Lot 172: 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Rally Car

FISA�s introduction of Group B regulations for the World Rally Championship in 1982 revolutionised the series. Only 200 road cars were required for homologation and an almost limitless number of modifications permitted, a formula that led to the development of some of the most exciting and spectacular rally cars the world had ever seen. Audi�s victory in the manufacturer�s championship in 1982 with the four-wheel-drive Quattro showed the way forward, and from then on fwd cars would dominate. Based on the new 205 hatchback, which it superficially resembled, Peugeot�s first Group B contender was the 205 Turbo 16, although apart from a few body panels few parts were interchangeable. Like Lancia�s rival Delta S4, the 205 Turbo 16 carried its turbo-charged, transversely mounted, 1.8-litre engine where the rear seat passengers would have been, and employed up-rated running gear and permanent four-wheel drive.

The works car debuted at the 1984 Tour de Course where Ari Vatanen set the fastest time on stage after stage before crashing on the last day. Vatanen then went on to record the Turbo 16�s maiden win at the 1,000 Lakes in Finland, the first of a record-breaking run of five consecutive World Championship victories. Team-mate Timo Salonen became World Champion at the end of 1985, the 205 Turbo 16�s first full season, securing Peugeot the Makes Championship into the bargain. The 205 T-16 proved just as successful the following year - Group B�s last - when Juha Kankkunen secured the Drivers� Championship and Peugeot�s second consecutive Makes title. Out of 26 World Rally Championship events entered, the 205 T-16 won an unprecedented 16 of them, making it by far the most successful of the Group B supercars.

This Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 was used by the works team during the 1984 and 1985 seasons of the World Rally Championship. Known by the works as chassis number �C4�, the car was driven by Jean-Pierre Nicholas (later Peugeot�s Sporting Director) on the Acropolis Rally in 1984 and used as a practice vehicle by Ari Vatanen on the 1984 and 1985 Safari Rallies and the Rally of Sweden 1985. Retired from competition at the end of 1985, the car was totally restored by the factory (Peugeot Sports) in 1986/87 and on completion was retained by Mus�e de l�Aventure Peugeot, the official Peugeot Museum at Sochaux. In October 2007 the Museum sold the car directly to the current owner. First registered for road use on 17th April 1986, the car is offered with a copy of the original Carte Grise (recording Automobiles Peugeot as owner), Certificat de Cession (dated 23rd October 2007) and current Carte Grise. Presented in running order, �C4� represents a rare opportunity to acquire an original, ex-works, Group B rally car with known history, restored by the factory and kept in museum storage since the end of its competition career. The car will be started on the day of the sale, an occasion that all enthusiasts will surely relish.




Cette Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 fit partie de l��quipe des voitures d�usine lors des saisons 1984 et 1985 du Championnat du Monde des Rallies. D�sign�e par l�usine � ch�ssis C4 �, elle fut pilot�e par Jean-Pierre Nicolas (futur directeur de l��quipe Peugeot) au Rallye de l�Acropole 1984. Retir�e du service actif � la fin de 1985, la voiture a �t� totalement restaur�e par Peugeot Sport en 1986/87 et conserv�e ensuite par le Mus�e de l�Aventure Peugeot � Sochaux. En octobre 2007, Peugeot directement la vendit au propri�taire actuel. Immatricul�e le 17 avril 1986, la voiture est offerte avec une copie de la carte grise originale (au nom d�Automobiles Peugeot), un certificat de cession (du 23 octobre 2007) et sa carte grise actuelle. En �tat de fonctionnement, � C4 � repr�sente une rare occasion d�acqu�rir une voiture de rallye Groupe B d�usine � l�historique connu et sans aucune ombre au tableau, restaur�e par le constructeur et expos�e dans son mus�e apr�s la fin de sa carri�re. La voiture sera mise en route le jour de la vente, sans nul doute � la grande satisfaction de tous les passionn�s.