Finding 1FMs

After production of the 205 GTi ceased and general awareness of the 1FM variant weakened some of the cars appear to have changed hands over the years simply as 205 GTis with high specifications. 

Having been all but forgotten about, and not a single example in the owners club, since the mid-2000's the 1FM has seen a resurgence in popularity resulting from a group of enthusiastic owners restoring and researching the cars. Initially we only knew the whereabouts of three of the cars. As we began to research the cars and find out more about their specification and features, others started to come out of the woodwork. We then began to spot the cars for sale as standard 205 GTi’s. Considerable help from both Peugeot and Clarion resulted in us obtaining large amounts of original paperwork and pictures of the cars and the 1FM jigsaw slowly started being pieced together. The cars started to gain popularity and coverage in Peugeot club magazines as well as appearances at car shows and a slot on the TV programme ‘Used Car Roadshow’ meant more people became aware of the existence of 1FM’s. 

It has taken almost 20 years, but all the 25 cars have now been found or can be accounted for.  Almost all the cars that still exist are now in the hands of enthusiasts who are restoring them to original specification.

In addition, we have been able to determine the original specification of the cars and all the various extras that were fitted.  None of the cars that have been found still had all of the original features, some cars being in a very poor state of repair. The hardest part from the point of restoring the cars to original status is finding the parts that were 1FM specific. Many of the cars that have turned up were missing some or all of the 1FM decals, leather interiors, alloy wheels and of course the stereo system. The ABS system is usually problematic, the Air Con doesn't work, and the remote central locking is missing.  These are rare options on a 205 GTI and parts are very hard to find.  But with considerable effort and pooling of resources we have been able to understand these systems and get them all working again.

Parts do turn up over time, normally from the several 1FM cars that have been written off and scrapped. We have also had replica parts such as stickers and mats made using the originals as a basis.

Out of the 18 cars there are now a large number that are on the road and have the majority or all of the original 1FM features.