My Peugeot 205 (Proper) Rallye 1.3 lhd

[cauld1]

I was thinking today it was about time I had a thread up on this wee car. I've had it for around 7 years now, finally have started into it to give my E34 BM a rest.

I suppose to set the precedent for getting this, need to go back in time a bit. My dad managed to buy a 1.9 GTI for very little money when I was about 14 (we still have it, I am coaxing him to go for a full, proper resto on it) I loved getting taken out for runs it it, although I always preferred my 8v mk2 gti golf I bought with summer job money at 15. My first car (for the road), namely a 1.4 205 Roland Garros. It was, well a shed. £250 worth of shed but had a full mot. Learnt to drive on the road in it, and personally, whilst my friends were driving modern polos etc, I preferred my 205. The amount of fun had in that car was incredible, unfortunately, it was also possibly the most rotten 205 I have even seen, and ended up scrapped. Whilst I had this car I did a bit of researching and found out about the Euro Rallye, the one with twin webers, that the UK didn't get.

Fast forward to my first year of uni and an evening of ebay viewing I stumbled upon this car, in Wales but still on French plates, stickered up and with a set of cut slicks. I had to own it. Right place, right time with the student loan money in all honesty. My dad got sent over before Christmas to pick it up in Breacon, the year there was really bad snow, yea that year. Cut slicks and all he made it on the last ferry over before they were cancelled.

The car as I got it, in the top photo we had changed the cut slicks for more NI police friendly tyres (in fairness they were great once up to heat!).

The car got registered on NI plates, poking around it turned out it has Peugeot Sport shocks which was a nice surprise. I took most of the stickers off and used it as sweep car in the QUB Motor Club Summer Lanes rally.

Then me and my dad did the UAC Boxing Day rally in it.

Truth be told, it had gotten a bit tatty, more so than I would like, so it was shelved for a few years whilst I played with primarily my mx5 and the E28 BMW.

I took a notion a couple of years back to just get it done. So got the whole exterior painted.

I then took a notion that, quite frankly, the engine bay and interior weren't up to scratch. I was never fussed with the welding on the cage mounts to be honest... It was logbooked as a group n car in France, but I always wanted to go more akin to group a! Also, it's worth pointing out that the front valance is not a Rallye one, as it doesn't have the vents, they are like hens teeth so cut open seems to be the best 'happy medium'. So after getting a bit distracted with starting my career properly and moving around the UK a bit, as well as going full scene with my E34, the 205 once again got sidelined.

I'm now closer to home again, and the next stage of the E34 is going to cost more money than finishing this, so I thought why not?

Tucked in with the other toys.

Had these Compomotives sitting,but they are 3 stud, so no use for the car, as shame as they suit it imo. I have them sold to a friend of a friend anyways.

So I have now started, taking the car back apart again, engine out, front end off and cage out.

 

[cauld1]

The first of the new toys arrived, a Satchshift gear linkage as used by Colin Satchell in his hillclimb 205.

That brings it up to date, next priority is to get the car booked in to get a full weld in cage.

I have bits and pieces of carbon fibre for the interior sitting, and this..

Have a mocked up rhd dashboard cowling to fit this in, although a crowd called Maxi Motorsport do a rhd carbon fibre one, so that'll be order imminently.

Plans after the above -

Get the engine bay and interior painted.
Heated windscreen (as heater unit is going).
Fibreglass bonnet skin
New arch extensions as the others aren't neat enough.
Bilstein front coilovers and group a Bilstein rear shocks
Group a exhaust
New seats, belts and steering wheel
Quaife atb diff.
Somehow find wheels that'll suit it.
Stickers like the group a Dealer Team France Rallyes, see below picture.

The inspiration:

Target is to have it on the road and reliable for the journey to Goodwood Circuit for Players Classic. Aiming to drive there, I will have ear defenders as it will have no sound deadening whatsoever. @jayme claims he will be driving his mini there too, so at least there will be at least 2 deaf people there!

 

[FM155]

Bloody Awesome! Proper hard as nails little cars these. The French Concessionnaires livery will suit it perfectly.

 

[j44nty]

The first of the new toys arrived, a Satchshift gear linkage as used by Colin Satchell in his hillclimb 205.
View attachment 167689

That brings it up to date, next priority is to get the car booked in to get a full weld in cage.

I have bits and pieces of carbon fibre for the interior sitting, and this..
View attachment 167690
Have a mocked up rhd dashboard cowling to fit this in, although a crowd called Maxi Motorsport do a rhd carbon fibre one, so that'll be order imminently.

