As if to confirm that appearances are deceiving, the Peugeot 205 T16 we're talking to you today is anything but… a 205 T16. Designed by Dimma UK, this copy is a perfect example of automotive “cut and sew”.
But before we tell you your story, let us explain the origins of the company behind this project. Born in the hand of Terry Pankhurst in 1986, Dimma UK is the British division of the Belgian company Dimma Design.
Created in 1974, the Belgian company gained notoriety in the 1980s thanks to the creation of kits that transformed the 205 GTi into a kind of 205 T16. As proof of the quality of these transformations, Jean Todt, then leader of Peugeot Sport, decided to officially homologate the kits, thus creating the Peugeot 205 “by” Dimma Design in 1986.
The link between Dimma Design and PSA also resulted in the creation of kits for models such as the 306, the Citroën ZX Maxi Kit Car and the Peugeot 206 Super 1600.
Dimma UK, in turn, in addition to selling the original kits, has also started to dedicate itself to its own conversions (creating up to a 205 with all-wheel drive) taking advantage of this know-how to create the car we are talking about.
The "Peugeot 205 T16"
Fruit of the genius of Terry Pankhurst, this “Peugeot 205 T16” mixes the chassis of a 205, the Dimma Design kit and the mechanical elements (engine and suspension) of the new Peugeot 308 GTi, which is also joined by the dashboard of the French family member ( and with everything working!).
Subscribe to our newsletter
Made using carbon fiber, this 205 T16 is around 400 kg lighter than the 308 GTi, weighing just 800 kg. The work of accommodating all the mechanics of the 308 GTi, on the other hand, required several widenings and the adoption of even larger wheel arch reamers, which led to it being 1/4 larger than the original 205 T16.
Even the electric seats of the 308 GTi were imported into this "205 T16".
Of course, the engine used is the 1.6 THP with 300 hp from the Peugeot 308 GTi and to ensure that the chassis of the old 205 has the structural rigidity needed to handle so much power a roll bar was installed.
Here's an original Peugeot 205 by Dimma Design.
Having created the first prototype, the arrival in production of this Peugeot 205 T16 is now dependent on the existence of sufficient interested parties. Therefore, Dimma UK is accepting pre-booking of the model. And you, would you like this to materialize or should it continue to be just a prototype?