1991 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6

The vendor, who is the car’s fifth owner, has had this 205 GTi for around one year, during which time he has carried out the following work: a new clutch fitted; new brake cylinders on the rear; new radiator/coolant system; headlight beam pattern corrected; and seat-belt retraction fixed.

With a perfectly reasonable 87,000 miles on the clock, the car feels properly screwed-together and starts, goes, handles and stops with all the grin-inducing poise and balance for which these legendary cars are rightly famous. 

It is in good overall condition, both for its age and its mileage.

In our opinion, the car’s proportions look even better today than they did when it was new, thanks largely to the seemingly inevitable tendency of each new iteration of hot hatches to get fatter, wider, longer, heavier and increasingly festooned with spoilers, steroidal bulges, splitters and dams. 

This car just looks entirely fit for purpose, and its purpose is to be quick, agile and fun.

It has everything you need and nothing you don’t – it does have the correct ‘pepperpot’ wheels, but it doesn’t have the sometimes rather leaky sunroof option. 

The ‘pepperpot’ wheels have done well to avoid kerbs and other roadside obstacles, and the Goodyear tyres look to have plenty of life left in them. 

We think someone has gone to a bit of trouble to source these wheels, judging from the fact that two say ‘Made in Italy’, one says ‘Made in France’ and another says ‘Made in Spain’.

In general, the black paintwork has retained plenty of shine and lustre.

There is a very small dent to the bodywork above the Peugeot lettering on the hatchback, plus some light scuffs at each corner of the rear bumper.

Those aside, the car has a number and distribution of stone chips and light scratches that are entirely commensurate with its age and mileage.

The lights, lenses, badging, rubber trim and other exterior fixtures and fittings are in fine fettle. 

The interior is really very good indeed and is in pretty much time-warp condition.

The signature black, red and grey trim has endured the vicissitudes of time and trouble with commendable resilience and there are no obvious flaws that we can see anywhere on the new/refurbished half leather upholstery.

The seats are comfortable, supportive and functional – front and back – and the door cards, roof lining, carpets and mats are following much the same script in terms of quality and condition.

There’s a scuff on the passenger side of the centre console, a small crack to the dashboard plastic just to the right of the heater controls, and one of the clips for the passenger side rear window has snapped.

The steering wheel, which is charmingly analogue and unadorned by any extraneous buttons, dials or paddles, is in fine order, as are the gear lever, handbrake and other controls.

As far as we and the vendor are aware, all dials, knobs, switches, buttons and levers do what they’re told promptly and accurately.

In short, it’s all very good indeed – including the rear luggage space, which contains a full-sized spare wheel. 

Everything in the engine bay is present, correct and in the right place, but it would no doubt respond favourably to a steam clean.

The car’s undersides have given us no reason to frown or tut and everything we can see looks sound, solid and possessed of plenty of structural integrity.

There’s not a great deal by way of history with the car, but there are bills, invoices and receipts attesting to work carried out in recent years, which includes a new cambelt and service at 85,000 miles; the replacement of the front plastic bumper and wheel arch plastic trims; an interior re-trim with refurbished/new half-leather seats; new headlight lenses and exterior badges; and even a set of authentic replacement ‘Warwick Wright Chiswick’ dealer stickers.

The car comes with its original owner’s wallet and manuals, full sets of keys, a recent HPI report, a V5C and a set of reconditioned headlights.

The car’s MoT certificate is valid until 1.5.26 and has just one minor advisory relating to a faulty rear registration plate light. 

We don’t imagine that will prove to be a deal breaker, somehow.

It’s simple really.

If you genuinely enjoy driving, sometimes in a spirited fashion, and have a deep appreciation of cars that combine balance, poise, performance and handling in a sublimely useable package, then you are guaranteed to enjoy owning and driving a Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6.

And the one we have here today, ladies and gentlemen, is a very good, properly sorted and fettled example. 

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £8,000 - £10,000.

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