One to Buy: Super Rare in the US 1989 Peugeot 205 Rallye
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When the FIA decided to ban the participation of Group B cars in the World Rally Championship from 1987 following one too many fatal accidents, Peugeot decided to withdraw from any further works involvement in the series. Instead, the French manufacturer elected to develop its 205 T16 into arguably the ultimate Pikes Peak and Rally Raid platform yet seen.
However, while Peugeot chose not to go head-to-head with a top flight factory Group A programme that would have pitched it directly against the likes of Lancia and Toyota, the firm did produce a homologation special that would enable its customers to contest the junior class.
That car was the fabled 205 Rallye, a pared back, super lightweight three-door Hatchback powered by a trick all-alloy 1.3-litre four cylinder TU24 screamer.
Although Group A regulations stipulated 5000 base cars had to be produced within a twelve month timeframe in order to secure homologation, Peugeot ultimately went on to produce over 28,000 examples of the 205 Rallye, a superb example of which is currently on the market with The Barn, Miami.
Whereas the majority of Rallyes led an extremely hard life, this particular machine (chassis ‘1688306’) seems to have been remarkably well preserved.
Originally delivered through SCA Peugeot Srl in Naples (the original rear window sticker is still present), chassis 1688306 has covered a little over 165,000km from new, the equivalent of around 101,000 miles.
Exceptionally rare in the USA (these cars were so highly tuned that they couldn’t be type approved for many European countries, let alone the United States with its famously tight emissions and safety legislation), this superb little car is being offered fresh from a meticulous detailing session by Squadra Lupo.
