The brief but explosive Group B era has gone down as perhaps the most legendary period of rally cars because they were so lightly restricted. Group B cars were outrageously fast, so much so that a series of serious accidents ultimately led to its dissolution at the end of 1986. Group B homologation requirements for street cars were of such low volume that it was possible to field some truly wild cars, both in competition and for (slightly insane and very enthusiastic) road users. Compared to the 5,000 example minimum for Group A which replaced it, Group B road cars needed only 200 road examples to be built and were accordingly much more exotic, featuring composite materials, massive turbos, completely reworked interiors, and often, a powertrain moved from the front to mid-mounting.

The 206 T16 is one such car, which while nominally based on the front-wheel-drive 205 hatchback economy car, is about as closely related to that car as a kettle is to a nuclear powerplant. The engine was moved behind the seats and a four-wheel-drive powertrain fitted, transmitting power through a transversely-mounted Citroen SM gearbox, because of course. The entire back of the car from the B-pillar aft opens to give access to the powertrain while massively flared fenders disabuse any passers by of the notion that the car has anything in common with the standard 205. Finished exclusively in gray, just 219 examples were built, creating one of the most collectible (and insane) road cars of the 1980s. The racing version was rather good too, winning 16 rallies, enough to earn the car World Championships during both seasons in which it competed.
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