The Best Odds

The cars I recall most fondly were neither the prettiest nor the quickest. Certainly not the most expensive. They were machines that emerged willfully peculiar and intractably idiosyncratic.

- by John Phillips

THE 1988 AND '89 Peugeot 505 Turbos were buttercream macarons from France.

As gifts go, the Peugeot was not exactly the Statue of Liberty, but likewise a metallic Gallic chef d'oeuvre prone to oxidation. The 505 was my personal French connection, even though its styling seemed conjured by H&R Block. In truth, it was good ol' Pininfarina that came up with what resembles a large rectangle carrying a smaller rectangle on its back. One of those rectangles has slightly crossed eyes. The stylists must have labored for minutes.

But forget that, because the rear-drive 505 Turbos were eldritch gems that reliably entertained. Power derived from a 2.2-liter four, itself mildly weird, making 180 horsepower. That's beans on toast by today's standards, but this comfortable sedan was comparatively slim at 3183 pounds. Pushed hard, the 505 Turbo was as fun as a BMW 325i. It also evinced a unique smell.