When it comes to hot-hatches, none has made a stronger impression on me than the Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 I used to own and occasionally race. I can honestly say, I enjoyed more driving it than the VW Golf GTI Mk5 I’m currently using to pick up my groceries in (usually with a pretty large detour).
In fact, I enjoyed the 205 GTi more than any hot-hatch I have driven since I started writing about cars for a living. This is why the following news has caught my eye: Peugeot Italy has restored a rare 205 GTi Gutmann and added it to its press fleet. How cool is that?
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the 205 GTi Gutmann, it was a customized model by German tuning company Gutmann, now a Peugeot dealer in Breisach, Baden-Württemberg. Only about a dozen of the 300 units modified by Gutmann were imported to Italy in the late 1980s – early 1990s, with Peugeot’s local subsidiary managing to get hold of one and restoring it to its original glory.
Compared to the standard Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9, the Gutmann model featured the four-valve cylinder head from the Peugeot 309 GTi, different engine mapping, radiator for oil cooling, air filter and sports exhaust. All these modifications raised output from 130PS (128hp) to 160PS (158hp).
But Gutmann didn’t just tweak the engine; they also lowered the suspension by 30mm (1.2in), mounted a front strut brace, shortened the fifth gear ratio from 0.88 to 0.81, increased the final drive ratio from 3.68 to 3.94, reinforced the clutch and added stronger brake discs.
Visually, the 205 GTi 1.9 Gutmann featured subtle changes including dedicated Gutmann 15-inch wheels and Gutmann logo on the front fenders, while the cabin came with a white instrument panel, Gutmann three-spoke steering wheel and specific gearknob and Gutmann lettering on the dashboard.
By Dan Mihalascu
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