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The PEUGEOT 205 celebrates its 40th birthday: a great looking car!

21 March 2023

6 minutes read

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24 February 1983: the Peugeot 205, the iconic little lioness, lets out its first roar and gets out its claws to leave its feline mark on the history of the automobile.

A symbol of modernity and a pioneer in the long line of successful PEUGEOT city cars, the 205 will forever remain the "sacred number" of the Lion brand. A look back at 40 years of style and legend.

The birth of a myth

At the end of the 1970s, Peugeot decided to launch a new model that did not exist on the car market and that was just waiting to take its place.

It was a new small car that would be much more than a city car, a multi-purpose car, at ease in the city as well as on the road, capable of transporting a small family, and all this while remaining affordable... in short, a car that was good for everything!

Gérard Welter takes over from Pininfarina

While most of the previous PEUGEOTs had been designed by Pininfarina, it was the project of the in-house stylists led by Gérard Welter that won the competition organised in-house, with a much more modern and fluid design. 

 

Gérard Welter joined Peugeot in 1960 at the age of 17 and spent his entire career there. His most spectacular success was, by his own admission, the Peugeot 205, which marked a break with the past and was a great success that marked a real turning point in the Marque's history. Gérard Welter, car designer.

Gérard Welter takes over from Pininfarina

While most of the previous PEUGEOTs had been designed by Pininfarina, it was the project of the in-house stylists led by Gérard Welter that won the competition organised in-house, with a much more modern and fluid design. 

 

Gérard Welter joined Peugeot in 1960 at the age of 17 and spent his entire career there. His most spectacular success was, by his own admission, the Peugeot 205, which marked a break with the past and was a great success that marked a real turning point in the Marque's history. Gérard Welter, car designer.

It was at this time that the grille with its horizontal bars and the band between the rear lights became a permanent feature of the Peugeot design. The interior design of the little city car was created by Paul Bracq, another famous car designer.
It was at this time that the grille with its horizontal bars and the band between the rear lights became a permanent feature of the Peugeot design. The interior design of the little city car was created by Paul Bracq, another famous car designer.

Peugeot 205 junior

 

The PEUGEOT 205 was the first small PEUGEOT to receive such a wide and varied range of engines - from 45 to 200 horsepower! - and an automatic gearbox, a rare option on the market at the time. From its launch in 1983, it was offered in three petrol versions. The diesel would make its appearance a few months later.

Peugeot 205 junior

 

The PEUGEOT 205 was the first small PEUGEOT to receive such a wide and varied range of engines - from 45 to 200 horsepower! - and an automatic gearbox, a rare option on the market at the time. From its launch in 1983, it was offered in three petrol versions. The diesel would make its appearance a few months later.

The following year, the range was extended to include the legendary GTI and Turbo 16, as well as the 3-door body. A multitude of variations followed, from the most affordable, such as the 1986 Junior with its "jean" seats, to the most chic, such as the Lacoste or Gentry.

Sales and channel champion

 

In 1984, 1985 and 1990, the 205 was the best-selling car in France! Motor sport will be a powerful vehicle for promoting the PEUGEOT 205, and PEUGEOT. In 1984, under the impetus of Jean Todt, PEUGEOT entered the premier category of the World Rally Championship, the famous "Group B", with the impressive 205 Turbo 16. 

Sales and channel champion

 

In 1984, 1985 and 1990, the 205 was the best-selling car in France! Motor sport will be a powerful vehicle for promoting the PEUGEOT 205, and PEUGEOT. In 1984, under the impetus of Jean Todt, PEUGEOT entered the premier category of the World Rally Championship, the famous "Group B", with the impressive 205 Turbo 16. 

Driven by true driving legends such as Ari Vatanen, Bruno Saby, Timo Salonen and Juha Kankkunen, the Peugeot 205 T16 reached the heights of glory by becoming World Rally Champion in 1985 and 1986 and by winning the prestigious Paris-Dakar Rally in 1987 and 1988.
Electric before its time

In 1985, the PSA group presented a prototype of an electric 205, the result of PSA's research centre on electric vehicles. Announced performances: 140 km of autonomy, in standby on a recharge / top speed: 100 km/h. The interior space of the electric 205 is exactly the same as that of the 205 with an internal combustion engine, as the powertrain and battery are housed entirely under the bonnet. 

