1987 Peugeot 309 GTi Rally Car (FIA)

The Peugeot 309 GTi often sat within the shadow cast by its smaller hot-hatch stablemate, the 205 GTi, though many enthusiasts will tell you that the 309 was, in many respects, the better car of the two. Under the bonnet sat the 1.9-litre inline-four, producing 128bhp from the factory, with no ‘diet’ 1.6 version offered as per the 205. Interestingly, despite being a larger vehicle, the 309 was lighter by 20kg, whilst its increased size offered a wider track, making it better-suited for high speed cornering, along with its revised suspension and power steering set up. This lead to many competition-spec vehicles being produced for both on and off-road racing use, with this particular example being built from a Peugeot Sport UK shell for a Mr Mark Wagstaff and making a class-winning competition debut in the 1987 Wexford Rally. Not only was this a fantastic result but this is also believed to be the first instance of a Group N win for the 309 GTi in the UK. Following on from its initial success, this 309 GTi was then campaigned within the Peugeot Challenge in 1989 with the highlight of the year coming in the form of a Peugeot category win on the ’89 Manx Rally. The vehicle was then sold on to another well-known driver, Simon Nutter, who carried on the car’s record in the Peugeot Challenge against the late Richard Burns amongst other drivers. Sadly, a large accident during the season put an end to any title hopes, though the car made a full recovery. Between 1992 and 1995, this 309 GTi was campaigned - with relatively successful results - by its then-owner Mr Armstrong in BTRDA events, and was then subsequently passed through a number of other owners before being laid-up in the early 2000s. Discovered only five miles from the current owner’s house in North Wales during 2020, the decision was made to retrieve the vehicle and dispatch it immediately for a comprehensive restoration at the hands of RallyPrep in Cornwall, with the aim of keeping the car as original as possible, but bringing it up to full current FIA Regulations standard. Finished in the livery of the late Richard Burns’ 1992 RAC Rally 309 GTi, this example - now bearing the registration of E7 KKV - holds full FIA International Historic paperwork, giving access to rally, show and competition events the world over, including the Festival of Speed, Carfest, Silverstone Classic, Rally Legend  in Italy, the McRae 25 and many, many more.  

• Along with the aforementioned FIA HTP papers, the car also boasts a Motorsport UK logbook, along with its V5 and current MOT Certificate
• Peugeot Sport UK 'motorsport' shell (never registered as a road car). Works-spec cage with rear cross bars
• Bespoke wiring loom. Period works-type trip meter mount with period-correct Terratrip 303
• HRX winged bucket seats (in date for FIA). MCF six-point harnesses with alloy adjusters (in date for FIA)
• PD Extinguishers full fire suppression system along with hand-held alloy bottles (in date for FIA)
• Blueprinted engine originally built by Paul Gardner. Swedish Group N camshaft. Tony Law exhaust system
• 5-speed Group N gearbox. French Group N gear linkages. Plated differential (4:4 cwp)
• Gordon Birtwhistle suspension setup. Bilstein rear beam
• Alloy sump and fuel tank guards
• Factory-correct Speedline SL434 alloy wheels. Spare set of 2 1.9 GTi alloy wheels