The European Sports Car

Peugeot 205 GTI Seen at 2013 Berkshire Classic Car, Bike & Mini Show at Easthampstead Park

from Classic to Modern

European Racers On The Track

Mini Cooper S and AC Cobra EGF will get a shock when he sees whats on his tail!! This fascinating shot was taken on a Test Day during the 2015 Goodwood Revival

Ligier JS P2 This French racer made its debut at the 2014 Le Mans 24. Seen here is the Krohn Racing entry in the 2015 TUDOR United Sports Car Championship at Daytona

BMW 3.0 CSL Alpina Faltz This 1973 racer, using a 3153 cc S6, secured a class win in that year's Le Mans 24. Seen here during Sebring's 2014 Historic Sports Car race. Really cuts a dash

BUGATTI

1947 Bugatti 73C This one-off unique French racer used a supercharged, 100 bhp, 1460 cc, S4, 16 valve engine, with an all- synchro 4-speed gearbox. Seen here displayed at the 2015 Wilton House Classic Car Show

2004 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 This 1001 bhp, 8 litre, quad-turbo machine had a 254 mph top with 0-62 in 2.46 secs and standing quarter in 10.2 secs. This beauty was a prime attraction at Wilton House

VW

The Golf GTI

The Golf GTI Mark 1

The British sports car. In 1975, the VW Golf GTI sports car was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It was one of the first small cars to use fuel injection instead of carburettors.

This, coupled with its light weight and 1.6 litre engine, helped to create its high performance.

It was offered as a 3 or 5 door hatchback, and was an immediate success.

The Mark 1 Golf GTI was one of, if not the first, cars to be designated as a "Hot Hatch", referring to it being an upgraded small family saloon.

Although some left hand drive cars reached the UK market in 1977, it was not until 1979 that the first right hand versions arrived.

One motoring magazine trumpeted that the Mark 1 Golf GTI sports car was the third best car of the 1980's.

Technical Data Mark 1
Production: 1975-1984
Output 19,518
Engine cc 1588
Cylinder, bhp 4, 110
Top Speed mph 112
0-60 mph, secs 8.7

Full Scree

The Golf GTI Mark 2

In 1984, the now successful Golf GTI sports car was presented in the Mark 2 version, again as a 3 or 5 door hatchback.

Like the later Mark 1's, it used a 1.8 litre, Bosch fuel injected engine.

It had a different chassis, and the new styling introduced it to a wider audience. Sales of the Mark 2 exceeded those of the Mark 1.

In 1986, the Golf GTI 16v was introduced. It used a 16 valve, double overhead cam, 1.8 litre engine with a compression ratio of 10:1.

This model was distinguished by red and black "16" badges at the front and rear.

In 1990, as part of a facelift, the Golf GTI Mark 2 received a distinctive "Big Bumper" at the front, which became standard on all future models.

This addition made the Mark 2 extremely desirable.

Also, that year, the Golf GTi Mark 2 G60 was launched.

It used the 16 valve, double overhead cam, 1.8 litre engine fitted with a G60 supercharger, and a compression ratio of 8.8:1.

Its performance was impressive. The G60 16V engine was the toughest G60 unit that VW produced. It was a limited edition model, with only 71 ever built.

Technical Data Mark 2 Mark 2 16V Mark 2 G60
Production: 1984-1992 1986-1992 1989-1992
Engine cc 1588 1781 1781
Cylinder, bhp 4, 112 4, 137 4, 207
Top Speed mph 115 124 142
0-60 mph, secs 9.0 8.0 7.4

Full Scree Full Scree

The Golf GTI Mark 3

In 1992, the Golf GTI Mark 3 sports car was launched. The basic model used a 2 litre, 8 valve, single overhead cam engine, developing 115 bhp.

However, in 1993, the Mark 3 was fitted with a 2 litre, 16 valve, double overhead cam engine which developed 150 bhp.

In 1992, a version of the Golf GTI Mark 3 was introduced.

Called the VR6, it was powered by a 2.8 litre, 12 valve, double overhead cam, V6 engine, developing 174 bhp. It was an instant success.

