The Peugeot J5 is a 2.5-tonne van that Peugeot produced from October 1981 to 1993. It was the Peugeot version of the first-generation Fiat Ducato, built by the Sevel joint venture.
Peugeot J5 at a glance
| Production | October 1981 to 1993 |
|---|---|
| Class | 2.5-tonne van |
| Part of | the first-generation Fiat Ducato family |
| Factory | Sevel Val di Sangro at Atessa, and Sevel Campania |
| Sister models | Fiat Ducato, Citroën C25, Alfa Romeo AR6 |
| British version | sold as the Talbot Express from 1986 to 1994 |
| Engines | Peugeot 504 petrol unit and Citroën CX diesel |
| Gearbox | Citroën |
| Series 2 | 1991, with a new grille and headlights |
| Replaced by | Peugeot Boxer in 1994 |
source page is about the shared Ducato project; free photographs of the Peugeot J5 were not found, the existing thumbnail stays
History of the Peugeot J5
A shared van
The Fiat Ducato was launched in 1981 as the result of a collaboration between Fiat and PSA Peugeot Citroën that started in 1978. The vehicles were made at the Sevel Val di Sangro plant at Atessa in central Italy and at Sevel Campania in Pomigliano d’Arco near Naples, together with the similar Alfa Romeo AR6, Citroën C25 and Peugeot J5. The Peugeot J5 was sold in the United Kingdom as the Talbot Express between 1986 and 1994. The Fiat and PSA collaboration had earlier produced the Fiat 242 and Citroën C35 from 1974.
The Peugeot version
The J5 was a 2.5-tonne van, the name standing for its capacity, and its powertrains matched those of the Citroën C25: engines mounted transversely, a petrol unit from the Peugeot 504 and a diesel from the Citroën CX, both coupled to a Citroën gearbox. In 1991 the J5 series 2 arrived with a new front grille and headlights.
Sales
The J5 sold reasonably well in France but had little commercial success outside it, where it was overshadowed by the Fiat Ducato and that model’s stronger commercial vehicle dealer network in key markets. It was replaced in 1994 by the Peugeot Boxer, which was based on the second-generation Fiat Ducato. The first Ducato generation was very popular as a base for campervan conversions, and from 1990 Fiat offered campervan builders a platform developed specially for the purpose. A limited number of electric Ducatos with a Leroy-Somer motor and lead-acid batteries was built from August 1992.
Design and features
- Sevel van: one body shared with the Fiat Ducato and Citroën C25.
- Mixed engines: a Peugeot 504 petrol unit and a Citroën CX diesel.
- Citroën gearbox: the transmission came from the other PSA brand.
- Talbot Express: the same van sold in Britain under the Talbot name.
- Camper base: the Ducato family became the favourite of motorhome builders.
Peugeot J5 versions
- J5 (1981): the original van.
- J5 series 2 (1991): new grille and headlights.
- Talbot Express: the British version, 1986–1994.
The J5 was replaced by the Peugeot Boxer and sat in the range above the smaller J7 and J9. More in the Peugeot collection.
Sources
- Fiat Ducato, English Wikipedia: first generation, plants, Peugeot J5, Talbot Express, camper use