Plans after the above -

Get the engine bay and interior painted.
Heated windscreen (as heater unit is going).
Fibreglass bonnet skin
New arch extensions as the others aren't neat enough.
Bilstein front coilovers and group a Bilstein rear shocks
Group a exhaust
New seats, belts and steering wheel
Quaife atb diff.
Somehow find wheels that'll suit it.
Stickers like the group a Dealer Team France Rallyes, see below picture.

The inspiration:
View attachment 167691
View attachment 167692
View attachment 167693

Target is to have it on the road and reliable for the journey to Goodwood Circuit for Players Classic. Aiming to drive there, I will have ear defenders as it will have no sound deadening whatsoever. @jayme claims he will be driving his mini there too, so at least there will be at least 2 deaf people there!

Thats fantastic

 

[Martyn]

The first of the new toys arrived, a Satchshift gear linkage as used by Colin Satchell in his hillclimb 205.
View attachment 167689

That brings it up to date, next priority is to get the car booked in to get a full weld in cage.

I have bits and pieces of carbon fibre for the interior sitting, and this..
View attachment 167690
Have a mocked up rhd dashboard cowling to fit this in, although a crowd called Maxi Motorsport do a rhd carbon fibre one, so that'll be order imminently.

Plans after the above -

Get the engine bay and interior painted.
Heated windscreen (as heater unit is going).
Fibreglass bonnet skin
New arch extensions as the others aren't neat enough.
Bilstein front coilovers and group a Bilstein rear shocks
Group a exhaust
New seats, belts and steering wheel
Quaife atb diff.
Somehow find wheels that'll suit it.
Stickers like the group a Dealer Team France Rallyes, see below picture.

The inspiration:
View attachment 167691
View attachment 167692
View attachment 167693

Target is to have it on the road and reliable for the journey to Goodwood Circuit for Players Classic. Aiming to drive there, I will have ear defenders as it will have no sound deadening whatsoever. @jayme claims he will be driving his mini there too, so at least there will be at least 2 deaf people there!

Yes... and winner of all cars on rms.

Total respect

Awesome!

 

[cauld1]

Bloody Awesome! Proper hard as nails little cars these. The French Concessionnaires livery will suit it perfectly.

Cheers! I would almost say it's a shame it's against blue book rules for targas with the (factory) twin webers, but I wouldn't be as afraid to take sides or corners out of the mx5....if I got off my arse and entered a few!

Aiming to attempt a hill/sprint or 2 in due course though!

 

[Martyn]

We will see it at cars & coffee on sun?

 

[FM155]

A lot of the Targa's are very rough and really not what you'd be wanting to do with something like that tbh. Wee mx is the yoke for the Targas and this will suit the sprints & hillclimbs perfectly. I thought there was an 'unless fitted from the factory' getout clause in the regs that meant certain cars could get away with carbs? At least that's how I thought a certain white Mk2 Escort was running?

 

[Jamie-g]

Many yesses!! That is so cool.

 

[cauld1]

Thats fantastic

Thanks very much!

Yes... and winner of all cars on rms.

Total respect

Awesome!

Cheers!

We will see it at cars & coffee on sun?

Nope, it's very definitely a rolling shell at the minute, I will have the E34 down though.

A lot of the Targa's are very rough and really not what you'd be wanting to do with something like that tbh. Wee mx is the yoke for the Targas and this will suit the sprints & hillclimbs perfectly. I thought there was an 'unless fitted from the factory' getout clause in the regs that meant certain cars could get away with carbs? At least that's how I thought a certain white Mk2 Escort was running?

Unsure on the getout clause, but as you said they are a bit rougher than I'd like to take it on. I did do (most) of the Lee Lucas in my Ignis Sport this year, and well, fwd isn't as fun as I had hoped, ruining the gear linkage didn't help!

 

[AMG]

Pug equivalent of the Nova Sport, nice car, would love to get a look at it sometime!

 

[FM155]

Yeah, springfling was ok with maybe 1 or 2 rough tests, A29 wasn't too bad but in general not something you'd be wanting to point something as nice as that down. Looking forward to updates.

 

[RCT]

It would be my favourite of the 205 models. Surprisingly sharp for what they are when setup and running right. I rate it better than both my 1.6 and 1.9!

 

[cauld1]

Pug equivalent of the Nova Sport, nice car, would love to get a look at it sometime!

Yep, exactly it. Do you have a sport yourself? More than welcome to have a look around when it's more in one piece. The other one of this type was the AX Sport, I'd like one of each but will settle with the 205 at the minute.

Yeah, springfling was ok with maybe 1 or 2 rough tests, A29 wasn't too bad but in general not something you'd be wanting to point something as nice as that down. Looking forward to updates.

Exactly it, I almost wept when I looked under the mx5 when we ran the Summer Lanes at Baronscourt, worth it though for the days craic! Not on this car though.

