'Take my breath awaaaaaaaay...'
Shed of the Week rediscovers its sporting roots this week with a classic Pug. And we’ve decided to leave alone the more obvious French fancies for something a bit more unusual.
It’s a 405 Mi16 in last of the line ‘Le Mans’ special edition guise; the tag commandeered in recognition of the French manufacturer’s triumph at the classic race with the exotic V10 905.
You remember this period of Peugeots, don’t you? You know, when they built cars to genuinely lust after. Cast your mind back to cars with soul, brimming with verve – that made you want to drive them until they fell apart. Which, to be fair, wasn’t always very long in coming. How we’ve missed those cars here in the PH office. It’s been a drought of epic proportions, although the recent 207 GTi 175 looks as if it might be a wheel turned in the right direction. Possibly.
Although the Mi16 lived in the colossal shadow cast by the 205 GTi, it possessed the same attributes that characterized an entire generation of cars from the maker: a delicious fluency of handling, poised ride, slick drive train and a chassis that was infinitely adjustable on the limit with the throttle, albeit without much sentimentality towards the novice.
What this car never was and still isn’t, is fast. As a facelift model it has the less peaky two litre 16v engine shared with the 306 S16, rather than the original screamer that really lacked torque, but neither engine could shift a 405 with real pace – certainly not when compared to a Renault 21 Turbo.
Still, for the money, this looks like a genuinely good buy. We’re not expecting Germanic build quality or a redoubtable ‘thunk’ when you slam the doors, but we are looking forward to lifting off the gas mid-corner. And anyway, Shed always was a sucker for a Peugeot Talbot Sport grille sticker set…
Advert: 1994 L reg, manual, 115,000 miles, Dark Red, 5 months Tax, MOT end of July. Air con, full electrics in front and rear, remote central locking, alarm/immobiliser, black leather/suede interior, CD player. Some service history, old MOT documents, only 4 owners from new. Special edition MI16 Le Mans, orginal specifications, 150 Bhp. Well looked after, tidy car, with reliable engine. A bargin at the price. Good reason for sale. £895. OVNO