THE ULTIMATE PEUGEOT 205 GTI?

Those in the endless argument over which Peugeot 205 GTI is superior, the 1.6 or 1.9, now have a 200bhp spanner thrown into the works. Classic performance expert Tolman Engineering (The specialist, January 2012) in Warwickshire is behind the project, and Chris Tolman has brought his experience assembling British Touring Car Championship and World Rally Championship cars to bear on the beloved hot hatch.

After a successful development car was finished last year, customers can now order their own Tolman Edition 205 GTI, based on a 1.6- or 1.9-litre car. Each is prepared from a bare-metal shell, given an extensive anti-corrosion treatment, then a thorough mechanical overhaul to each customer’s specification. The aluminium XU block is retained, with optional power upgrades including ported, 16-valve heads and high-lift camshafts, with a Motec ECU and fly-by-wire throttle. Uprated gear linkages, Bilstein dampers, bespoke suspension components and even a Quaife limited-slip differential are also available, as well as comfort features including Alcantara trim, remote central locking and a hightech sound system.

The price to end all arguments about whose 205 GTI is fastest starts at £55,000, complete with a 12-month warranty. Donor cars are available via Tolman Engineering or from customers’ own collections. The company promises more similar products from the 1980s and ’90s to come in the future, expanding the restomod genre further into the modern-classic era. For details, see tolmanengineering.co.uk