 

[cauld1]

It would be my favourite of the 205 models. Surprisingly sharp for what they are when setup and running right. I rate it better than both my 1.6 and 1.9!

Same, the gearing helps them a lot.

The power out of the group a cars at the time from a 1.3 still makes me want to figure out exactly what they did to them.

 

[AMG]

Yep, exactly it. Do you have a sport yourself? More than welcome to have a look around when it's more in one piece. The other one of this type was the AX Sport, I'd like one of each but will settle with the 205 at the minute.

Have 2 Sports, was almost going to build the second one with cage etc like your 205, but chickened out in the end and have it as a standard road car.
Know how you feel about the AX, it really is an addiction, you can have too many cars, but never enough at the same time!

 

[RCT]

Same, the gearing helps them a lot.

The power out of the group a cars at the time from a 1.3 still makes me want to figure out exactly what they did to them.

That’s it. Is there anymore of them over here that you know of? I know there’s a few in England and a proper group a rally one owned by a guy that does some of the European slowly sideways stuff with my dad.

If you need any extra pics for ref when your building it back up or not sure of something, just let me know .

 

[southsky sunrise]

Likes this

 

[FM155]

A right few years ago, I had a shot in an 205 XS that was running the twin carbs and a ported head / cam etc, loved the way it drove. This must be great with the C/R box in it. Did you see the Chris Harris review recently in one? Must admit I thought of yours when I saw that.
Chris Harris Drives: Porsche 911R vs Peugeot 205 Rallye

 

[big_pete]

Brilliant! I had so much fun with my little GTi beater. The Harris video really says alot about how good they are

 

[cauld1]

That’s it. Is there anymore of them over here that you know of? I know there’s a few in England and a proper group a rally one owned by a guy that does some of the European slowly sideways stuff with my dad.

If you need any extra pics for ref when your building it back up or not sure of something, just let me know .

No other ones I know of over here, I take it you still have one? I appreciate that as there will likely be questions arising when its going back together, most likely silly stuff! Loom and all is pulled out to neaten.

A right few years ago, I had a shot in an 205 XS that was running the twin carbs and a ported head / cam etc, loved the way it drove. This must be great with the C/R box in it. Did you see the Chris Harris review recently in one? Must admit I thought of yours when I saw that.
Chris Harris Drives: Porsche 911R vs Peugeot 205 Rallye

Yea the Chris Harris video is great, partly what made me decide to just get it finished.

Brilliant! I had so much fun with my little GTi beater. The Harris video really says alot about how good they are

They are just great fun, as much as the likes of renaultsport clios get compared to 205s I don't think they are as fun to be honest as they don't feel quite so direct.

 

[FM155]

What are you planning engine wise? Theres specs for everything else there except the donkey. Its difficult nowadays to run a carb fed engine with a hairy cam if you want to also run it on the road and get an mot but there is a fair bit you can do without going mental on the cam of course. And its always possible to have a 'road' engine and something for the weekend / rest of the year type thing. Bit of a pain but it must take a morning to swap an engine on one of these.

 

[cauld1]

What are you planning engine wise? Theres specs for everything else there except the donkey. Its difficult nowadays to run a carb fed engine with a hairy cam if you want to also run it on the road and get an mot but there is a fair bit you can do without going mental on the cam of course. And its always possible to have a 'road' engine and something for the weekend / rest of the year type thing. Bit of a pain but it must take a morning to swap an engine on one of these.

I am utterly fearful of doing anything much with the engine. It seems to have a fairly lumpy cam as is. Last mot ended up having to hold it at 4.5k rpm to get emissions ok. Given what it is, I don't think it would be right to change the engine for anything other than what it is. The only engine similar to it is the s1 106 Rallye one but as far as I'm aware even thats not identical. These are based on a 1.1 tu engine then bored out by Peugeot.

I would love to have it sitting with the engine built to group a spec which was about 130 brake, but I would imagine it could get costly! So I'm happy enough as is, and just want everything else set up right. Saying that, provided it's finished in time, the drive over for Players Classic will be horrid probably, with absolutely no sound deadening, and the group a exhaust. Motorway speeds you're looking at 4.5k to 5k rpm!

 

[FM155]

You're probably dead right in reality. Worth looking at the head to see if anything has been done to it already and other than that, leave well alone. Class project, hope it comes together well for you.

 

[cauld1]

You're probably dead right in reality. Worth looking at the head to see if anything has been done to it already and other than that, leave well alone. Class project, hope it comes together well for you.

To be honest the diff is only happening as it crunched going in to 5th so want to inspect the box. I reckon it's syncro on 5th at fault, bit of metal flake in the box oil....