A Tale of Two Peugeots
Words by Joe DeBattista
Let me preface this tale with a story that will shed light into my poor decision making abilities. In February of 2018, I submitted my 1968 Mustang Fastback for the Driving While Awesome 2018 Coastal Range Rally. I had participated in drives and tours before, however I was not expecting what would transpire in the coming days.
The spirited driving through winding back roads of California is a dream for any car enthusiast, but in the words of the Knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade “I chose poorly.” My Mustang was in essence a drag race car, and therefore an awful candidate for back country roads. The driving experience was terrible, but the friendships and camaraderie I experienced had me eagerly awaiting the next opportunity to drive with this great group of people. I needed to make a wiser car choice.
The DWA crew held Coastal Range Rally North in September of 2018 and my vehicle choice for this rally was a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle “Herbie.” Switching gears from 450 HP V8 Mustang to a 50 HP Flat-4 Bug. The mountainous terrain was not kind to Herbie. The car performed magnificently when traveling on flat or downhill grades, uphill grades.....I don’t want to talk about that. Basically twice now I had made terrible vehicle selections, but still had great fun. Both rallies resulted in a small victory in that both cars completed the weekend without incident.
Fast Forward to 2019, I was planning for the Coastal Range Rally in Spring. I decided to purchase an interesting car to drive on the rally and then sell it after. I had visions of Top Gear, and perhaps making this a tradition for future rallies. I set my sights on an Alfa Romeo Milano in Aptos, yet the owner was procrastinating setting a meeting, however we kept in touch and I was hopeful I would see the Milano soon. One night my wife Sabrina had asked me, “What about a Peugeot?” On her phone was a Craigslist ad for a Sorrento Green 1991 Peugeot 405 Mi16. I had no previous knowledge of the Mi16. Quick research would yield information of the capabilities of the Mi16 but this example was still a Radwood Era French car with over 200K miles…is this really a wise choice? I spoke to the seller, and arranged a time to inspect the car, as a back up to the Milano. Sabrina and I headed out to go take a look at this fine French automobile and went for a quick test drive. We concluded we liked it, but the Milano was the primary object of our desire. I told the seller I would get back to him soon, as the rally was rapidly approaching, and a decision would need to be made. Finally tiring of spending weeks attempting to trap this elusive Milano, we gave up and I texted the seller of the Peugeot hoping he still had it. I was in luck. On March 5th, 2019 I purchased the Peugeot and in just 10 short days I would ask this tired old French sedan to survive a grueling 3 day backroad adventure.
Remember earlier when I mentioned I horrible decision making abilities? The ownership history and extensive documentation on this car was odd. First documented owner was Ken Ramonet, his tireless documentation of the minutest detail of the cars care was obsessive, an obsession that included sound proofing. His method of accomplishing this goal was terrible as he utilized hundreds of pounds of “Home Depot Dynamat,” otherwise known as roofing material, as well as expandable foam. Ken then sold the Peugeot on eBay. The new owner lived in Southern California whom undertook a full engine rebuilt, which cost him a small fortune. The car’s journey to salvation continued when Northern California Mi16 aficionado, Bryan Caldwell, purchased the car. Bryan undid much of Ramonet’s “modifications,” removing the Home Depot add ons, which were causing much more harm than help. Bryan returned the car to its true sports sedan nature.
200,000 miles is a lot of miles for any car, let alone an obscure car such as a Peugeot. The mileage and it’s checkered past made me apprehensive about its abilities to survive the rally. Given the knowledge at hand, I gave the car a quick once over on a lift and check the fluids. I loaded up enough tools and spares to rebuild the car on the side of the road, and headed to the rally start point. Friday morning we set out for three grueling days of driving, putting the Peugeot through it’s paces and testing it’s limits. It was a formidable machine and had no issues keeping pace with most of the cars on the rally. Had I accidentally made a good choice? All of my tools and spares made me popular, and I quickly became the rescue vehicle. I never once used my tools to fix the Peugeot. The French had built an amazing car which had lived up to the period automotive press hype. I was in love. I could not bring myself to sell this car and Sabrina was not pleased, but deep down she too was impressed with this cars performance and reliability.
The “Sorrento Car” has since been on many trouble free drives and adventures and the sheer driving enjoyment I get from this car is unparalleled. The obscurity is enjoyable as well, conversing with other enthusiasts at events and attempting to source parts adds to the allure of the vehicle. Parts sourcing segways to the second portion of the tale.
