1988 PEUGEOT 205 GTI MI16 LYNX

This is a Peugeot 205 GTi with a difference, to put it mildly. The non-sunroof car you see here is the only Lynx wide-body model built in period by Skip Brown Cars that is known to be in the UK. To give it performance in keeping with its wild appearance, it was also converted to run the 160hp 1.9-litre 16v engine from a 405 Mi16, driving the wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. The odometer shows 91,636 miles from new.

First registered in 1988, there are eight previous registered keepers on the log book – certainly not unusual for such a collectable modern classic – and it was acquired by the seller earlier this year. The Lynx body kit was fitted when the car was new, with a Skip Brown build plaque on the engine bay to record it. The wheel arch extensions give this 205 a similarly broad-shouldered stance to the Dimma body and the 205 T16 homologation specials built by Heuliez. Those blistered arches are filled with genuine Dimma three-piece split-rim alloy wheels, which are all pristine having been fully refurbished. It also sports a 4-inch Scorpion stainless steel exhaust.

The metallic dark grey paint does show a few marks and chips, particularly on areas around the driver’s door aperture, plus some blemishes where the side skirt meets the arch extensions, and where that vast rear spoiler joins onto the tailgate. The seller also notes minor stone chips on the front end and small paint cracks on the rear bumper. Its unique Lynx decals, however, are fully intact, along with the ’16-valve’ badge on the front grille bar to hint at what lies within. The registration number is also still etched into the window glass. The seller points out that the wiring on this engine has required some reworking, but notes that everything now works correctly.

The interior is much more standard 205 GTi fare, featuring OEM two-tone grey upholstery which is punctuated with red pinstripes, and offset by bright red carpets as well. The front seats have previously been re-trimmed and given new foam, but the rear seats are unrestored, with no rips or marks and only light creases in the leather bolsters. The radio is not coded in, but there are no faults or issues with the switchgear or electrics.

The 205 GTi Lynx was last serviced in May 2020 at around 91,300 miles, when it received new engine oil, spark plugs, filters and brake fluid. The oil filters have been changed regularly during recent previous services, while the seller has also fitted a new oil temperature sensor, a new brake calliper, and new front pads. It is also fitted with Leda coil-over shock absorbers, which were refurbished around 3,000 miles ago.

The car’s last MOT test was in March 2020 at 91,234 miles, which it passed with no advisories, while the tyres were only recently fitted. Included in the sale is a good history file of service receipts and other paperwork, plus the original Skip Brown sales brochures.

This car is relatively well known within the Peugeot 205 community in the UK, having appeared at many shows over the years, and truly deserves to be called ‘one of a kind’ as the only Lynx-bodied GTi by Skip Brown in the country. Presented in smart condition, with strong mechanicals and a coveted Mi16 engine, this is a car that turns heads wherever it goes, and attracts attention from enthusiasts for all the right reasons.

All cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.