Peugeot 205 40th Anniversary Roadtrip

The event was the 40th anniversary of the 205 launch. We were somewhat uncertain what kind of reception we’d receive, turning up to the Peugeot father-land with our Tolman Edition 205 GTis. It felt like we were baby sitters taking the kids home to mum and dad with tattoos and a nose piercing... How would the Peugeot factory fraternity respond to our creations? 

Well, very well as it turns out! We had non-stop praise and compliments, enquiries, questions, demonstrations, media engagements, interviews and filming.

Admiration came from not only from the general attendance, but from the Peugeot board, museum director and staff. With an opportunity to enter the first Tolman Edition EVO 16v customer car, chassis 001, into a Concours at the event, we came away with an award for the Judges Choice - the best car of over 650 205s of all shapes and types. 

We covered just over 1200 miles in our development Sorrento green 1.6 Tolman Edition GTi  and it was an absolute joy. The car was comfortable and faultless - a testimony to the build quality of our cars and highlights the importance of engineering in reliability into any resto-mod car build. 
Apparently, smooth sweeping French roundabouts are perfect for drifting a 205 GTi. The balance on the Tolman Edition is sublime. Predictable oversteer, controllable with the throttle, and cocking a rear leg like a Blue Picardy spaniel.

The whole event was excellent - it was an occasion when work did not feel like work! We met countless enthusiasts who were all so friendly and welcoming, the hospitality second to none, and the weather didn't dip below 30c. Perfect.

A big thank you to Nick Bailey of Elan PR and Tony Wright of Whole Tone Media who accompanied us on the trip.

Fancy a road trip in the classic hot hatch of your dreams? Contact Us to discuss...