In 2020 my friend Gen Shibayama, purchased a hot hatch icon, a Peugeot 205 GTI. After owning the 205 for some time, Gen contacted me about potentially driving my Mi16. A popular powertrain swap for the 205 GTI is using a 16V 1.9L Mi16 drivetrain to replace the 8V 1.9L GTI drivetrain. I connected Gen with Bryan Caldwell, who you remember saved my Mi16. Bryan owned a few Mi16, one of which could potentially lend its heart to Gen’s 205. Gen and Bryan struck a deal on a 1991 Sorrento Green Mi16, the same year and color as my lovely Mi16. I told Gen I would be interested in the remaining car for parts once he had removed what he needed. Unfortunately, Gen’s mechanic in San Francisco informed him the 16V motor had low compression and was not worth swapping. Bryan, being a stand up guy, traded out the Green Mi16 for another White 1989 405 Mi16 he had. After some time had past, Gen contacted me and told me the White Mi16 also seemed to have a motor issue, and he wanted to abandon the swap. Gen offered to sell me the car at a loss to be rid of the headache. I have a car hoarding problem, space is always an issue and I had no room for another 4 door sedan. I attempted to find the car a home with other Peugeot enthusiasts with no success. Gen and the shop needed to be rid of the car and Gen mentioned he may be forced to junk it. My inner hoarder heart could not let that happen, so My dad and I discussed the situation and shuffling of cars to potentially make room for this forsaken 405. Once we had a solution I told Gen I was going to take the car to the country and store it as a parts car. Gen graciously offered the car in exchange for me completing some local towing for him.
One Saturday in August, I took a trip to Livermore to pick up the forsaken Peugeot. The shop had informed me that their compression check showed the center two cylinders had low compression, and it would likely required a head gasket. I gambled and drove the car 50 miles to my house. It had no issues or overheating and felt pretty tight and seemed to make good power. What a score, a fully functional parts car. I contacted Bryan to share my newest acquisition and he sent me videos of the compression check he had performed on the White car engine (which was perfect) and he told me the history of this car. He had also acquired it for free with a frozen motor, swapped engines and got it running again. He utilized it as a spare car for a few years until it went to Gen.
I was left with the dilemma of what to do with this white Peugeot. My Sorrento car was very reliable, so was a complete parts car really a necessity? I definitely didn’t need two of the same car for the same purpose. LIGHT BULB.
Very recently I had an accident in Herbie at a Sonoma Racing track day, so I had a crazy thought of trying this car out as a track day car. I signed up for the Retro Sporting Track Day on October 23rd. I bought up a set of the factory 15” Speedline wheels from Bryan’s parts, and purchased a set of used Miata track day Toyo R Compound tires. I swapped out the spark plugs and fuel filter, the oil looked fresh already, mounted the tires, and the prep was completed. I loaded it on the trailer, as it had no registration yet, and headed to Sonoma Raceway. There I was in the paddock with a car that had twice changed hands for $0, was written off twice due to a bad motor, and I was about to try to race it for seven 20 minute sessions on a race track. I couldn’t help but circle back to all my previous poor decision making.
While unstrapping it from the trailer, the comment was made, “You going to finish off the head gasket?” The first session was nerve racking, but went off without a hitch, then the second, then the third, then the fourth and fifth. NO WAY. This car had just performed flawlessly, and I was shifting at 6,500 rpm and really flogging the car. I knew that if failure occurred, it would solidify it’s destiny as a parts car. It was a truly trouble free day at the track. It not only surprised me, but I think it surprised a lot of the other drivers with its capabilities. It passed a couple 911s and even Gen’s own 1975 Ferrari 365BB. I went into the day fearing I was towing a ticking time bomb to the track and likely having to tow it right back home, to having my only concern being the possibility that Gen may want it back.
I had a hard time wrapping my head around how it was possible the 405 Mi16 was never on my radar and having it turn out to be one of the best car or cars I have ever owned. These two cars were put in difficult situations and were presumably destined for failure but instead they persevered and impressed me and others who knew their history and saw them perform. All I can say is Viva La France and God Bless the Mi16s.
Photos by Ali Javidan, Dave Jefords, Sabrina DeBattista and the author.
