The Peugeot 205 is often seen as the saving angel of the French brand. The strong song hit a large audience immediately after its introduction. And in such a way that the 205 got the French manufacturer back on its feet. Peugeot laid a strong foundation for the future with the 205, and sold millions of copies of the model. In two parts we reflect on the history of the 205. We do that for a reason, because it is forty years ago that Peugeot introduced the model. Earlier we published the story in which the development history was central. Today you can read the second part, which starts with the start of sales in the French home market.
That happens in February 1983, and the commercial start is the prelude to a resounding success. This is prompted by a wide range that is actually available immediately. The debut program has several versions and engine variants. The entry-level version will be the 205, followed by the GL (available with the 954 cc and 1124 cc engine), the GR (1124 cc, 50 DIN hp and 1360 cc, 60 DIN hp), the SR (1360 cc, 60 DIN hp) and the sporty GT with the 80 DIN hp 1360 cc engine. The program is soon expanded with the GLD and GRD diesel versions, which get the 1768 cc XUD 7 engine.
The arrival of the GTI and the three-door versions
The highlight in the range (if we do not include the Turbo 16) will be the 3-door GTI, which will be presented in March 1984 with the 1.6 injection engine. Later (in 1986) the 1.9 GTI will also be added to the range. In an external sense, the primal GTI is the source of inspiration for the regular three-door version of the strong number presented at the end of 1984. Remarkable: the space for the front passengers is larger in the three-door version than in the five-door versions. In addition, the type designations are different compared to the five-door brothers. The equipment variants in the three-door versions (except for the GTI) all start with an X, the equipment levels are usually the same as those of the five-door versions. In 1984 Peugeot also shows a concept: the 205 Electrique, with a range of 140 kilometers. Pininfarina is also trying to get a foot between the Peugeot doors with the 205 Verve (a break version). The 205 Break will never be on the program, but Pininfarina does have another beautiful project from Peugeot at that time.
Even more versions
The Italian design house namely draws the convertible version (with roll bar) of the 205. This saw the light of day in September 1985. Peugeot produces these tasty open 205 variants together with Pininfarina, which brings together the chassis from Sochaux and the sheet metal parts in Turin. Peugeot supplies this 205 Cabrio with the 1360 cc 80 DIN hp engine and as a CTI with the 115 DIN hp 1.6 engine the GTI. Later, the CJ will also be available with a 60 DIN hp engine. Also versions such as the 1.6 Automatic, the Rallye (with the modified 1.294 cc engine from the Citroën AX GT) and the XS (based on the GTI, with 1.360 cc 80 DIN hp engine) are sought-after special versions within the 205 range. At the other end of the spectrum, the base versions are renamed XE (three-door) and GE (five-door). Also - we are talking about 1986 - the multifunctional van XA (from 1991: XA Multi) appears on the scene. That is also the year that the 205 Junior is added to the program on the basis of the entry-level version, and this version is considerably more attractively decorated than the XE and the GE.
Group B asset: the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
The most rare and illustrious 205 is the Turbo 16. That will be the Group B asset. To homologate this rally asset, Peugeot is also building 200 street versions of the gun. Not only now, but also then, these were pure collector's items with a new price of NLG 160.000. As a street version, the 205 Turbo 16 gets an absurd 200 DIN-PK from the centrally placed 1775 cc four-cylinder turbo engine for that time. The power source adapted for the 205 T 16 comes from the turbo-less fast versions of the Peugeot 305 and after the first strong numbers were produced from December 1982. Citroën BX. The choice of Jean Todt (the boss of Peugeot Talbot Sport since October 1981) to storm the rally world with the 205 Turbo 16 turns out to be an excellent one.
Strong song during rallies in the 80s
The start in 1984 already yielded a few WRC victories (Vatanen three times), and in 1985 and 1986 Peugeot became world champion in the WRC constructors with the 205 Turbo 16. Timo Salonen and Juha Kankkunen have crowned themselves as the best drivers in the WRC circuit on behalf of Peugeot-Talbot Sport. In addition, (after the FIA says goodbye to Group B in rallying) it has won {Dakar} twice with the 205 T 16 Grand Raid. Ari Vatanen does that in 1987, compatriot Juha Kankkunen is victorious in 1988. You can read more about the history of the Turbo 16 and its rally successes here.
Cautious evolution
At that time, the Peugeot 205 has already been updated. PSA replaces a number of X engines within the PSA group with TU power sources. These debut in 1986 in the Citroën AX. They share many components with the X engines. For example, they get belt drive and a separately mounted transmission. The typical Douvrin construction (split crankcase for engine and transmission) disappears with the TU series. The new PSA engines also find their way to the 205. It welcomes the variants with 954 cc, 1124 cc (60 DIN hp), 1360 cc (75 DIN hp) and 1.294 cc (Rallye, 101 DIN hp). For the more heavily motorized petrol versions of the 205, Peugeot sticks to the X engines, and that also applies to the diesels. These will later be joined by the 1.9 diesel (XUD9) and a 1.8 Turbodiesel.
Finely ground inner and outer
Over the years, the 205, for example, also gets a new dashboard. In addition, a number of engines are being switched to single-point injection, catalytic converter and lambda probe technology. During the early nineties - the 106 is now imminent - further changes are made. The 205 gets new rear light units, the ribbed shield between the rear lights disappears. However, the strong design remains recognizable, which also applies to the open version, where the basic version is called Cabriolet from 1994.
Sixteen years strong
For sixteen years, the 205 has been the bearer of Peugeot's success in the compact class, also because Peugeot (market dependent) keeps the 205 up to date with various action models. Peugeot starts early with that. Well-known action models are the Forever, the Green, the Gentry, the Collection, the Lacoste and the Roland Garros. Peugeot announces the final farewell with the 205 Génération, a version with electric windows, the fast 1.4 engine and a favorable price. This strong offer even brings the 205 back into the top 20 of the sales statistics in the Netherlands. That happens almost fifteen years after its introduction. The 205: it is truly a strong number, which runs off the tape 1982 1998 5 times from 278 to 300. And gives its maker a strong financial basis.
Click here to read part one about the Peugeot 205 history.
Click here to read more about the 205 Turbo 16 and its rally history.
I once got a 205 diesel as a replacement car, it looked optically no longer from the rust and dents, but it drove fine with about 460.000 km on the clock. You wouldn't expect that from such a small light pastry.
An SR did not exist to my knowledge, but the GR 4 doors and XR 3 doors did. Also, all GR and XR models up to the facelift models were equipped with the 1360 cc engine tilted back.
Owned a 1986 XR , with tinted glass ordered from the factory. Self-equipped with (was easy as a mechanic at Peugeot) color-painted lower bumpers, chrome trips in bumper, light-alloy XT rims, GTi steering wheel with blank type designation and original electric window controls including wiring harness from the GTi. Was a beautiful copy. Had a new GTi 2 years later, never regretted either. But after having had the GTi for 4 years, I switched to Toyota as a mechanic and started driving the Camry. Still Toyota now. Would I want a Peugeot back? Yes , a 504 Ti automatic . I had 4 of those before buying the first 205.
Nice cars
That torsion bar rear suspension seemed to be prone to fatigue and rust.
Now still never! seen a rust devil;
this applies en masse to the German brands in those years….!
Fantastic pastry. Had a 205XRD, ran like the fire department. Got rid of it for a 309XRtd at the time. Replaced new CV joints outside, never had anything to do with it.