Peugeot 205: Sochaux celebrates 40 years of an icon

August, 2023

3 minutes read

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As we told you in February, 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the Peugeot 205. To pay tribute to this icon that has accompanied generations for so many years, Club 205 took charge of organizing the festivities, in collaboration with the Musée de l'Aventure Peugeot, in Sochaux, France. Over 3,500 enthusiasts came from all over Europe on July 8 and 9 to celebrate this anniversary. Here's a look back at an extraordinary celebration.

More than 800 205s in one place - that's a lot of noise! To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its favorite city car, Club 205 pulled out all the stops. This association of lovers of the "Sacré numéro" had planned a wide range of events: a concours d'élégance, a guided tour of the Peugeot Museum in Sochaux and the Cité de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, baptisms in 205 T16s, dinner, dancing... not forgetting a road trip of some sixty kilometers between Sochaux and Mulhouse. An impressive procession!

To top it all off, a surprise awaited visitors: the new PEUGEOT 208 was presented. A world first! It was an opportunity for enthusiasts to take photos of the city car from every angle, discover its new i-Cockpit and see that the 200 series continues to be worthily represented!

The public was able to admire no fewer than 839 Peugeot 205s exhibited by professional and amateur collectors from all over Europe, Reunion Island and even Japan!

Collectors tell us about the Peugeot 205

This high mass to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the "Sacré numéro" was an opportunity for the many owners to talk about their respective models, with their sometimes emotionally-charged histories! Such was the case for young Valerio, proudly wearing a "205, la légende sort ses griffes" T-shirt, whose 205 Junior was handed down to him by his grandfather, a former employee at the Sochaux plant in France. So it's with a special thought for his ancestor that he starts up his car every day for his daily commute. We could tell hundreds of stories like this one, as could the hundreds of owners present to celebrate an anniversary we won't soon forget. See you in ten years?

"Why not?" replies Charles Colpin of Club 205, organizer of the event. He is delighted to see the success of this legendary anniversary, which took him and his teams a year to prepare. The challenge is now on!

Did you know?

Club 205 was created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the famous city car. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, it now has 140 members (in France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland).

The first Peugeot motor vehicle saw the light of day in 1889, a few kilometers from Sochaux.

A special Peugeot 205 exhibition is on display at the Musée de l'Aventure Peugeot until September.

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