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Legendary models

Anno 2023 it seems an unrealistic combination, but in the early 1980s it was quite normal. One takes a production model – preferably a cheap, compact car – and puts a big engine behind the front seats. The result: a compact, agile machine that requires serious talent to keep on the road. In this way, several legendary models were created, such as the Austin Metro 6R4, Renault R5 Turbo and the car in this article, the Peugeot 205 T16.

Hardly any rules

In 1982, the motorsport federation FIA decided to create a new rally class. This so-called “Group B” class was a competition in which there were hardly any rules. The only hard requirement there was that manufacturers had to build a minimum of 200 street cars of their competitive model. This new rally class attracted the attention of many car manufacturers, as the regulations provided an opportunity to maximize their technical expertise. The result was exotic, lightning-fast cars with rear- or four-wheel drive that were as fast on gravel as a Formula One car on asphalt. From Lada to Ferrari, every manufacturer dipped into the Group B standings, and so did Peugeot.

Agile rally machine

The brand with the lion already had a long rallying history, and with the new Group B classification came the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the new 205. The result was the 205 Turbo 16: a car that resembles the Peugeot 205, but has little to do with it technically. Behind the front seats, between a sturdy tubular chassis lies a 1,775 cc four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 350 hp (later 500 hp). The entire body was widened and four-wheel drive was added. With an empty weight of only 910 pounds, the little lion was a lightning-fast and agile rally machine.

Successful rally car

The 205 Turbo 16 proved to be one of the most successful rally cars of the decade, resulting in two world titles. However, the Group B cars became faster and faster over the years, resulting in more and more (fatal) accidents. Power outputs grew to sometimes as much as 1,000 hp, while safety was left behind. In 1987, the Group B championship was banned after a fatal accident during the Rally of Portugal. Peugeot quietly said goodbye to the championship and then managed to win the Dakar Rally twice with modified T16s.

Invaluable

The Group B class was a unique period in motorsports, and the homologation models of the cars that ran then are sought-after collectors’ items today. So is this 205 Turbo 16 for sale in Burgerveen, North Holland. The car came into the hands of a collector who cared for it for two decades. The odometer shows 40,000 kilometers and the car has just received a set of new Michelin slippers. The asking price is hefty for a car with 200 horsepower, but you are buying an invaluable piece of rally history for that money.

Click here for the advertisement of this unique car.