Columbo's Car - Dilapidated, 1959 Peugeot 403 Grande Luxe Cabriolet (convertible), manufactured in Sochaux, France, by "SA Des Automobiles Peugeot" seen on the police drama COLUMBO a rotating segment of the NBC SUNDAY MYSTERY MOVIE/NBC/1971-77. Owned by LAPD homicide detective Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) this rust-bucket, covered with graying, oxidized paint was his principal transportation to and from the scene of the crime.

If a car reflects the personality of an individual then this junker was the perfect partner for its owner who always wore a dirty, stained raincoat and chomped on half-smoked cigars.

When the COLUMBO series finished its run in 1978, Universal Studios sold the detective's Peugeot.. How did they know that in 1988, the series would be revived and our rumpled detective would be in need of wheels again.

Doing some detective work of their own, officials at Universal Studios tracked down the Peugeot by checking old files and matching the serial number of the car with inquiries from others claiming to have the original.

They discovered the car in the possession of Connie and Jim Delaney of Findlay, Ohio. They had purchased the car sight unseen from an ad in Old Cars Weekly. The Delaneys made a deal to lend out the car for the new series-free of charge-on the stipulation that it be returned to them when the series ended.

Had the car not been found it had already been planned to give Columbo a brand new beat-up vehicle. Thankfully, that wasn't necessary. (TV Guide 2/4/89).