If you didn't have a Citroen?

[citroenxm]

We made the 205 as well didn't we??

Yes, I believe the Gentry was made at Ryton Paul but not sure which others were. I know all the GTis were made in Mulhouse in France...

And let us never forget that the 205 never began life as a Peugeot. It was in the late stages of design by Simca when they were bought up by PSA. Pug got the 205 as part of the spoils and explains why the early 205s used the Simca 'suitcase' engine...

Wait a min Jim.. I dont think the Simca engine and the 205 Suitcase engines are related!!

The Simca engine was an OHV rattley engine, BUT the 205 suitcase engine was an OHC with chain drive and was NEVER rattely! So Im not sure they are the same unit!!


Now theres a LOVLY car, the much forgotton 305 saloon. and I nearly bought a 305 1.6 Automatic!! Identical to the 205 but with a saloon body on it.

[russ92xmsed]

Well I knew the 309 was meant to be a Talbot, and it upset some designers having to use 205 doors, but didn't know the 205 was going to be a simca. Good inheritance..saved PSA!

Like the Renault Espace, that was a Talbot design. The chap who dreamt up the Espace design, was head of Coventry Uni design studio. Geoff Matthews. Old Citroen designer too.

[russ92xmsed]

Yes, rare now, oddly forgotten too. Good looking car.

[russ92xmsed]

What about the 505?

[citroenxm]

What about the 505?

Thats in my "Barn" List Russ... The 205 305 and 505 all should be really. They are all good machines!!

[CitroJim]

Ahh, now you've got me thinking about the suitcase engine Paul...

Yes, I know the Simca engines you mean. Rattly but long lived and very reliable..

The 305 was a great looker. Pugs along those times were with their zenith in the 205 and 405 and perhaps the 605...

It was all downhill after that except for their last stupendous effort with the 406 Coupé which I still say is the most beautiful car ever even though it should by rights have been the Citroen Activa.... the Xantia Activa should never have seen the light of day but Pug nicked the car for the 406 and thus the Activa magic appeared in a Xantia...

The 406 Coupé was a magnificent product of Pininfarina...

[citroenxm]

Yea, I never thought about it last time, but the Simca was OHV, and the 205 engine was OHC..

The PRV was designed along these lines, effectly going to be TWO XV engines stuffed together. Same design, OHC, chain drive, but then of course two cylinders were lobbed..and the gearbox went end on.

I hoestly cannot see the attraction of the 406 coupe at all... Sorry..

Now, the 504 Coupe, thats something else!

[russ92xmsed]

Quite agree. Would have loved to seen the Xantia coupe though.

Goodness, memory's of those old rattley Talbots and Simcas. Here them from miles away!

[russ92xmsed]

504 coupe or convertible? South of France for one, everywhere else for the other!

Peugeot did do a 505 convertible concept...that looked great. Still exists in pugs version of their conservatoire.

[citroenxm]

Hard Top! I dont do Convertibles... AT ALL..