Technical Data Mark 3 Mark 3 16V Mark 3 VR6
Production: 1992-1998 1993-1998 1992-1998
Engine cc 1984 1984 2792
Cylinder, bhp 4, 115 4, 150 6, 174
Speed mph 124 134 138
0-60 mph, secs 10.1 8.5 7.1

Full Scree

The Golf GTI Mark 4

In 1998, the Golf GTI Mark 4 sports car was introduced with improved body styling.

The basic model used the 2 litre, 8 valve engine as in the Mark 3.

However, five high performance variants were also available:

There was the VR6 version, with a 2.8 litre, double overhead cam, 24 valve, V6 engine which developed 204 bhp
A variant of this was the 4Motion, a four wheel drive, Golf GTI, based on the 2.8 litre, V6 engine, with a six speed gearbox, developing 201 bhp
There was a version with a 20 valve, turbocharged, 1.8 litre engine, developing 150 bhp
If this was not enough, the turbocharged, 1.8 litre model was available with a six speed gearbox, which developed 180 bhp
Finally, in 2002, the capacity of the 2.6 litre, V6 engine was increased to 3.2 litres. It had a six speed gearbox, a compression ratio of 11.3:1, and developed 238 bhp. This was the Golf R32.

Technical Data VR6 Turbo Turbo/6 4Motion R32
Production: 1998 1998 1998 1999 2002
Engine cc 2792 1781 1781 2792 3189
Cylinder, bhp 6, 204 4, 150 4, 180 6, 201 6, 238
Top Speed mph 146 134 138 146 153
0-60 mph, secs 7.1 8.5 7.9 7.2 6.5

Full Scree

Golf GTI Mark 4

The Golf R32

2003 R32 This 3.2 litre, 24 valve V6 developed 247 bhp and 236 ft/lbs giving it a 155 mph top and 0-60 in 6.4 secs. I want one!

The Corrado V6

VW Corrado VR6 Considered by many as VW's finest drivers car, this 1992-95 model used a 192 bhp, 2.9 litre V6 with a top of 146 mph and 0-60 in 6.7 secs. Rare and very desirable

PEUGEOT

The Peugeot GTI

Peugeot 205 GTI

In 1984, the Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 sports car was launched.

Offered as a three door hatchback, it was considered to be among the most popular hot hatches on the decade.

Due to its light weight, it had a high power to weight ratio.

Early versions were powered by Peugeot's 8 valve, single overhead cam, 1.6 litre engine with Bosch fuel injection, a five speed gearbox, and disc brakes all round.

The engine was an all aluminium unit, being flexible and easy to rev.

In 1986, it was slightly modified with larger valves, an uprated camshaft, and a close ratio gearbox.

That same year, a convertible version was introduced.

Also in 1986, the Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 sports car was introduced.

This used a long stroke, 1.9 litre version of the original engine. The result was greatly improved flexibility.

The suspension was stiffened to reduce pitch and roll.

The shorter stroke 1.6 litre engine had the reputation of being eager and easy to rev, whilst the 1.9 litre had more torque, and felt lazier but with more torque.

Strict emission regulations caused the 1.6 version to be withdrawn in 1992.

However, by enabling the 1.9 version to perform effectively with a catalytic converter, which reduced bhp to 122, production was maintained until 1994.

Post 1990 cars are the ones to look out for. A total of 332,942 inits of the three variants were built.

It has been suggested, but yet to be proved, that the Peugeot 205 GTI stole the crown from the VW Golf GTI in terms of who was the king of the GTI's.

1967 Peugeot 1.6 205 GTI Smart, stylish and very desirable

1994 Peugeot 1.9 205 GTI

Peugeot 205 GTi

Technical Data 1.6 1.6 1.9
Production: 1984-1986 1986-1992 1986-1994
Engine cc 1580 1580 1905
Cylinder, bhp 4, 105 4, 115 4, 130
Top Speed mph 120 122 120
0-60 mph, secs 8.6 8.7 7.8