205 Cheetahs

[nightowl]

There was some converstion about 205 Cheetah converstions (now very rare) and I had two built in the 80,s

As far as I know, Chambers of Alderhot supplied a new standard 1.6 205 GTi and sent it to a local tuning engineer based at a nearby saloon car race track ( I did go there, but cant remember the track) Any ideas? Silverstone around there?

They took the engine apart, used Peugeot off the shelf parts and got it to 1.9. Was expensive, but not when added into a Peugeot finance deal. Upgraded the brakes and lowered the suspension. Also played for a while with a Garrett supercharger version.

As far as I recall they just supplied Chambers and went by the title of "Peugeot Cheetah Engineering" but probably just as a trade name. It was just a few enthusiast engineers.

The car then went back to Chambers who had various larger alloy options and front/back/side spoilers out sourced to someone else locally around Aldershot.

They did look pretty mean machines when finished and the extra torque made all the difference.

I think it stopped when Peugeot brought out there own rather tamer 1.9.

If anyone has any photos of one or anymore history, I would be please to know.

Nightowl

West Midlands

[twoandaquarter]

Ok, I worked at Charters in Aldershot, Hampshire as a Master Technician when the 205 Cheetahs were in full swing, but it didn't start there. It started back in the days of the Talbot sunbeam when a Brazilian built 2 litre engine was fitted to the sunbeam along with webbers etc ( one sold on ebay recently - VERY rare ). It then moved on to the Samba Rallye (awesome bit of kit! ) then the 205GTi and a few 309 SRi's - all called Cheetah. The 1.6 engine was simply fitted with the 1.9 crankshaft from one of the Citroen engines of the time to give it a longer stroke therefore the larger engine capacity of 1.9. This was also being done by a company called Skip Brown somewhere up north I believe. The problem was that the engine management system wasn't set up to run the larger engine and, as electronic fuel injection was still fairly new then, we had all sorts of problems losing the mid - range ''sluggish'' feel. I still have some of the paperwork and specs that were used to try and get over this - all very basic by today's standards. Peugeot then started making their own 1.9 ( far superior in my mind ) so the Cheetah ceased to be. I can't remember the last time I saw one and there weren't that many made. It was not unusual for the customer to ask for it to be lowered and some had Dimma kits fitted by our bodyshop I think that's all I remember for now. If I remember anything else I'll post it. I'm now in business with my son and we still do 80's/90's Peugeot renovation/ restoration work and engine work ( 306gti6 engines in a 205 gti is a brilliant conversion ) Hope I've not bored you too much
Kev