Peugeot to sell factory restored 205 GTIs
GTI looking a little tired after decades of use? Now Peugeot will return your 205 to its former glory
Ask anyone in the UK what the most famous Peugeot is in its 210 years of existence - or at least what their very favourite has been - and they'll more than likely say one thing: 205 GTI. Perhaps more than any other mainstream manufacturer, which tend to have a few hero models, 'le sacre numero' still stands out as Peugeot's most revered creation. Which is most likely way Sochaux is having another go at making them...
To mark that 210th anniversary, Peugeot is to restore and sell authenticated 205 GTIs. Yes, you read that right: good-as-new versions of perhaps the most iconic hot hatch ever, for sale in 2020 from Peugeot. What a way to mark a birthday!
Work is already underway at the Musee de l'Aventure Peugeot workshops on a black 1.9, Peugeot promising that "specialist craftspeople" will restore the cars to "like new condition"; they include body restorers, textile trimmers and sheet metal workers - it's a proper job, be in no doubt. So much so that every car that goes through the process will receive 'Par l'Aventure Peugeot' badging and certification'. Think of it like Ferrari Classiche, just for a 205.
Aha, you're probably thinking, that's all well and good, but what about the required parts? There hasn't been a new 205 GTI on the roads for more than 25 years, and the car was first introduced way back in 1984. Well, Peugeot has that covered. Not only has it obtained "the necessary stock and warehouse operations" to support the new scheme, it's also suggested 3D printing will be used for those parts no longer made. This really is as thorough (and therefore exciting) as you could hope.
It's not just Peugeot sourced cars that will be available, either. Existing GTI owners will be able, come 2021, to receive a quote about full or partial restoration of their 205 in Sochaux. With factory restoration on the cards, there'll be no excuse not to have your 1.6 or 1.9 in the finest of fettle.
The news gets better, too, as this process won't be limited to just the 205. Not only does the release from Peugeot state that other classic models will eventually be included, the website where the restored cars are going to be sold from next year is https://laventurepeugeotcitroends.fr/ - so perhaps the other marques might eventually be included as well. Now, obviously, a factory restoration isn't going to come cheap, but with the best 205s still commanding almost £20,000, it might look like a sensible investment in time. As if the temptation to get hold of one wasn't already high enough...
most were 1.9 GTI, but also 1.6 GTI and a GT 1.6 and a Rallye 1.9 and Gutman 1.9 and a Gutman tuned Dimma 1.9 (T16 look) and my last one back in 1999 (car 92 on my list) was a 1991 Gentry 1.9 in that dark-ish green, lovely car also.
good old times
Still the best car I've owned, although I will put my M135i on par with it now (just my personal opinion, obvs)
The 1.6 was revvier and a little more "balanced" but it needed to be thrashed mercilessly to get the best out of it. The 1.9 was torquier and gave the hot-hatch shove with snap throttle response, but taught a lot of people that you don't slow down half way round a corner by lifting off the throttle!
I've driven both, but personally preferred the 1.9's power delivery to the frenetic 1.6 (from memory there were only 25hp or so in it, but I can't remember the torque figures off the top of my head)
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.
There aren't many things that are as good as you remember 30 years on. Our memories tend to form mental caricatures of things (and people) that we were fond of at one time by exaggerating the good stuff and playing down the bad. You remember how stunning an ex was look at, and how she went like a bullet train out of Tokyo, but you conveniently forget or at least disregard the major howling showstopper(s) that stopped it working out the first time around.
Rose tinted specs really are a thing.
The 1.6 was revvier and a little more "balanced" but it needed to be thrashed mercilessly to get the best out of it. The 1.9 was torquier and gave the hot-hatch shove with snap throttle response, but taught a lot of people that you don't slow down half way round a corner by lifting off the throttle!
I've driven both, but personally preferred the 1.9's power delivery to the frenetic 1.6 (from memory there were only 25hp or so in it, but I can't remember the torque figures off the top of my head)
The 1:9 was circa 130bhp but dropped a little at the end when they got a cat
I remember going to look at them when they first came out but bought an XR2 mk2 instead (the first registered in Mansfield apparently, though that’s not much to shout about).
The reason was that the build quality of the 205 was shocking and it felt tinny. That was the only reason.
I subsequently bought another new XR2 in August 86 before realising what I was missing and buying a nearly new 205 GTi 1.6
To drive they were great in their day and I never did own a 1.9 although a good friend of mine had a Dimma version with a twin stage turbo technics conversion iirc.
Now that was a rapid thing but, like most of his other cars, he wrote it off...
Perhaps we should have a sweepstake on how much the factory built cars will be?
I bought mine for nostalgia reasons 8 years ago when they were still c£1000. Ive ran it alongside a mk7 r, an m135i and a cupra 290 and none of them came anywhere near in terms of a proper hooligan hot hatch driving experience. They were all much faster and more comfortable but handled like broken barges compared to my 1.6. I even test drove the much praised mk7 fiesta st but found that stodgy and dull in comparison.
If you think it's about bhp, 0-60, "ring" times and the traffic light gp then you're unlikely to understand the 205 gti
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.
I chop and change my modern metal all the time, but my little Pablo is a keeper for life: nostalgia or not - roundabouts will ALWAYS make you laugh out loud in one of these, which is more than can be said for anything modern that's on sale now (well, if you want to keep your license anyway!).
I bought mine for nostalgia reasons 8 years ago when they were still c£1000. Ive ran it alongside a mk7 r, an m135i and a cupra 290 and none of them came anywhere near in terms of a proper hooligan hot hatch driving experience. They were all much faster and more comfortable but handled like broken barges compared to my 1.6. I even test drove the much praised mk7 fiesta st but found that stodgy and dull in comparison.
If you think it's about bhp, 0-60, "ring" times and the traffic light gp then you're unlikely to understand the 205 gti
I bought mine for nostalgia reasons 8 years ago when they were still c£1000. Ive ran it alongside a mk7 r, an m135i and a cupra 290 and none of them came anywhere near in terms of a proper hooligan hot hatch driving experience. They were all much faster and more comfortable but handled like broken barges compared to my 1.6. I even test drove the much praised mk7 fiesta st but found that stodgy and dull in comparison.
If you think it's about bhp, 0-60, "ring" times and the traffic light gp then you're unlikely to understand the 205 gti
I don't think you'll see one of these factory editions on the road as a regular car. You've probably got more chance of seeing a 1FM popping down to tescos than one of these!
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