Peugeot 205 T16

Peugeot designed, developed, campaigned and won with the first truly sophisticated four-wheel-drive Group B Car - the 205 Turbo 16. This book tells the story, and lists all the cars, the influences, and the personalities behind a magnificent success story. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/

Four-wheel-drive was authorised in rallying from 1979, but for a time no serious car-manufacturer even tried to harness it to their cars. Soon, though, it was Audi who produced the world's first rally-winning four-wheel-drive car - the Quattro. However it was Peugeot who designed, developed, campaigned and won with the first truly sophisticated four-wheel-drive Group B Car - the 205 Turbo 16. It was the first truly great, purpose-designed, Group B car. Determined to win at almost any cost, Peugeot hired Jean Todt (who would later transform the fortunes of the Ferrari F1 organisation) in 1981, and set him an ambitious target. His dream car had to be running in 1983, homologated in 1984, and capable of winning World Championships by 1985. Nothing, no excuses and no lack of application, was to get in the way of that. Apart from being obliged to use the silhouette of the still-secret new 205 road car, Todt was able ask for anything. Getting approval for whatever he needed and fast-tracking the engineering of the four-wheel-drive rally was not an issue in reaching one simple objective victory. This is precisely what was achieved. This book tells the detailed story, and lists all the cars, the influences, and the personalities behind a magnificent success story. No sooner had the new turbocharged, transverse-mid-engined car started competing than it was ready to win, yet its dominant career was cut short at the end of 1986 by an abrupt change in rallying regulations. Not only is the engineering story laid out in great detail, but the interaction between company personalities, super-star drivers (including Ari Vatanen) and the highly-charged atmosphere of motorsport at this time is all analysed. Because Group B was cancelled even before the 205 T16 had reached maturity, it went on to have a successful career in desert Raid rallies, and at Pike Peak in the USA, all of which is described in this amazingly authoritative study. Packed with illustrations, technical details, facts, figures and successes of this innovative car this book is a must for any rally fan. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/

Australian Classic Cars, April 2008 Review by Patrick Quinn Australian magazine Circulation: unknown Last month, we read up on the Austin-Healey 3000 in this series of Rally Giants and now it's the turn of the Peugeot 205 T16. While the Rally 3000 evolved from the road going version, the Peugeot was designed as a rally winner from the start. By the mid-1980s, such configurations as 4WD and mid engine were de rigueur. In the Peugeot, the turbocharged 1.8-liter 4-cylinder was mounted sideways behind the passenger - LHD car - drove across to a transaxle that in turn drove the driveshaft fore and aft. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/

In this publication, erudite Graham Robson makes it quite clear that he is a fan of the Peugeot, and after 3 outright wins in Peugeots in 1984, 7 in 1985 and then 6 the following year it hardly seems surprising. Robson tells the story of the development of the 205 T16, its rally history and also of those who were involved behind the wheel and navigating. What I found informative were the descriptions of the drive train through narrative and diagrams and the lengths Peugeot engineers went to ensure that servicing was as straightforward as possible during the course of a rally. Worth a look for rallying and Peugeot enthusiasts. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/

• Title: Peugeot 205 T16
• Illustrations note: 100 Illustrations
• Imprint name: Veloce Publishing PLC
• Table of contents: Foreword Introduction The car and the team -Inspiration - The Peugeot's importance in rallying - Facing up to rival cars - Timetable - a tight schedule - Homologation - meeting the rules - Engineering features - Peugeot's new M24 project - FF Developments - four-wheel drive specialists - Group B rallying - Second evolution car - The 205 road car - Was the 205 T16 unique? - Building and running the works cars - Intensive use of cars - Personalities and star drivers Competition story - 1983 - 1984 - Previous Peugeot rally cars - Peugeot 16-valve engines - 1985 - Evolution 2 time - 1986 - Four-wheel drive - 2E-The Coventry connection - The 205 T16's successor World Rally success Works Rally cars and when first used Index
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