The 1970s forced automobile manufacturers to face a very delicate situation, such as the world oil crisis. In the case of the PSA group, the company was in a delicate financial situation and needed to create a revolutionary vehicle that would become its salvation.
After the purchase of Chrysler Europe -the Simca and Talbot brands-, a new project called Project M24 was born in 1978 and it evolved until the official presentation of the Peugeot 205 in February 1983. Pininfarina and the style department were involved in its creation. Peugeot intern, led by Gerard Welter.
Thus was born a vehicle that would be produced from 1983 to 1999, of which 5,213,432 units were produced. The 205 was manufactured in seven group locations: Mulhouse (France), Poissy (France), Ryton om Dunsmore (England), Jakarta (Indonesia), Changhua (Taiwan), Los Andes (Chile) and the Villaverde factory in Madrid.
In 1984 the production of the 205 began in Villaverde. The problems with tariffs forced to initially use the Spanish engines from the Simca 1200, Talbot 150 and Talbot Horizon. The initial range in Spain consisted of the GL, GR Confort and GT finishes, with powers from 55 to 83 CV. All featured a humped hood for the engines to enter.
The Spanish range subsequently grew with the launch of the 205 GTX, the Spanish GTI. It was equipped with a 1.6-liter engine, with 94 HP of power. Since 1993, the world production of the model was concentrated in Villaverde, reaching a total of 1,188,811 units. To comply with the new anti-pollution policies, a catalytic converter was included in the exhaust line and an EGR valve.
The 205 was manufactured with a body of three and five doors, combined with gasoline and diesel engines. The sportier GTI versions also had a strong role, with the 1.6 (105 and 115 CV) and 1.9 (130 CV) versions. The French brand also created a lighter and markedly sporty version, the 103 CV 205 Rallye. There was also the radical and sporty 205 T16, the base model for the brand's sports activities during those years.
In competition, the 205 achieved multiple victories and podiums with the Group B Peugeot 205 Turbo16, which swept the World Rally Championship during the 1985 and 1986 seasons. An evolved and adapted version of this vehicle also achieved victory in Paris -Dakar.
Among the curiosities, the 205 had some special versions such as the Peugeot 205 Cabriolet Pininfarina CTi (injection) and CJ (carburation), a 205 Comercial and the 205 Multi. It was even the basis for a 100% electric model prototype.
After a successful career in the market, the Peugeot 205 was gradually replaced, first with the launch of the 106 utility (in 1991) and, later, with the arrival of the 206 in 1998, a model that began the 200 saga of the French brand.
