The European Sports Car

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

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                                         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

                                                 Full Scree                                                                                                                                                                         Full Scree

                                                                                        Full Scree                                                                                                                                                                     Full Scree


VOLVO

                                              1969 VOLVO P 1800 S                                                                        Built in Scotland, this 2 litre, straight-4, 118 bhp,                                                  reached 120 mph, and became famous when seen                                                                    in the TV Series "The Saint"


                    The above represents three European classic sports cars


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