Citroen Berlingo Multispace (GTI-6) The Ultimate Sleeper?!

Citroen Berlingo Multispace (GTI-6) The Ultimate Sleeper?!

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Badonde

Original Poster:

15 posts

77 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
quotequote all
Hi everyone,

I’ve been a long time reader of PistonHeads, but thought I’d finally sign up and post some details of a slightly unusual project I’ve been working on. Sorry in advance for such a long post, but wanted to tell the full story of how this project came about.

As you’ve probably guessed from the title, its a Citroen Berlingo with a Peugeot 306 GTI conversion. I’ve always loved the idea of sleepers (or Q cars) - something that looks very unsuspecting, but goes completely differently to how someone would expect.

As a bit of a back story, my friend used to own a Peugeot 306 GTI. Around 7 years ago this unfortunately got broken into and crashed. Due to the crash damage and ever increasing tin worm, he decided to scrap the body shell, but kept the engine, looms, running gear and suspension components. We had joked around for years about what silly things we could do with the parts and often brought up putting it into a Berlingo (simply based off knowing the engine mounts were the same).

Fast forward to September last year and we decided it was time the parts stopped gathering dust and went to use. That evening I searched my local Gumtree and came across a beautiful, totally standard, Citroen Berlingo Multispace in Sky Blue. This colour, combined with its various scrapes and dents, was the exact uncared for runabout look we wanted - the perfect base for building a sleeper.

We picked up the Berlingo only a couple of roads away from us for next to nothing since its clutch had gone. This was ideal since we knew the engine would be coming straight out.

After some very long nights in the garage, we had the 306 engine, gearbox, suspension and loom in place, and the Berlingo was drivable within the week. This first drive was probably the most fun I’ve ever had from any car - I had a permanent smile on my face! Since then we’ve continued developing various aspects and this takes it up to today’s spec listed below:

  • XU10J4RS 2.0 306 GTI Engine producing 180BHP (dynoed by K-Tec Racing)
  • 306 GTI 6 Speed Close Ratio Gearbox with Steel Billet Lightweight Flywheel, Lightweight Crank Pulley, BakerBM Grp.N Engine Mounts, Uprated Gear Linkages & Quick Shift.
  • Cone Filter, Sports Cat, Berlingo 2.0 HDI Standard Cat Back Exhaust
  • Bilstein B8 Front Shock Absorbers, 50mm Front Lowering Springs, Rear Torsion Bar Suspension Lowered To Suit, OMP Upper & Lower Strut Braces, 306 GTI Subframe, 306 GTI Suspension Arms, 306 GTI Anti Roll Bar
  • 306 GTI Steering Rack, Power Steering Delete
  • 306 GTI Front Callipers with 283MM EBC Slotted & Drilled Disks, ABS Delete with Berlingo 2.0 HDI Master Cylinder
  • Citroen C5 15" 6J Aluminium (steel lookalike modified with extra vents) Wheels, 20mm Hubcentric Spacers, Michelin Pilot Sport 3 Tyres (195/50/15)
  • Stripped Interior, Minimised Wiring Loom, OMP Bucket Seat, Rear Seats Removed, Sliding Door Mechanisms & Sliders Removed, Window Tints, Air Bag System Removed, Central Locking Removed, Alarm Removed, Rear Wiper Removed, No Audio Equipment, Relocated Lightweight Battery, Interior Resprayed Satin Black.
The Berlingo now weighs in at just 1080kg (180kg less than original which has surprised us given the engine/6speed box is heavier than its original).

Hope you guys like it, its not to everyone’s taste and a lot of people don’t understand the point of it. But to me personally I just love the idea of having a completely standard looking car that’s all go, with no show!

Future developments are supercharging (which we’re currently gathering parts for), upgraded diff and further weight reduction…

And just in case anyone’s wondering, all the modifications are fully declared to insurance and relevant changes registered with the DVLA.

Look forward to your comments!






















anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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That’s amazing. Interested in any video of it driving. I love threads like this, well done.

Turbotechnic

675 posts

75 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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Hell fking yeah!

Gooly

965 posts

147 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
quotequote all
Absolutely brilliant, I drove a non turbo diesel one of these and aside from the complete lack of power it was a surprisingly good steer for what it was. Perfect sleeper with that spec

Badonde

Original Poster:

15 posts

77 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
Thanks for the positive comments! It is a surprisingly good drive and handles far better than we ever thought it would, it really is like just driving a longer wheelbase GTI! I’ll try and dig out a video of it on the rollers biggrin We intend to take it to some hill climbing events in the near future.

Blackpuddin

16,409 posts

204 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
Love this. I suppose the relaxed ride quality has gone but probs worth it!

Drive Blind

5,076 posts

176 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
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brilliant - you could have so much fun in that

Maty

1,232 posts

212 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
That’s awesome!!

Need to see some videos...

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
PAS delete?

Wow, i'd not have done that on my old 16v er given it's propensity for wagging it's tail....

BTW, great project, one for the "sleepers" thread too!

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
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haha, what a little project smile

S100HP

12,645 posts

166 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
Yes!

Badonde

Original Poster:

15 posts

77 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
Thanks for the great comments. A couple of you asked for a video, so took advantage of the nice weather today and got a quick one of it driving. Still searching for the one of it on the dyno.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkyAO7TjCpQ

S100HP

12,645 posts

166 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
Badonde said:
Thanks for the great comments. A couple of you asked for a video, so took advantage of the nice weather today and got a quick one of it driving. Still searching for the one of it on the dyno.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkyAO7TjCpQ
That's awesome

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
hehe love it!

klan8456

947 posts

74 months

Monday 7th May 2018
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Love this thing. But why delete the airbags?

Huff

3,141 posts

190 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
Finally, a proper sleeper: no lowered ride height/alloys/ trim changes externally /much of anything to give it away.
Looks a hoot!

PS to this end - please do keep the bumper scuffs etc.

BigMon

4,155 posts

128 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
Watching that video put a massive smile on my face.

What an absolutely fantastic car. Love the plastic wheeltrims.

Bodged

116 posts

109 months

Monday 7th May 2018
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Awesome.

Now kids - that - is a 'sleeper'

InfamousKeiran

697 posts

189 months

Monday 7th May 2018
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So cool,

W00DY

15,467 posts

225 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
Absolutely brilliant! thumbup

With a supercharger it'll be mental.