Ah, the sacred number! The Peugeot 205, icon of the 80s in France, saved the Sochaux firm. While the company is counting on 1.6 million units before it goes into production, more than 5 million will eventually come out, which will make it the most produced Peugeot in history, before it ends. be dethroned by its glorious heiress, the 206.
To say that the 205 saved Peugeot is an understatement, as the situation of the Lion was so perilous at the start of the 1980s, due to an alarming financial situation, the complicated takeover of Chrysler Europe, the sinking of Talbot and an image of brand too conservative. Commercial success, thanks to real driving qualities, efficient engines (the X engine!) and recognized manufacturing quality. Image success too, thanks to the 205 GTi launched in 1984, which today has become the muse of French Youngtimers with the R5 Turbo, and which at the time perpetuated the idea of the small, nervous French sports car. The 205 also marked the history of motorsport, with the demonic Turbo 16 Group B which enabled Peugeot to win the manufacturer’s titles in rallies in 1985 and 1986 then, once Group B was banned, to win the Dakar in 1987 and 1988.
Jean-Marc Gay’s work stands out for the richness of the content, both iconographic and in the narrative. Starting from the origins of the M24 project launched in 1977, the author, who also declares his love for a car that has occupied an important place in his personal life, details with passion and a multitude of details the studies, the prototype test phase (including the famous raid in Algeria and Morocco by journalist André Costa over 7000 kilometres!), the start of production and machining, also giving many technical details on the manufacturing processes or the tools used in the Mulhouse factories , Poissy and Madrid.
After a detailed presentation of the press tests, we then approach the evolution of the 205 vintage after vintage, until the end of its career in 1998. In the meantime, we rediscover the 205 Junior or the special Roland Garros series, the versions utilities and even driving school, without forgetting period press covers, advertisements and catalogues. The story is embellished with many boxes that contribute to perfecting the general knowledge and it does not hesitate to immerse us in the atmosphere of the 80s and 90s with many references to the political and social context of France and the world at that time. . If we had to quibble, we could consider that the 205 Turbo 16 Group B is not highlighted enough, but it deserves a book on its own and this book focuses first on the career of the 205 of road.
- Publication date: 08/06/2022
- Number of pages: 192
- Author: Jean-Marc Gay and Stéphane Jolly
- Publisher: ETAI ALBUMS
- Size: 240X290mm
- Number of illustrations: 400
- Price: 49 euros
to summarize
If you want to become unbeatable on the Peugeot 205, this very complete book, rich in 400 images, will satisfy your curiosity. The sacred number, one of the icons of the French automobile, sold more than 5 million copies, deserves that.
