Rally Peugeot up for sale not quite what it seems
The Group B era of the World Rally Championship is often held up and recognized as one of the most memorable times in world motorsport.
The cars were brash and bold, and bloody quick too. Not to mention that those who were lucky enough to wield them were charismatic and charming. Unsurprisingly the era was so successful that it brought out an incredible number of spectators for each event; creating the famous and still referenced scenes of drivers having to negotiate rally stages that were lined by wall to wall crowds of enthusiastic fans.
It's inevitable that that era of the sport would be held in high regard today, and equally so would spur interest in the cars from the period lucky enough to still exist.
Enter this Peugeot 205 T16, one of the Group B warriors of the time that's still alive and kicking today, looking resplendent in its factory Peugeot paint scheme and looking like it's just rolled off the showroom floor.
Only, it's not genuine. Hell, it's not even a Peugeot. It's a flippin’ Mitsubishi. And it's for sale.
While on the outside it looks like a genuine piece of history (to me anyway — no doubt genuine Peugeot 205 T16 enthusiasts would've spotted immediately that it was a replica), underneath this beast is almost all Mitsubishi.
It's based on an Evolution VI, and is powered by the heart from an Evo VIII with an Evo IX turbo bolted to it. It even still carries a full Evo interior.
Is this blasphemy? Certainly I'm sure a few Peugeot and Group B nuts would think so. But I'm inclined to rate the beast. Being based on an Evo means that it has plenty of rallying pedigree regardless, it'll be more forgivable at the limit than the original, and perhaps more importantly for the owner it means that parts are plentiful in supply.
And how much for this masterful fake Rolex of cars? Just over $90,000NZD. I'll take it.