The classics you love, drive and restore
‘This is my ultimate French hot hatch’
1994 Peugeot 106 Rallye Ashley Moulds, Lincs
Growing up around lads older than myself was a great way to experience different hot hatches before I was able to get one myself. The one that always caught my eye was the Peugeot 106 S1 Rallye, and ever since I have been a true petrolhead. In 2021 my dream came true, after receiving a call from the owner of the Rallye that I’d been trying to buy from him for years. I had spotted the car under a carport, where it had been for more than 10 years. It was under a cover, but had seen better days, which made me want to save it.
This was a great find as it had all the original features and was a totally standard car, apart from its parcel shelf and exhaust. The full resto was not an easy job. I spent many hours researching and drove all over the country to find bits, until eventually I had most of the parts needed to start the project.
The car was stripped down to its bare shell, and the engine and gearbox were left with Pug1Off who rebuilt them and made them look brand new. While stripping the car I thought the best option was to get the shell acid-dipped to remove the original paint, as this would show all the areas that required attention. The shell didn’t look too bad originally, but all the common areas had gone – under the ECU, rear inner arches and boot floor etc. After a year and a half, the restoration was completed. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
‘It is a REAL Saab and I have owned a few’
1995 Saab 900S David Chaloner Forest of Dean
I travelled to the seller in Kent, a 300-mile round trip to pick up this car, the latest of eleven Saabs, all of which have been used as my everyday cars. Having owned five classic 900s and four 9000s I was quite prepared to be disappointed with this 'new shape' version of the much loved 900. Although it looked in great condition for a 28 year-old, which is what caught my interest, ‘not quite a Saab’ was my thinking as the deal was done and I got in and drove it away. I was completely wrong, in my opinion, this car drives like a Saab should and remarkably retains the comfort and feel of the classic 900! Of course the position of the ignition key and the 'gearstick locking' helps to remind me of earlier times. I feel that the 900 NG is worthy of being called a classic if only for that fact there aren't many of them (barely four years of production prior to the launch of the 9-3), and that it may be the last of the 'real' Saabs, if only in part!
