• Delivered new in France • French and US cultural icon • Upholstery, soft top and trim refurbished with invoice on file • French registration document One of the most familiar cars on television, the Peugeot 403 Cabriolet was popularised by the American detective series Columbo, starring the inimitable Peter Falk.

Introduced in 1955, the Pininfarina-styled 403 was based on the smaller 203 and powered by a 1,468cc four-cylinder engine of advanced design that incorporated over-square dimensions, overhead valves, hemispherical combustion chambers and wet cylinder liners.

Solidly constructed and possessing exemplary reliability, the 403 lasted in production until 1967, by which time a staggering 1.2 million had been built.

The mechanically similar two-door cabriolet version was shorter lived, being produced from 1955 to 1961 only, during which time just 2,050 examples were made, and today it is one of the best loved post-war French cars.

Delivered new in France in May 1959, finished i...