38 LEFT ON UK ROADS

Big Gallic saloons have never really done it for us Brits. That’s a real shame as we’ve missed out on some great machines over the years. One that did come to our shores was the 605. France’s take on the BMW

5 Series was built on a platform shared with the Citroën XM. It came from an era when Peugeot still cared about handling and performance and, as a result, it’s a surprisingly sharp steer. Engines ranged from a fourcylinder 8-valve, to the 12-valve PRV V6 through 16-valve fours and actually decent diesels.

In 1997 a mighty 24-valve V6 gave the 605 the thrust it always lacked, but it still wasn’t enough. It sold by the train load in France, of course. We probably know it best for being unceremoniously blown to bits by Robert De Niro in Ronin, but apart from its silver screen appearances, you’re very unlikely to see one anymore.