At the 1937 Paris Auto Salon, Peugeot staged a massive “referendum” among attendees to better understand what the public demanded from a contemporary motorcar, marking one of the earliest examples of an automotive manufacturer conducting market research. Many of their findings were incorporated in the all-new model 202, which formally debuted in March 1938.

Available as a four-door berline, two-door cabriolet, light truck, and a wood-paneled estate wagon, the new entry-level Peugeot proved wildly popular. Based on the earlier 201, which was the first mass-market French car to feature independent front suspension, the 202 was powered by a 1,133 cc overhead-valve, four-cylinder engine and featured advanced streamlined styling, influenced by Chrysler’s radical Airflow. With its elegant, flowing lines and close-set headlamps mounted behind the front grille, the diminutive 202 shared a strong family resemblance to Peugeot’s mid-size 302 and luxurious 402 models. Despite the interruption of WWII, Peugeot manufactured over 100,000 examples of the 202 between 1938 and 1948.

This 202 Berline was imported to the US from Belgium in 2013 by Frank Jerauld DiTirro, a French car collector living in Santa Barbara, California. The Mullin Collection acquired the Peugeot in 2015 as a complement to the museum’s 302 and 402 models. Finished in a handsome shade of Bordeaux with period-appropriate fabric upholstery, this charming 202 Berline is equipped with a sliding steel sunroof, Michelin-designed Pilote wheels, and period-correct Robri accessory trim. With as few as 20 examples known to reside in the US, this charming Peugeot represents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire one of the most advanced European “people’s cars” of the 1930s.

*Please note that all of the Lots in this Auction have been in long-term static storage at the Mullin Automotive Museum and may not be currently operational. They will require mechanical attention and in some cases significant restoration prior to any road use.