FREE SHIPPING IF YOU ORDER 2+ PRODUCTS! *

Search
Close this search box.

May 20, 2024

The Little French Demon

The Peugeot 205 Rallye was born in 1988 as a refined and radical version of the French utility vehicle, conceived to offer a sporty spirit at an affordable price.                It was developed by Peugeot-Talbot Sport and was only  manufactured until 1992.                                                                                                                                   Technically, the 205 Rallye featured a 1.3-liter TU24 103 hp engine, the front suspension and disc brakes from the GTI, and a lightened configuration weighing just 794 kg. It lacked sound insulation and luxuries to prioritize performance.One of the hallmarks of the 205 Rallye were its peculiar rainbow stickers on the grille and rear hatch. Its body-colored plastics and sturdy steel wheels also stood out.                                                                                                                                                           Although Peugeot expected to sell only 5,000 units, the 205 Rallye became an unexpected cult success among enthusiasts due to its radical and fun character.           Its feisty engine and agile chassis turned it into a true street go-kart.                                                                                                                                                                             A curious anecdote is that the 205 Rallye was only sold in certain European markets such as France, Spain and Italy, but it never officially arrived in the United Kingdom, which increased its exclusivity.In summary, the Peugeot 205 Rallye was a street sports jewel that captivated with its purity, lightness and playful spirit, becoming a cult object for lovers of the most radical driving.

Based on the information provided in the search results, here is a summary of the history of Peugeot-Talbot Sport:Peugeot-Talbot Sport was the motorsports division of the Peugeot-Talbot company, formed after Peugeot acquired the European operations of Chrysler in 1978, including the Talbot brand.Some key highlights of Peugeot-Talbot Sport’s history:

  • In the 1980s, they developed the successful Peugeot 205 T16 Group B rally car. The 205 T16 won the World Rally Championship manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles in 1985 and 1986, as well as back-to-back Paris-Dakar Rally wins in 1987 and 1988.
  • The 205 T16’s success helped boost sales of the regular 205 road car and establish Peugeot as a rally icon during the famous Group B era.
  • After Group B was banned, Peugeot-Talbot Sport turned to circuit racing, developing the Peugeot 905 for the World Sportscar Championship.
  • The 905 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1992 and 1993, with a historic 1-2-3 finish in 1993. It also won the 1992 World Sportscar Championship.
  • The success of the 905 program was led by Jean Todt, who later went on to run the Ferrari Formula 1 team.
  • In the early 1990s, Peugeot-Talbot Sport also ran the radical Peugeot 405 T16 Pikes Peak car, setting new records at Pikes Peak driven by Ari Vatanen.
  • After their Le Mans successes, Peugeot returned to top-level sportscar racing in the late 2000s with the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP diesel prototype, winning multiple races but narrowly missing out on Le Mans victories.

So in summary, Peugeot-Talbot Sport was the highly successful motorsports arm of Peugeot in the 1980s and early 1990s, responsible for iconic cars like the 205 T16 and 905 that achieved major wins in rallying and sportscar racing during that era.

MORE NEWS

PEUGEOT 205 T16

The second week of August 1986 is remembered for the Rally Finland, also known as the “Thousand Lakes”. This rally was one of the fastest

Read More »

Subscribe to get special offers and news first!