1989 Peugeot 205 GTi

If the VW Golf GTI was the hatchback that wore the crown (often losing it before inexplicably regaining it in time to lose it again to the latest Young Pretender…) then the 205 GTI was the car enthusiasts wanted to see in their garage.

This one is the baby brother of the duo. Fitted with the free-revving 1.6-litre engine and finished in white, not a single MoT tester has ever mentioned rust or corrosion, which makes this a helluva rarity.

Part of a good-sized collection of modern classics, this charming example has been in the vendor’s care since July 2020. Realizing he has more cars than time to look after them, much less drive them, he’s decided to rationalize the collection a little, which is great news for anyone out there looking for a cracking example of one of the French greats.

The 205’s clever engineering accounts for most of its absence of mass, but lightweight, and therefore thin, panels play their part too. This means that the 205 is more prone than most to car-park dinks, dents, and the sort of damage that more robust cars might shrug off.

Based on the images, to find one with panels this straight is a bit of a coup then, so feast your eyes. Of course, Peugeot’s panel alignment back then was never going to cause any sleepless nights at Audi but the shutlines here appear remarkably consistent.

White’s a great colour for it too, isn’t it? Red might be the commonest colour for the GTI but we think white suits the 205’s simple, elegant lines brilliantly.

The vendor reports that the huge sliding glass sunroof opens and closes as it should and is, we are told, completely water-tight.

The standard 14-inch Speedline alloy wheels are in fine fettle and they wear matching General Altimax Comfort tyres in the ubiquitous 185/60R14 size. (Remember the Pirelli Plus One concept that saw the Golf GTI work its way from 175/70R13 through this size and into a set of 195/50R15?)

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

There are a few small jobs to keep you busy in the off season. The front bumper isn’t up to the same standard as the rest of the bodywork, and there is a small chunk missing from the front valance near the towing eye (#22).

The rear plastic panel also has a crack in it (#62) and there are some scuffs on the rear bumper (#66). Even taking these into account, we think this is a very tidy example.

The first thing you see when you open the door of a 205 GTI is, of course, the red carpet. Eye-bleedingly bright, it’s as iconic, and as integral to the legend, as the red stripe around a Golf GTI’s front grille. This set is a bit grubby but should clean up well. They’re also protected by a set of Peugeot rubber mats, which is always good to see.

More importantly, the seats appear from the images to be in great shape. Sure, there’s a bit of softening on the bolsters but that’s normal; what counts is that the fabric appears unworn and free of damage bar the one small hole we spotted on the outer edge of the driver’s seat (#135).

The tall, spindly gear lever is just how we remember it, as is the three-spoke steering wheel. It’s very of-the-period in there but then that’s why we buy cars like this, isn’t it?

The headlining appears good, including the cover for the 205’s trademark sliding glass sunroof.

The boot could do with a bit of attention but, by way of compensation, the parcel shelf is intact when so many are cracked or have had holes cut in them for speakers.

Thought to have been in storage between 2006/07 and 2012, the Peugeot has a stack of old invoices and bills for work that’s been carried out on it over the years. These have been photographed and displayed at the end of the listing but the highlights include work to the engine, timing belt, clutch, exhaust, and much more.

Please take the time to look through them or, better still, contact the seller to go and see the car in person. It’s currently with him near Cardiff in south Wales, along with the Volkswagen Golf GTI 25, Ford Capri 2.8i Special, and Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet we are also selling for him, so if you’ve got a hankering to buy a fast eighties icon, he’s the man to see.

The underside has been none too neatly undersealed. There’s quite a bit of overspray and we can see the new owner might like to spend some time with an old rag and some solvent getting rid of that.

The engine bay, on the other hand, appears to be pretty good and doesn’t need anything beyond a valet and a detail, if its light patina bothers you.

The jack nestles under the bonnet too and is there to be used in conjunction with the spare alloy wheel that lives underneath the boot.

The 205’s MoT certificate is valid until November 2023, and the recent Vehicle History Check is clean.

In addition to the invoices we mentioned, the GTI also comes with two sets of keys, a V5 registration document, a Haynes workshop manual, and a comprehensive selection of old MoT certificates.

At a time when the price of fast Fords is stratospheric, and that of Golf GTIs merely high, the Peugeot 205 GTI remains relatively sane.

Of course, that depends on your definition of sanity but we think the £12,000 to £15,000 we expect this one to fetch is very reasonable, especially when you consider this is a deposit into your classic car account that should be easy to access - and possibly surprisingly healthy when the time comes to cash it in.

And, it’s being sold with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid, so why not have a cheeky flutter and see what happens? After all, the worst outcome is that you end up owning the car you couldn’t afford to buy (or insure…) back when you still had a healthy head of hair.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. 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’.