One to Buy: 1 of 1 in Black ex-Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani 1985 Peugeot 205 T16
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Peugeot’s Group B rally programme of 1984 to 1986 along with the firm’s class-leading 205 GTi hot hatch transformed the firm from maker of rather stuffy unexciting machinery to market leader.
While Audi had the four-wheel drive production-based Quattro at its disposal and Lancia the rear-drive 037 Group B special, Peugeot combined the best of both in the all-conquering 205 T16 Evolution which became the most successful car of rallying’s most famous era.
Having debuted mid-way through the 1984 season, the T16 delivered back-to-back Manufacturer titles in the 1985 and ‘86 World Rally Championship while Timo Salonen and Juha Kankunen were respectively crowned ‘85 and ‘86 Driver’s champions.
Just 200 road cars were required to qualify for Group B which led to some extraordinary machines taking to the special stages. Peugeot’s offering was the base 205 T16, a believed unique example of which will be going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction on August 18th.
Peugeot only officially offered the T16 in one colour, Graphite Grey, however, chassis 100177 was destined for VIP customer Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani who was able to take delivery of this stunning Black example.
Al-Thani retained chassis 100177 until 2007, by which time it had accumulated a little over 8000km. Today the car is offered fresh from a recent major service with the odometer still showing under 8700km.
