1990 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6

This 1990 example has had eye-watering amounts of money spent on it to ensure that it is one of the very best out there.

It has 128,900 miles on the clock today. On the occasion of its 2013 MoT a decade ago, the mileage was 118,844.

So, as you can tell, this car hasn’t been doing very much over at least the last decade.

In 2015, when it had just shy of 124,000 miles on the odometer, it was the subject of £9,300-worth of restoration expertise, courtesy of Retroclassica of Milton Keynes.

They conducted a blueprinted engine rebuild using new PSA and/or refurbished parts as necessary.

They also stripped the car back to a bare shell, resprayed the body and reassembled the vehicle, incorporating the new 1.9 GTi interior and 1.9 GTi ‘Speedline’ wheels provided by the then owner.

The original 1.6 GTi Speedline ‘pepperpot’ wheels are also with the car today

We have driven the car and can attest that it starts on the button and goes about its sporty business with all the balance, poise and enthusiasm for which these models were famous.

It seemed to us that the gearbox took a while to warm up and get slick, and that the clutch might be biting a little high.

You may well reach a different conclusion on either or both of these rather subjective observations.

What’s certain is that this non-sunroof car is in fabulous condition, which is perhaps not surprising when you consider that it’s done almost nothing since being restored in 2015 and has spent the last two years in climate-controlled storage as part of the vendor’s collection of hot hatches of this era.

As far as we’re aware, the only non-original features other than the 1.9 GTi upgrades are an aftermarket gear selector, a strut brace in the engine bay and a fly-off handbrake. The car has working electric windows.

The vendor is only selling as he has now moved overseas and needs to reduce the size of his classic car fleet.

The bodywork is in very fine fettle overall and is free of any dinks, dents, ripples or creases of any significance.

The paintwork is as vibrantly red and shiny as you could hope for.

There are a couple of faint scratches on the o/s/f wing.

A little bubbling and blistering is in evidence at the base of the n/s/r wheel arch and the sill ahead of it.

The 1.9 GTi wheels are in very good nick and the tyres appear to have plenty of life left in them.

The lights, lenses, badging, trim and all other external fixtures and fittings are all beyond reproach.

The good news continues uninterrupted on the inside, where everything is in impressive order and a testament to the car’s careful curation and the skill of the restoration team.

The half-leather 1.9 GTi seats are untroubled by either use or the passage of time.

They’ve yet to earn even a crease or two let alone acquire any kind of patina.

The door cards are very good, as is the headlining.

The mats are fine.

The red carpets are pretty decent but are slightly faded here and there, and are coming away from the floor pan in a couple of places.

The dashboard, steering wheel and controls are pretty much exemplary.

As far as we’re aware, all toggles, switches, levers, knobs, buttons, dials and instruments do precisely what they’re supposed to do.

The boot is in equally strong condition, but we did notice some scuffs to the grey plastic trim inside the hatchback closure on the nearside.

One of the attachment points for the parcel shelf hanging cords is missing.

The engine bay looks clean and dry. Everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The undersides of the car seem to have plenty of structural integrity.

The service book has main dealer and specialist stamps all the way through to the year 2000.

There are plenty of bills, invoices and receipts attesting to its diligent care and curation over the intervening years up to and beyond 2014 – after which it’s hardly been used anyway.

The vendor recently had the car serviced and a minor oil leak attended to.

The car’s MoT is valid until April 2024

These highly sought-after hot-hatch classics are appreciating in value and interest with every passing year and that trend looks set to continue.

The difficultly, as ever, lies in trying to find a good one.

Looks like we might just have saved you the trouble.

We’re confident to offer this fine 1.6 GTi for auction with an estimate of £15,000 - £20,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located BonhamsICars Online HQ. 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’.