A rare Peugeot 205 GTI Dimma Turbo showing 38k miles is coming up for online auction in May 2025. Registered in Jersey, so likely subject to UK VAT should it be imported, the car is originally a UK car and was converted to Dimma spec from new.
Few people know that Peugeot UK offered Dimma conversions, done by the original Dimma UK founder, Terry Bankhurst, who had teamed up with the Belgian carosserie who invented the widebody concept so iconic on the 205. He improved the body design and added his own design of alloy wheel, which has become the de facto choice for these cars. I value several original Dimmas for agreed value classic car insurance and it will be interesting to see what this car goes for against its estimate of £25-30k.
About Dimma UK (from Dimma.com)
Founded by former British National Rally Champion, Terry Pankhurst, in 1986, Dimma UK became the importer for the 205 bodykit from Dimma SA Belgium.
One of Pankhurst’s first accomplishments was to design the iconic Dimma 3 -piece 16″ alloy wheel, to complete the “factory look” and elevate the desirability of the Dimma 205 to another level. Next, he established a network of 12 UK Peugeot main dealers who between them sold around 250 brand new Dimma-converted 205’s. Many were uprated, with Turbo Technics conversions or 16v engines.
Over the years Peugeot Sport called upon the tuning company for assistance for various rally car projects, and the partnership and technology sharing between UK and Belgium was extended.
This is a handsome example in a good colour. The auction description reads as follows:
This superb 1990 Turbo Technics Dimma conversion stands out for all the right reasons. Most notably, it is a genuine Turbo Technics Dimma, converted when new in September 1990, with an original invoice from Dimma UK to verify this.
Of its just three previous owners, one was Terry Bankhurst—better known as Mr Dimma UK—who owned the car from 2009 until our current vendor acquired it in 2020 and brought it to his native Jersey.
Whoever commissioned this build clearly had both the means and the vision to create something truly special, engaging both Dimma and Turbo Technics to undertake what was, in effect, two simultaneous conversions—a rare and remarkable feat.
The car presents in extraordinary condition. The bodywork is excellent, the wheels are immaculate, and it sits on a fresh set of high-quality Toyo tyres.
Finished in its original Topaz Blue—a colour offered for only around eight months—the paintwork looks stunning in the sunlight and has clearly been very well preserved. Naturally, as an original car, it displays a few age-related marks on the leading edges, along with a small crack near the windscreen spoiler mount—common with these models.
The car’s exceptionally low mileage appears to be supported by MOT records dating back to the early 2000s, with the current owner having driven fewer than 2,000 miles in the last five years.
Mechanically, the car is absolutely on the button, having been serviced just four months ago. It is offered here as, quite frankly, an extraordinary piece of early ’90s hot hatch history.
Photos ©owner/Iconic Auctioneers