Introduced in 1984, the 205 T16 quickly dominated the World Rally Championship, winning two manufacturers’ titles and two drivers’ titles. Its extraordinary power-to-weight ratio, reliability, and agility left a lasting mark on motorsport history. Even after the end of Group B, it continued a victorious career in rally-raid events, notably the Paris-Dakar.
To homologate the 205 T16 for Group B, Peugeot was required, as per regulations, to produce 200 road-going units. These “Series 200” cars, assembled in Poissy and finished by Heuliez, retained the specific chassis, mid-engine layout, and all-wheel-drive system of the competition version, but in a more civilized configuration. Rare, numbered, and directly derived from the factory program, many of them were later converted for competition use.
This is precisely the case with the chassis presented here. Assembled in 1984, it was purchased directly at the end of the year from PTS (Peugeot-Talbot Sport) by Jean-Christian Duby, who very quickly gave it its baptism of fire in competition. Accompanied by Michel Pignard, these two hillclimb specialists entered the car in the 24 Hours of Ice at Chamonix in February 1985. It competed there still in its original “Series 200” configuration, simply fitted with the safety equipment required for racing.
Bearing the marks of these tumultuous ice races, the car was then sold as-is to Daniel Pernoud — former PTS team manager for Ari Vatanen’s car — who carried out a complete refurbishment during the summer of 1986. Chassis #5100139 was then converted to “Evo 1” specification and made its debut in this new configuration at the final round of the French Rally Championship, the Var Rally, where Michel Pernoud — the owner’s brother — achieved 12th place overall.
Banned from international rallying from 1987 onward after the tragic events of the 1986 season, the car, like many other Group B models of its era, found a second life in Rallycross. However, it did not immediately leave road rallies: during 1987 it competed in three additional national events where it remained eligible, still driven by Jacques Dubert. At the same time, it entered Rallycross events and quickly found its natural environment there, competing in the French Rallycross Championship with Jean-Baptiste Point, who notably secured two victories with it.
At the beginning of 1988, chassis #5100139 was fitted with an “Evo 2-type” rear wing and took the start of the 24 Hours on Ice at Chamonix, entrusted to Bertrand Balas and driver-journalist Jean-Pierre Malcher, both specialists in this type of race. Malcher even produced a car/motorcycle comparison piece about it, published in issue no. 611 of Auto-Hebdo. The car then contested four rounds of the French Rallycross Championship with Cathy Caly and Jean-Baptiste Point, before beginning 1989 with a second participation in the 24 Hours of Chamonix, this time shared by Patrick Bernardini — future two-time French Rally Champion — and former Formula 1 driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille.
Fully overhauled after this final race, it was sold at the end of 1989 to its current owner, who has carefully kept it ever since. In need of restoration, this piece of history is offered in its original condition and is presented with its engine running.
