1989 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9

Purchased unrestored and in need of some TLC by our vendor, this 205 GTI 1.9 has been absolutely transformed whilst in the care of its current custodian, having been subjected to a full in-depth restoration, with a total of circa £25,000 having been spent on this iconic French hot hatch including the initial purchase price.

The first step was the bodywork. The shell was stripped down, blasted, any corrosion/bodywork issues addressed, primed, and re-sprayed in its original grey, with the underside being painted in stone-chip and sealed for longevity.

Underneath the car, the chassis, suspension systems and braking systems were entirely overhauled at considerable cost, with invoices for these parts being included in the ‘history’ section below, and the condition of the underside and chassis speaks for itself as to the work and time invested in its refurbishment.

Of course, with all this aesthetic and suspension work, the engine couldn’t be overlooked, and was stripped down and re-built at a cost of around £3,000 including parts.

Once the vendor was satisfied with the work that had been carried out on the vehicle, it was sent to renowned specialists Pug1, who went over the build with a fine-tooth comb and produced another invoice for circa £3,000 to perfect the vehicle, along with MoT testing the car with no advisory items being noted during the exam.

Since the restoration work was completed, our vendor has covered only around 200 miles on the road, with the result being a 205 GTI that is, perhaps, as close to factory-fresh as we’ve ever seen.

So good is it, in fact, that the vendor confidently states that the odometer reading of just over 109,000 is ‘entirely irrelevant’ as all parts have either been replaced, refurbished or reconditioned to be in the best-possible condition.

Resplendent in its factory grey with red piped trim, this 205 GTI is in outstanding condition throughout, having covered only a handful of miles since the culmination of its restoration works, and evidently cosseted in-between drives.

The paintwork shows next to no signs of wear, save for perhaps the odd errant stone chip to the front end. Similarly, the bodywork is arrow-straight throughout, with no dents, dings, scuffs or impact damage visible to our photographer or writer.

Up above, the notoriously fickle vacuum-operated sunroof is in full working order, whilst all glass - including both front and rear lights - is free of damage, cracks or noticeable markings.

All badges, trims and plastics are present-and-correct and generally in wonderful shape, though we did notice a very minor abrasion on the nearside rear corner where the arch trim meets the rear bumper, as seen in image 173 below.

All four wheels were refurbished during the restoration process, and remain in pristine condition throughout, along with a matching spare being mounted underneath the chassis on a cradle, as per the factory.

The good news continues inside, as the brightly-coloured black/grey/red cabin of this 205 GTI remains in excellent condition throughout, benefitting from a light refurbishment during the restoration process including new carpets and over-mats.

Being super particular, we would point out that the outer bolsters of both front seats show some creasing and deformation from years of enjoyment, but certainly no signs of wear to the seat covers themselves.

Similarly, in the rear, the seats look to be barely used, with only a couple of small indentations to suggest that they have ever been sat in.

Down below, the carpets are in excellent condition, whist up above the headliner is in equally great shape, with no sagging or staining noted.

The high-traffic areas such as the HVAC switches, steering wheel and door cards have a few very minor signs of usage patina, but are still in fantastic shape, having evidently been lavished with careful use over the years.

At the rear, the boot is in near-unmarked condition, whilst a fire extinguisher has been mounted on the outermost bulkhead of the boot - hopefully never needed, but a good sign of a fastidious owner.

All systems are reported to be in full working order, though the vendor notes there is a rattle emanating from behind the dashboard when cold, though this has never been irksome enough to warrant stripping the dash back out of the vehicle to address.

Perhaps the most impressive part of this expertly-restored hot hatch is its mechanical condition.

Pop the bonnet, and the 1.9-litre inline-four looks to be box-fresh, as do its ancillaries, all of which present in outstanding condition with no signs of any leaks or misting that we could see. A further sign of the fastidious nature of this rebuild is evident in the various stickers and warnings which have been sourced new or reproduced for the build - attention to detail is key, and we’re all for it here at The Market.

In a similar vein to the engine bay, the underside of the vehicle is practically clean enough to eat off of, with no corrosion, bloom or even any particularly discernible signs of use making themselves known, save for the odd scuff to the under tray plastics.

Out on the road, the 1.9-litre engine is reported to be in rude mechanical health, with no reported issues, noises or untoward behaviours.

It should be noted that along with a full engine rebuild - at a cost of £3,000 - the cam-belt, oil pump and water pump were replaced at the same time for peace of mind.

The most recent MoT exam - dated 29 April 2022 - shows a clean pass with no advisory items.

Included with the vehicle is an impressive history folder, showing over 170 items of paperwork, documentation and invoicing. The vast majority of this is related to the numerous parts purchased over the course of the restoration, along with an in-depth photographic record of the restoration works taking place.

Highlights of the history folder include the following:

- The V5, showing 10 former keepers

- Extensive treasure trove of invoices and receipts

- Big-ticket invoices for the bodywork (c. £4,000) the engine rebuild (c.£2,000 + parts) and the gearbox rebuild at a cost of £474.

- Numerous items of older literature, handbooks and a HPI report, which is clean save for the standard number plate change flag and out-of-date mileage reports.

It should also be noted that the private plate is included with the sale of the vehicle - valued at around £800 - and so is a £400 car cover, which has been used to protect the vehicle since the restoration works were completed, despite it having been garaged.

Box-fresh and ready to enjoy, this 1989 pre-cat 205 GTI boasts the arguably more desirable 1.9-litre engine (and associated upgraded specification) and has been subjected to a money-no-object restoration whilst in the care of the current owner.

Often cited as the benchmark to which all ‘hot hatches’ are tested against, both in-period and for a number of years after it went off-sale, the 205 GTI is a truly iconic piece of machinery, and offers its driver a wonderfully analogue, engaging and enjoyable driving experience.

Offered with an estimate of £18,000 to £25,000, this is a near-unrepeatable opportunity to obtain a freshly restored 205 GTI which appears to need nothing more than to be driven, enjoyed and routinely maintained.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.