Peugeot’s first diesel engine was in great demand

With the 403 Diesel, Peugeot is one of the pioneers with a self-igniter at the end of 1958. Although diesels in those days are neither smooth nor quiet (not to mention the smoke from the exhaust), Peugeot has great faith in the principle. The indirect injection diesel engines are a product of a separate entity within the Peugeot group: the Société Indenor, which stands for Société Industrielle de l’Est et du Nord. This is an operating company in Lille, which has been developing and producing engines for the lion brand since it was founded in 1928.
The diesel engine in the 403 has a displacement of 1,608 cc and is known as the TMD 80, where the latter number stands for the 80 millimeter cylinder bore. Later, a slightly larger variant with a bore of 85 millimeters and a capacity of 1,816 cc, the TMD 85, will follow. The Société Indenor does not only build the engine for Peugeot. From 1964 Citroën, which was not yet part of the Peugeot group, used the 1.6-litre version of the diesel engine in the HY van to replace the English Perkins engine. And when Peugeot launches a large delivery van on the market a year later, the J7 with its sliding doors, that commercial vehicle is also available with the Indenor diesel. Furthermore, Renault can also be grouped among the customers; in a limited edition, the engine is mounted in the Frégate. Hotchkiss, which builds Jeeps under license, reports to the French army in Lille and assembles the 1.8-liter variant between 1962 and 1966.

Peugeot 404 Family

That the diesel engine at Peugeot is not a temporary fad becomes clear when in 1962 the 404 as a successor to the 403 is also presented with the diesel engine. To start with, it sits in the station wagon proposed that year, the 404 station wagon (after all, it remains a workhorse). The engine is now called XD85, but is still based on the TMD85 engine from the 403 and also has the same displacement of 1,816 cc. A year later, the modified diesel also makes its debut in the 404 sedan. Then, thanks to a larger bore (88 millimeters, the engine is also called XD88) the cylinder capacity has increased to 1,948 cc and the power from 55 to 68 hp.
To boost diesel sales, Peugeot builds a streamlined single-seat 404 which, in June 1965, will set a whole series of diesel speed records at the Montlhéry circuit, just above Paris. During this attempt with an engine enlarged to 2,163 cc, 5,000 kilometers are driven at an average speed of 160 km/h. A second attempt follows a month later, but this time with the standard displacement of 1,948 cc. This time, no less than 11,000 kilometers are covered at an average speed of 160 km/h. In total, more than forty records are being tightened.

The diesel engine has now become a fixed value at Peugeot. Under the hood of the 504, from 1970, the XD90 can be found, which, thanks to a new crankshaft with a 3 millimeter larger stroke and a 90 millimeter bore, has a displacement of 2,112 cc and delivers 65 hp at 4,500 rpm. The same power source can also be found from 1977 in the Ford Granada and in the Portuguese UMM 4×4. It doesn’t stop there, the Indenor engine still offers plenty of opportunities for further growth. In 1978, a 70 hp version, drilled up to 2,304 cc, appeared in the 504, which was also installed in the new 505 a year later and was adopted by Ford from 1982 for the Sierra and in 1985 for the Scorpio. In 1979 Peugeot presents a turbo variant of the 2.3-litre Indenor diesel, which makes its 80 hp debut in the 505, 604 and Talbot Tagora. The slightly lower compression ratio of the turbo engine means that cold starts are not always easy.

Ford Sierra

Anyone who expects the rack to be out now will be disappointed: with a new crankshaft, the cylinder capacity is increased to 2,498 cc in 1981. Without a turbo, the engine is now good for 75 hp and Peugeot uses it in addition to the 505 in the P4, the Mercedes G-class all-terrain vehicle for the French army. With turbo it delivers 95 hp from 1983 and after the necessary modifications from 1986 even 110 hp. For example, the Indenor diesel continues to power the 505 until 1992. Since 1989, the 605 has been fitted with a completely new engine generation, transversely in the front.

This article originally appeared in AutoWeek Classics issue 7 of 2016.