1990 Peugeot 205 CJ Junior Cabriolet

Powered by the 1.4-litre carburettored engine, the Peugeot 205 CJ Convertible was aimed at drivers for whom style was more important than performance. With 79bhp and 80 lb-ft of torque, you could be forgiven for thinking the performance might be a bit underwhelming.

But, that would be to neglect the 845kg kerb weight in your calculations because the 205 is surprisingly sprightly, easily topping three-figures at the top end after passing 60mph in under 12 seconds.

This 1990-model was built slap-bang in the middle of the 1986-94 production run. One of fewer than 100 in use in the UK, it still shows fewer than 40,000 miles on the odometer and is in a remarkable condition.

The owner is a Peugeot enthusiast and card-carrying member of the owners’ club. She’s owned it for the past decade and showed it all over the country, using it gently and treating it to a professional valet once a year.

As you can see, the expense and hard work paid off because its white coachwork looks stunning with the contrasting black roof and blue denim-style seats and interior trim adding a fresh and youthful look to those familiar curves.

Being offered with no reserve, only a lack of use is forcing this reluctant sale; she loves her little 205 and can’t bear to see it sitting forlorn and unused in her garage any longer.

The body panels align beautifully with consistent and tight shutlines; received wisdom has it that build quality wasn’t a Peugeot strength at the time but the condition of this one leaves us wondering whether we’ve just become used to seeing abused and neglected examples…

The wheelarches are strong and free of rust too, and it’s nice to see them left painted and unadorned rather than hidden beneath a thick coat of underseal.

The purple transfers and rubbing strips along the sides line up very nicely, and those flanks are free of ripples and dinks, too. The paint has a good sheen to it and the black trim is still dark and glossy. It presents very well indeed, even up close.

The black vinyl roof rises and falls as it should. When it’s down it fits under a black vinyl tonneau cover to give the 205 a sleek profile and when it’s up it seals tightly and gives hatchback-levels of weather resistance. The plastic rear window is also in good shape being undamaged and clear.

Four mudflaps are fitted plus the CJ decals and Pininfarina badging; has a cheap, small car ever looked better?

Part of its appeal is clever value engineering such as the 13-inch steel wheels, whose full-size white wheel trims hide their humble origins. They are also in a great condition and fitted with Goodyear Grand Prix S tyres on the rear and the spare, with Kumho Solus being fitted on the front.

As for flaws, the offside front wheel trim has a couple of minor scuffs on it, the offside headlamp is milky, and the offside door mirror looks like it has taken a small knock that’s left a small graze on it.

NB: The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed some of the glass is etched with ‘’H131 BVM’. This is a previous registration number, as you can see from the paperwork.

The interior is every bit as good as the exterior. With a wonderfully of-the-period denim-style fabric used throughout, the contrast between it and the white paint work is striking, especially with the roof down.

The condition is great, too. With under 40,000 miles of use and what seems to be above-average curation, it’s weathered the intervening 33 years well. The door cards are excellent, as are the rear trim panels and carpets. The dashboard is free of extraneous holes and fittings, and the instruments and switches are still bright and vibrant.

The front seats are a revelation, too. Still firm and undamaged, even the contrasting stitching remains bright and colourful – and the rear seats are even better.

It really is a bit of a time-warp in there, especially when you consider it is well into its fourth decade: the tyre pressure sticker is still in place and undamaged inside the driver’s door; the drain holes are clear and free of rust; and the underside of the hood is clean and undamaged.

As you’d expect, the boot is very nicely trimmed and lifting the carpet reveals solid, well-painted metal. Those of you who’ve been looking for a 205 for a while will understand how rare it is to find one with such a solid underside. Take a look at the online MoT history, too. There’s not a single mention of structural rust or corrosion.

The pernickety among you might like to change the faded window winder handles for better ones, replace the cracked gearknob, and maybe reinstate the original stereo. That’s about it though, so maybe a couple of hours work at most?

The service and maintenance is recorded as follows:

• 14.11.1990 and 704 miles – service by Swan National Motors

• 09.05.1991 and 2,140 miles – service by Swan National Motors

• 07.11.1991 and 3,448 miles – service by Swan National Motors

• 14.05.1992 and 4,895 miles – service by Swan National Motors

• 10.11.1992 and 6,195 miles – service by Lex Peugeot

• 03.05.1993 and 7,535 miles – service by Lex Peugeot

• 08.11.1993 and 8,514 miles – service by Hale Barns Garage

• 21.12.1994 and 11,077 miles – service by Hale Barns Garage

The Peugeot was put in storage at one point and the trail picks up again from 2006 onwards according to the online MoT history. Sadly, the seller tells us that the previous owner(s) (it’s had three previous keepers) did not keep any servicing paperwork from the period until she bought the car ten years or so ago.

• 20.06.2019 and 37,204 miles – service by Bristol Street Motors including fresh brake fluid and gearbox oil

• 23.04.2021 and 37,715 miles – full service including new sparkplugs, both rear brake cylinders and shoes, a rear wheel bearing, front brake pads, and a new fuel hose by Robert Snell Diagnostics

The engine bay looks lovely with plenty of evidence of rust-proofing gloop on the lower edges plus a nicely presented engine and ancillaries within. The turrets are also clean and free of corrosion, which is always a good indicator.

As you can see, it fires into life with enthusiasm (courtesy of the choke when it’s cold, of course; how retro is that?) and idles beautifully. It revs freely too, and makes all of the right noises and none of the wrong.

The underside looks good and strong but then you could have guessed that by the MoT history, couldn’t you?

Because the 205’s MoT certificate, which is valid until July 2024, was gained without any advisories, something it’s made a bit of a habit of over the years.

But then its history is strong: there’s a bunch of old invoices and MoT certificates in the file plus some old tax discs – and many of them are neatly sorted with the tax disc, MoT certificate and service receipt collated together.

It comes with the book pack too, plus the original Peugeot-branded Clarion headunit.

If you’re looking for a non-GTI 205 then you can stop searching now because we doubt you’ll find a better one, no matter how far and wide you look. A real conversation starter wherever it goes, it is in an utterly wonderful condition and only the most fastidious will find anything about its cosmetic appearance to critique.

As to value, the seller is happy to offer her 205 with no reserve trusting that you’ll know a good ‘un when you see it and will be prepared to pay the appropriate sum to make it yours.

Remember too, the market will always reward the best cars with a premium, so even if you have to pay a little extra now, that same premium should be returned when the time comes to let it go.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located in Headington, Oxfordshire. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.