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Meeting 205: The Peugeot Talisman

PHOTOGRAPHS PEUGEOT 205 CONCENTRATION: THE SHIELD

We have already said before that in the history of motorsport, accountants are not always taken into account. And be careful, because his word is as important as that of any chief engineer. At the end of the day, a car is not only successful by conquering the fan with its aesthetics or behavior. It also has to fill the coffers of the company. And well, at the end of the 70's, Peugeot's were in serious danger.

Immobile between the innovative Citroën and the success of Renault with its R5, Peugeot was at times losing its position in French motorsport. It required a serious rudder shift capable of propelling their accounts into the 80s takeoff. And boy did they get it! Because with almost five and a half million units sold over 16 years, the 205 was Peugeot's saving grace.

A utility designed under the premise of competing with the R5. Small but with great habitability. Cheerful but with reduced consumption. Practical but capable of conquering a whole generation of young people. The same one that during the 80s he fantasized about his sports versions. Those like the GTI or the Rally, equipped with a combination of nobility and agility capable of making anyone feel like an experienced pilot. Pure enjoyment behind the wheel.

An icon of the 80s and part of the 90s that today stands as one of those young classics capable of dragging many legions of fans. Something that we were able to verify the last Saturday, September 28 at the Club 205 concentration in chanoe Madrid. Another of the events held in this space thinking to enjoy the world of motoring and that, in each new Activities Calendar, raises interesting concentrations.

INSIDE THE TOP SECRET: THE M24 PROJECT

If you hear something called M24 project and above they tell you what it is "Top secret", what would you think? Well, at least we would have in mind some new British MI6 gadget in the manner of the James Bond movies. But nevertheless this was the name with which Peugeot began to work on the idea of ​​a new utility vehicle with which to replace the old-fashioned 104.

A project that lasted from 1977 to 1982 under the most absolute secrecy. A long-term business move, in which Peugeot was playing so much the passage to a new era as its accounting sanitation. Driven by the idea of ​​creating a car that is as livable, economical and compliant as possible, Peugeot engineers strived for an innovative and aerodynamic design.

However, it is nothing new to say that in the 70s Peugeot did not stand out precisely for the virtues of its design. In fact, the last aesthetically remarkable Peugeot had been the 504 1969 Coupé finalized by Pininfarina. Thus, the French began to make a prototype at the same time that they commissioned another from the Italian firm.

The funny thing is that Pininfarina was not ultimately responsible for 205, although the aerodynamic lines of its prototype were almost traced by the Peugeot designers on their second attempt. Introduced in 1981 under the name PTS (Peugeot-Talbot Sport), its appearance was the announcement that Peugeot was not throwing in the towel in the battle to lead the 80s.

A NEW CAR, BUT NOT ALWAYS WITH NEW ENGINES

In 1983 the Peugeot 205 finally saw the light of day. And yes, it was really surprising. At least to be the product of a brand as conservative as this. Its conception placed it at the forefront of the salable urban utilities of the 80s.But still not everything about him was really new. And it is that the first Peugeot 205 still mounted the Douvrin DU engine of the old 104.

Something that in Spain was slightly different since, for tariff reasons, the 205 mounted in Villaverde mounted Talbot mechanics. A specification that made it necessary to increase the height of the hood, generating a good quantity of Peugeot 205 with modifications only given in our country. However, one year after the 205 was launched, it was already fitted with new generation engines in all its series.

Una range of engines that was expanded to 24 different options in gasoline and two in diesel. Of course, all of them dominated by a 4-cylinder architecture with a fork in the displacement that ranged from the 954cc of the modest GE or Junior versions to the 1769 of the turbo diesel or the 1775 of the rabid Turbo 16 4 × 4. However, if there are magic displacements for the followers of the Peugeot 205 they are 1'6 and 1'9 liters. Yes, we are reaching GTI territory.

SMALL, AGILE AND EXTREMELY FUN: THE 205 SPORTS

For millions of young families the Peugeot 205 was the perfect car for their day to day. One of those models that provide an efficient and economical response to transport needs on a day-to-day basis. But really… What is the version that lasts the longest in the minds of fans? Indeed, the GTI.

And it has it all. Anyway, at this point we are not going to analyze the reason for the successful mix of utility and sportsmanship achieved by powering a compact but… We do point out that in the case of the Peugeot 205 GTI it was particularly successful. Smaller and more affordable than the benchmark Golf GTI the sports version of the 205 managed to captivate a generation of young people thanks to the safety that his behavior offered even if he wanted to push him to the limit in curves.

Obviously this did not happen by art of birlibirloque, since although it was still a GTI ... The truth is that the first version -equipped with a 1-liter engine- did not have the claw of its competitors. Something that was amended when in 1987 the next generation of the GTI appeared, powered by a 1-liter engine and 9CV capable of furiously moving the 900 kilos of the set. Of course, with the same ductility of behavior thanks to changes in the frame.

Beyond this eighties myth, the Peugeot 205 also gave us versions like the Rallye. Although if what you want is to see its evolution more beast ... There is no doubt, it is the Turbo 16 4 × 4. A brutality born to compete in the mythical Group B, of which 200 units had to be manufactured for homologation by the FIA. Neither more nor less than the person responsible for returning Peugeot to competition, which came directly from the head of Jean Todt.

peugeot 205 chanoe

Not bad at all to finish off the extensive range of the Peugeot 205. A myth from the 80s that knew how to combine economy and practicality with agility and a sporty character. Anyway, we are not surprised that this young classic has his own club fans, although they still lack a Turbo 16 to expose 😉

What do you think?

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Written by Miguel Sánchez

Through the news from La Escudería, we will travel the winding roads of Maranello listening to the roar of the Italian V12; We will travel Route66 in search of the power of the great American engines; we will get lost in the narrow English lanes tracking the elegance of their sports cars; We will speed up the braking in the curves of the Monte Carlo Rally and we will even get dusty in a garage while rescuing lost jewels.

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