Synopses & Reviews
Four-wheel-drive was authorized in rallying from 1979, but for a time no serious car manufacturer even tried to harness it to their cars. Soon, though, it was Audi who produced the world's first rally-winning four-wheel-drive car -- the Quattro. However it was Peugeot who designed, developed, campaigned and won with the first truly sophisticated four-wheel-drive Group B Car -- the 205 Turbo 16. It was the first truly great, purpose-designed, Group B car. Determined to win at almost any cost, Peugeot hired Jean Todt (who would later transform the fortunes of the Ferrari F1 organization) in 1981, and set him an ambitious target. His dream car had to be running in 1983, homologated in 1984, and capable of winning World Championships by 1985. Packed with illustrations, technical details, facts, figures and successes of this innovative car this book is a must for any rally fan.
Review
Australian Classic Cars, April 2008
Review by Patrick Quinn
Australian magazine
Circulation: unknown
Last month, we read up on the Austin-Healey 3000 in this series of Rally Giants and now it’s the turn of the Peugeot 205 T16.
While the Rally 3000 evolved from the road going version, the Peugeot was designed as a rally winner from the start. By the mid-1980s, such configurations as 4WD and mid engine were de rigueur. In the Peugeot, the turbocharged 1.8-liter 4-cylinder was mounted sideways behind the passenger – LHD car – drove across to a transaxle that in turn drove the driveshaft fore and aft.
In this publication, erudite Graham Robson makes it quite clear that he is a fan of the Peugeot, and after 3 outright wins in Peugeots in 1984, 7 in 1985 and then 6 the following year it hardly seems surprising. Robson tells the story of the development of the 205 T16, its rally history and also of those who were involved behind the wheel and navigating. What I found informative were the descriptions of the drive train through narrative and diagrams and the lengths Peugeot engineers went to ensure that servicing was as straightforward as possible during the course of a rally. Worth a look for rallying and Peugeot enthusiasts.
Review
Peugeotex, November 2007
Club magazine for the Peugeot Car Club of Auckland
The ‘Peugeot 205 T16’ written by Graham Robson was published this year by Veloce Publishing Ltd as part of a series on 'Rally Giants'.
It is a well written book, liberally and well illustrated with both diagrams and superb photos. He has put the history of the 205 T16 in the context of the time, the new Group B regulations and the contemporary competition.
The book covers the goals, development, problems and achievements of the rally car. A chronological account is included of their World Rally successes in the years 1984-86. Nor is the human side overlooked. There are biographical sketches of the main people involved in the design, the development and the driving.
It is a very readable book, worth adding to your library – and worth looking at other books he has written in the series.
Review
UK magazine
Latest offering in Veloce's Rally Giants series is Graham Robson's effort on the Peugeot 205 T16. Costing $29.95, the book runs to 130 pages packed with pictures and data on the iconic four-wheel-drive Group B car, and follows similar titles on Quattro, Impreza, Stratos, Austin-Healey and Escort.
Review
"Robson tells the story of the development of the 205 T16, its rally history and also of those who were involved behind the wheel and navigating. Worth a look for rallying and Peugeot enthusiasts." – Australian Classic Car
Synopsis
Four-wheel-drive was authorized in rallying from 1979, soon it was Audi who produced the world's first rally-winning four-wheel-drive car -- the Quattro. However it was Peugeot who designed, developed, campaigned and won with the first truly sophisticated four-wheel-drive Group B Car -- the 205 Turbo 16. Packed with illustrations, technical details, facts, figures and successes of this innovative car this book is a must for any rally fan.
About the Author
Graham Robson possesses a worldwide reputation as a motoring historian, and has been close to the sport of rallying for many years, as a competitor, team manager, organizer, reporter, commentator and observer; in more than forty years he has never lost touch with the sport. Not only has Graham competed in many British and European events, he's also reported on marathons in South America, and acted as a traveling controller in the legendary London-Mexico World Cup Rally. As a recognized authority on many aspects of classic cars and motoring of that period, he is the most prolific of all authors, with more than 130 published books to his credit. Over the years Graham has owned, driven, described and competed in many of the cars featured in the Rally Giants Series, and his insight to their merits is unmatched. Graham Robson lives and works in England.