 

An electronic control system makes it possible to suppress the gearbox. By pressing the accelerator pedal, the engine speed is gradually increased. Lifting the foot from the accelerator pedal enables the engine to brake: the electric motor then works as a current generator, feeding its energy into the battery.

When advertising invents the "holy number
From 1983, the PEUGEOT 205 benefits from marketing that matches its qualities. As soon as it was launched, the invention of the nickname "Sacré numéro" struck a chord. The advertising creations that used it were effective and very much in tune with the times, such as the famous film in which the PEUGEOT 205 is chased and bombed on a frozen lake by a military plane, in a very "James Bond" atmosphere. A spot directed by Gérard Pirès, who a few years later would sign the famous feature film Taxi, starring a PEUGEOT 406. You can't change your mind...
From 1983, the PEUGEOT 205 benefits from marketing that matches its qualities. As soon as it was launched, the invention of the nickname "Sacré numéro" struck a chord. The advertising creations that used it were effective and very much in tune with the times, such as the famous film in which the PEUGEOT 205 is chased and bombed on a frozen lake by a military plane, in a very "James Bond" atmosphere. A spot directed by Gérard Pirès, who a few years later would sign the famous feature film Taxi, starring a PEUGEOT 406. You can't change your mind...
In 1998, after a long and rich career of 15 years, and 5,278,050 units produced, the PEUGEOT 205 took its leave. In the minds of car enthusiasts, it will forever remain PEUGEOT's "sacred number", the one that built the foundations of an exceptional line of successful city cars, the PEUGEOT 206, PEUGEOT 207 and today the PEUGEOT 208.
Key dates for the PEUGEOT 205
  • 23 February 1983 : press presentation of the PEUGEOT 205 Turbo 16
  • 24 February 1983 : launch of the PEUGEOT 205 in 5-door version
  • 1984 : launch of the PEUGEOT 205 3-door and the PEUGEOT 205 GTI 1.6 105 bhp, marke-ting of the PEUGEOT 205 Turbo 16, first victory in the World Rally Championship (Finland)
  • 1985 : the PEUGEOT 205 Turbo 16 is the World Rally Champion (with Timo Salonen), the millionth PEUGEOT 205 leaves the Mulhouse factory
  • 1986 : launch of the PEUGEOT 205 Cabriolet, the GTI 115 and 130 bhp, the PEUGEOT 205 Turbo 16 is the World Rally Champion (with Juha Kankkunen)
  • 1987 : the PEUGEOT 205 receives a new dashboard, the PEUGEOT 205 Turbo 16 wins the Paris-Dakar
  • 1988 : launch of the PEUGEOT 205 Rally, second victory of the PEUGEOT 205 Turbo 16 in the Paris-Dakar
  • 1989 : launch of the PEUGEOT 205 Roland Garros
  • 1990 : slight restyling (indicators, rear lights, etc.), launch of the PEUGEOT 205 Diesel Turbo (78 bhp)
  • 1993 : discontinuation of the PEUGEOT 205 GTI
  • 1995 : discontinuation of the PEUGEOT 205 Cabriolet
  • 1998 : the PEUGEOT 205 is replaced by the PEUGEOT 206
Discover the list of festivities organised around the 40th anniversary of the 205, unveiled by Xavier Crespin, Director of L'Aventure Peugeot, at the RETROMOBILE show in Paris.
Peugeot miniatures
Fans of the PEUGEOT 205 can order the 1:18 and 1:43 scale miniatures on the online shop.
Lifestyle boutique
Peugeot Adventure Museum
The Peugeot Adventure Museum in Sochaux is opening a major exhibition on 23 February with numerous photo and video archives and the presentation of a dozen PEUGEOT 205 models.
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