Highlights
- Full bare-metal respray in 2014
- Comprehensive history file
- Current owner since 2015
- Dry stored
- Highly original
- Covered only 1,000 miles per year since 2002
- Maintained to a high standard
The Appeal
There are hot hatches, then there’s the Peugeot 205 GTI. Even in lowly 1.6 GTI specification, it’s renowned as a brilliant driver’s car. The 1.9 GTI has taken on full legend status, however. And rightfully so. You simply won’t find a more engaging, challenging, joyous example of the breed.
When you look at the details, it’s easy to see why: 875Kg kerb-weight, 130bhp and a raspy, naturally-aspirated 1.9 four-cylinder matched to a short-throw 5-speed manual transmission. It’s the perfect hot-hatch recipe and is enough to send any petrolhead misty-eyed at the mere mention of its name.
With values climbing, original unmodified examples getting thin on the ground and demand increasing, these are that rarest of things: a purchase that you can make with both the head and the heart. And this is the perfect version: post-facelift, pre-October 1992. It’s the point where the 1.9 GTI had the most kit twinned with the highest power engine it ever came with. We believe you simply couldn’t pick a better factory specification.
The History and Paperwork
- Current owner since 2015
- Original handbook
- Current V5
- MOT until June 2022
- Service history – last service in June 2021 @ 115,855 miles
- Previous MOT certificates back to the early 2000’s
- Numerous invoices from over the last 10 years
- Pictures of bare metal respray in 2014
The Interior
- Original half-leather seats with black/green fabric inserts and contrast green stitching
- Emerald green carpets with bespoke black mats
- Manual glass sunroof in working order
- Electric windows
- Kenwood radio/CD system installed
- Also comes with original Clarion radio/cassette system and original mats
- Supplied with internal and external covers
- New TOAD Thatcham Category 1 alarm fitted in 2018
Inside, the car presents very well. The cabin is in fine, original, unrestored condition. The current owner had the front seats repaired in 2017, but ensured the original material was retained. Many owners would have had the interior completely refreshed by now, but we love the fact that this car is completely original inside. It wears its age with pride – the seats and steering wheel showing their age with a well-earned patina, and looking all the better for it.
All of the instruments and switchgear work well. There’s wear-and-tear evident, but less than you’d expect from a car of this age and mileage – it’s clearly been loved and kept very well. It’s a comfortable place to sit too, with just the right amount of bolstering to the seats, fantastic visibility thanks to the large glass-house and slim pillars, and a great diving position.
The generous boot in in good condition, with the original rubber matting and parcel shelf. Under the rubber matting, the insulation/sound-proofing is beginning to degrade, but the steel floor looks solid, straight and has no signs of previous damage or repair we could see.
The Exterior
- Full bare-metal respray in original Lazer Green in 2014
- OSR new inner/outer sills and front floor
- Wheels refurbished in 2017
- Nearly new Falken tyres
- Underside undersealed and cavities waxed in 2018
- Classic yellow front driving lights
One of the first things that strikes you about this car is how original and straight the bodyshell is. All of the panels look in excellent condition, with no damage evident. The respray in 2014 was obviously completed to a very high standard, and the finish of the paintwork really is excellent. To be honest, it’s probably better than it was when it rolled off the production line.
All of the external trim, lights, rubbers and glass are complete, undamaged and in excellent condition. The car has clearly benefitted enormously both from the care lavished upon it and the fact that it has been kept dry-stored for many years.
Underneath, it’s immediately evident how straight and clean the car is. The undersealing and cavity waxing that was completed in 2018 should preserve the underside and chassis for many years to come too.
The Mechanics
- 1,905cc 4-cylinder petrol
- 5-speed manual transmission
- New exhaust fitted in 2016
- Significant service and maintenance history
Of course, as with any hot-hatch, the engine is the star. That rev-happy naturally aspirated four-cylinder punches well above its weight. The 130bhp output, twinned with the sub-900Kg weight, offers instant response, strong acceleration and a 120mph+ top end. With the snappy action of the manual transmission, it’s a thrilling and compelling drivetrain.
In this car, it has had years of specialist maintenance and servicing lavished on it. It starts and idles beautifully and sounds brilliant. The car rode flat, with no dipping, bobbing or unexpected noise from the suspension. The owner assures us it drives very well, going, turning and stopping just as you’d expect it to.
As an added bonus (while it currently does not need it) the vendor is supplying the car with a new cylinder head gasket that they acquired just in case it was ever needed.
Summary
The 205 GTI is an icon for a reason - it looks fabulous, and it drives as well as it looks. Not many cars would make it into almost any petrolhead’s dream garage, but this would surely be one of them.
This highly original example, presented in stunning Lazer Green, is as good an example as you’ll find if you’re after a car that you can genuinely use every day. It’s been maintained regardless of cost and stored with great care to ensure it is preserved in fine, original condition. We love the fact that the interior has been sympathetically preserved so that it tells the story of the vehicle’s history but still looks great.
With key maintenance tasks having been undertaken and a recent full respray and underseal, any new owner can be confident that they’re purchasing a solid, honest and extremely handsome example of Peugeot’s best hot-hatch. Whether you want it for it’s gorgeous proportions, incredible drive or investment potential, we think you’ve nothing to lose here. It’s a cracking example of a sublime vehicle and the punctuation mark on the hot hatch.
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