Peugeot 205 GTi (1.9 litre), 1998
Peugeot 205 GTi
Peugeot 205 GTi•
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Chassis No.: VF320CD6201144445
Engine No.: tbc
Registration: EU taxes paid
The King of the hot hatches? Volkswagen may have started the GTi 'movement' in 1976, but many still consider the Peugeot 205 GTi as the greatest of them all. The 205 was launched in 1983, a brilliant rival to its contemporaries with its ‘wheel at each corner' design and flyweight mass. No wonder it won What Cars ‘Car of the Year' in 1984 and was declared ‘Car of the Decade' by CAR Magazine in 1990. The 205 1.6 GTi arrived in April 1984, singled out for its sublime handling and revvy 105bhp engine. The 1.9 GTi that followed in December 1986 was more of the same but with 128bhp and a bit more torque.
This was in parallel with the 205 T16 winning the World Rally Championship in 1985, helping to promote the road-going 205’s inherent abilities and ultimate potential. The GTi model was produced until 1994, firmly establishing itself as a must have future classic.
Never mind a barn find, this is a Monte Carlo, heated underground car park find; which is where the car has spent the vast majority of its years. Ordered new in 1998 from Peugeot Piccadilly's export department, its owner and former F2 driver Colin Vandervell is part of the Vandervell race dynasty and son of Tony Vandervell who started the Vanwall Formula One team. Specified in white with contrasting trim, this desirable 1.9 example is hot hatch gold and carries a letter of provenance from Colin Vandervell detailing the ownership.
Following on from 1985 when Peugeot won the World Rally Championship, Colin decided he wanted one of his own, he visited Peugeot Piccadilly where he was given the brochure for the 205 and the 205 GTi 1.9 (both included in the sale) and he promptly ordered his car. When the car was supplied it came with two keys and two Peugeot Piccadilly key rings, the keys can still be found on the same key rings today. The Peugeot Piccadilly tax disk holder still resides on the windscreen with the six months tax disc inside.
Accompanying the car is the full book pack which includes a guide to having an accident which, of course, has never used and the radio manual. During the first six months of its life this Peugeot was taken from its London underground car park to Nice, where it lived in another heated underground car park, the car then spent time going from Nice to Monte Carlo, swapping heated garages. The car was used sparingly over the next 29 years by the owner and he states it was used as a second car for journeys to the UK, Italy, the west of France and Switzerland. In all this time the car has only had one panel painted, the rear lower valance, after an incident with a flower pot.
We would describe the 205 as having led a pampered life, the alloys have never been refurbished which is confirmed by the owner and as you would expect, all the original stickers under the bonnet and on the doors are still in place.
Throughout its life, overmats have been in place and therefore the seats look barely sat in with no tears or cuts. The vendor informs us there was no rust that could be found anywhere upon inspection and that the car has never been welded or bodywork painted, apart from the rear lower valance. Importantly, this car has been kept on the road all of its life, the French insurance tickets pay testament to this and in addition there are many bills from the UK, France and Monte Carlo.
The car has its Monaco registration documents, Monte Carlo MoT test certificate which we are lead to believe is infinitely more stringent than in the UK, a letter from DVLA stating no VAT to be paid/NOVA number issued and an MoT test certificate valid for 12 months. The car has not been registered in the UK as this would add another owner and Mr. Vandervell is unable to register the car due to not having UK residency. Therefore this is genuinely the only, one owner, 1.9 205 GTi on the market that we could find worldwide.
Recent work includes a new timing belt, water-pump and a new service, as such we are informed the car runs like a dream. Offered with a detailed history file including original brochure and two keys, it would certainly be harder to find a better car with a more impressive history and such a fascinating story. In our view, if you want the very best 205 GTi, a combination of originality and provenance, this is it.
