Hexagonal lighting doesn’ t just look pretty, its brightness creates a great environment to work in
the 205 was built to look standard. Well, better than standard, perfect. It’ s not until you look at Tolman’ s 205 in close detail do you notice all of the work. Things like modern fuel injection and an ECU, updated dampers and brakes, adjustable rose-jointed suspension, leather trimmed interior … the list of subtle upgrades is almost endless.
This car has been a runaway success. Tolman has taken 17 deposits for 205 GTis and has delivered four so far, and the aim is to build four a year. The GTi’ s appeal has created not just more 205 customers, but greater demand from loyal Tolman patrons. Customers who have commissioned 205s have been so enamoured with Tolman’ s work, they’ ve entrusted the Warwickshire company with non-Peugeot Talbot cars. Tolman’ s workshop now contains BMWs, Mercedes and Fords. Hence the expansion and re-jig.
I enter Tolman’ s main building to be greeted by four wildly different cars. An E9 BMW, a Mercedes 190E, a Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 and a 205. Not just any 205 but a T16, one with its rear clamshell removed and its engine elsewhere.
A Ford CVH engine is in the process of receiving a transformation into a 16-valve
50 The Engine Rebuilder Issue 01