CAFÉ RACER 76

The Peugeot 205 T16 will make you feel like a Group B god

Could the homologation-special Peugeot 205 T16 be the ultimate car for that Sunday drive?

Spot the difference

The turbo lag on that 200bhp engine might seem to last an eternity, and any luggage you can cram on the parcel shelf behind you will be promptly cooked. But is the 205 T16 nevertheless an ideal car of choice for a spirited Sunday drive?

Aside from the more luxurious interior (if you can get away with calling it that) and the substantially detuned engine, the 200 road-going 205 T16s are similar in format to the fearsome rally cars that dominated the Group B category – the then-pinnacle of motorsport (that’s right, more popular than Formula One) – right up until its termination by the FIA in 1986. And if that’s not something to boast about, we’re not sure what is.

Humble origins

Of course, the T16 is but a mere silhouette of the humble 205 from which it originated (only the doors, windscreen, roof and headlights remain), and it's far more unpractical as a result. But with that lightweight tubular frame construction, mid-mounted 200bhp transverse turbo four, and clever central diff sending power to all four wheels (stuffed right into the corners of the car), the T16 has the potential to be a real joy to drive... if you’re willing to work hard enough.

It looks so purposeful, too, if a bit awkward, as though it’s crying out for that signature works Peugeot Sport livery. The wheelarches are hilariously flared, we assume to accommodate the miles of travel in the ‘yump’-ready suspension, and those huge air scoops look almost as silly as the car does with its vast rear clamshell opened up. The fit and finish don’t look too bad, though – more than can be said for most of the other Group B cars.

Playing Juha

But for those who remember the heart-in-mouth excitement of the snarling monsters hurling into a never-ending funnel of human barriers, none of this will matter. In fact, we think the 205 T16 is about as cool as they come (and nearly as rare). It’s hardly pretending to be the grocery runner, is it?

This well presented T16 has covered just 1700km from new and essentially looks as though it’s just rolled off the assembly line. RM Auctions will be offering the car at its London sale in September. Could this stubby homologation special become a modern classic? After all, what other car can make you feel like Juha Kankkunen on a Sunday afternoon?

1972 Jeep Commando

Kaiser Jeep reintroduced one of its most popular vehicles, the Jeepster, in 1967 to supplement its very successful production of medium duty military trucks and to compete with vehicles like the Ford Bronco and Toyota Land Cruiser in the civilian market. In 1972 Kaiser’s new parent company, American Motors, lengthened the wheelbase to 104 inches and renamed the revised Jeep the Commando C104. The front end was also altered to accept AMC engines from a 232 cubic inch straight-six to a 304 cubic inch V8, and the Commando received a full width grille that distinguished it from earlier Jeeps. 20,000 Commando C104s were built before it was replaced by the full-size Cherokee in 1974.

This 1972 Jeep Commando Convertible is a fully restored, splendid example with exquisite paint and interior as well as a finely detailed engine compartment. A three owner car, it was purchased new on February 29, 1972 in Chattanooga, Tennessee and was with its second owner from August of 1972 until 2009. Included are the original sales invoice and financing paperwork from its second owner, the original warranty book, numerous receipts from the 1970s, an owner’s manual, several original Jeep brochures and even the original vehicle emission control stickers.

Finished in Jetset Blue Metallic, this Commando also has a brand new black vinyl convertible top, tonneau cover and thin whitewall tires. The blue interior is both new and period correct, and also features correct blue carpets and the original Jeep AM radio. As for equipment, it is a four-wheel drive example with locking hubs and is powered by AMC’s 304 cubic inch V8 coupled to an automatic transmission with a separate transfer case. It also features power steering and power brakes for added drivability. A capable and comfortable truck, this Jeepster Commando could even be shown given the quality of its restoration, which is not only outstanding but also completely correct. Vintage trucks in this kind of condition and with this level of attention to detail are not a common sight, and for those who appreciate the style and utility of the classic Jeep Commando, this pristinely and accurately restored 1972 model is an ideal example.

Bonhams’ Mercedes-Benz Sale 2014: Highlights from the 12m-euro auction

The debut collaborative sale between Bonhams and Mercedes-Benz was a success, despite some star lots failing to sell. The pre-War faction did extremely well, and a 1976 Unimog achieved a record price…

With a 70% sale rate and total revenue of almost 12m euros, Bonhams’ Mercedes-Benz Sale, held at the Mercedes Museum on July 12, was largely positive. The highest-price sellers were the numerous pre-War cars among the near 50 lots, in particular the 1934 500K Special Roadster, which achieved the top individual price, of 3.1m euros. The car’s Swedish owner donated the money to cancer and Alzheimer’s foundations – a nice touch. The second-highest price of the auction, at 2.2m euros, was for a 1936 540K Cabriolet. Achieving 471,500 euros, meanwhile, and almost quadrupling its 110,000-150,000 estimate, was the oldest car in the entire sale, a 1901 Benz Ideal 7HP Twin Cylinder ‘Contra Motor’ Vis-à-vis.

Never a surefire sell

Important classics are never a surefire sell, as shown when the 300 SL Gullwing that Moss and Jenks used as a reconnaissance vehicle for the famous 1955 Mille Miglia failed to sell. The final bid of over 2m euros (including buyer’s premium) was just not enough for Bonhams to sell such an exceptional classic.

Other prominent lots did solidly fulfil their estimates, however, with Mika Häkkinen’s DTM racing car making 460,000 euros and Chen Yi’s 600 Pullman fetching 172,500 euros. The ex-Madonna 560 SL surpassed its 43,000-52,000-euro estimate, making just under 70,000 euros, and a 1976 Unimog doubled its estimate, selling for 82,800 euros: a new World Record.

The 10 top results from the Mercedes-Benz Sale

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