbot 105 Airline Saloon" here.

Other countries got into the act, too.   A French example was in the Peugeot 601 line.  It was the 1935 Peugeot 601 D Longue Coach Sport Profilé, this post's featured car.

Longe (Long) refers to wheelbase.  The 601 was Peugeot's short-lasting mid-30s upscale line whose wheelbases were 2,980 mm (117 inches) for the 601 Normale, and 3,200 mm (126 inches) for the Longue.  The Coach Sport was Longue, allowing for a more graceful profile than found on stubbier British Airline examples.

Most photos below are from original sources that I cannot determine.

Gallery

The front is conventional Peugeot 601.  The only whiff of streamlining is the slanted, slightly "shovel nose" grille.

The windshield is sloped back somewhat.  The beltline falls off to the rear abaft of the B-pillar -- falling beltlines also being found on Peugeot's new 402 "Fuseau Sochaux" line, many Renaults, and the Citroën Traction-Avant models.

The backlight window is placed fairly high, perhaps to allow for more trunk room.

Overhead frontal view.  The body widens from front to rear.

Overhead rear view.  Interesting how the rear fender is blended towards the back edge of the body.

Another example.  From images found on Web searches, it looks like at least three of these cars survive.

A graceful production design for its time.  Peugeot's new (as of 1932) styling chief Henri Thomas' previous experience included working for coachbuilding firms, which might be why this car has a custom-car appearance.