A “sacred number” celebrates its fortieth anniversary. On February 24, 1983, Peugeot launched the 205 on the market, a model that would allow the León brand to get out of the financial quagmire. And that, 40 years later, continues to impress fans.
“If we don’t get this car right, we’re dead”
When the 205 was launched, Peugeot was not doing well. After the merger with Citroën, after the acquisition of Chrysler Europe, the finances are not looking good. Sales are falling in the face of competition from Japanese brands, which are better equipped and less expensive. Peugeot also suffers from a brand image that is too tidy.
One of the members of the Peugeot board of directors, Jean Boillot, then had the idea of launching a small car that was as comfortable in the city as it was on the highway in order to revive the brand. The M24 project – which will become the 205 – is crucial in this segment of small cars where it will have to compete with the Renault 5.
The billions of francs spent on its development and the development of the production lines should not be in vain. “If we don’t make it with this car, we’re dead,” they say internally at Peugeot, as one enthusiast site reminds us.
The car was officially unveiled to much fanfare in Monaco in January 1983. When it came on the market, the 205 stood in stark contrast to the 104, the small car in the range, all in sharp angles but also in design. Led by Gérald Welter’s styling team, who won the internal competition, the Peugeot 205 is a small, round car with room in the cabin, thanks to the work of Paul Bracq.
The 205 features many innovations. It embraces plastic, the flagship material of the 1970s and 1980s. This model will be the first at Peugeot to adopt a whole new generation of more efficient diesel engines, such as torsion bars at the rear, to ensure more space for passengers. Peugeot even remembers that an electric 205 concept had even been developed with a nickel-iron battery and an electric motor whose power was equivalent to 11 horsepower.
More than 5.2 million copies sold
With these assets, 205 immediately found its audience. As a contemporary report reminds us, broadcast by the INA“Since 1983, 155,000 copies have been sold, in 1984 375,000 and [en 1985, NDLR] the 205 occupies 12% of the market in France”. The million copies produced were exceeded in 1986. The “Sacred Number” advertisement, which had impressed in 1983, kept its promises.
Special series, convertibles, sports version, power up to 200 horsepower, the career of the 205 will last almost 15 years before being replaced in 1998 by the 206. From now on, little Lionne is one of the stars of the collector’s market where a la passion for the models of the 80s is currently blowing.
At the head of the investigation, of course, the emblematic GTI version, a version that celebrates the victories of the 205 in motorsport in large series. In particular, the little Peugeot was crowned twice world rally champion in 1985 and 1986. Last year, the Peugeot 205 was therefore the most sold classic car on this market.
In total, more than 5.2 million Peugeot 205s were produced. Next July, the Peugeot 205 Club plans to celebrate this anniversary with a large gathering in Sochaux in collaboration with Aventure Peugeot, which manages the brand’s heritage.
Source: BFM TV
