1988 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6

Highlights

• In current ownership for almost 15 years

• Just 3 former keepers from new

• Classic pre-facelift white with red interior

• Pre-sale checkup by Hero Motor Company

• Advisory free MOT until October 2026

Overview

Is there anything better than a classic hot hatch for some raw driving nostalgia? Whether you grew up driving them, were driven around in them by your parents, or simply lusted after the latest hot hatch when walking past your local dealership, these peppy and paired-back hatches of the 80s and 90s invoke all sorts of warm, fuzzy feelings inside you, and now is the time to live out those dreams.

For those that like their hatchbacks with a wonderful splash of French attitude and style, few could match the 205 GTI, and to this day it remains an icon of the late 20th century motoring scene, and is a firmly established cult hero for any petrolheads. 

This particular example is a ‘Phase 1.5’ (the mild update introduced in late 1987) 1.6-litre example, devoid of any pesky emissions restrictions, and finished in the iconic colour combination of Bianca White over a grey and red cloth interior. In the care of the current owner for nigh-on 15 years, this lovely little French pocket-rocket has just been given a thorough pre-sale inspection to the tune of over £3,000 to ensure it's ready to go for its next custodian - could it be you?

History and documentation

• Registered 16 Nov 1988

• Supplied new by Streeters of Beckenham, Kent

• In current ownership since December 2010

• Stamped service book with services as follows: Jan 1989, May 1989, Oct 1989, Mar 1990, Aug 1990, May 1991, Oct 1991, Apr 1992, Oct 1992, Apr 1993, Nov 1993, May 1994, Oct 1994

• Full document pack

• Collection of invoices and extensive history of old MOT certificates to verify the mileage

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 7 Oct 2026

• V5 present in owner’s name

• Invoice for pre-sale checkover by Hero Motor Company in September 2025, which included repairs to the driver’s seat, new CV gaiters, a new offside front wheel bearing, new offside front top mount and drop link, attention to the brake pipes and a brake fluid bleed amongst other works to a total of over £3,000

• The latest service was carried out in June 2022 by Andrew Brodie engineering, which the seller reports was at approximately 86,000 miles

• The most recent cambelt change took place in June 2018 and was performed by marque specialist Pug Racing

• HPI clear

Interior

• Iconic grey/red interior in fantastic condition

• The front seats are in great condition for a 205 GTI ; the driver’s seat has had base side bolsters fitted and the original trim cover is only slightly creased

• The rear seats look to be virtually immaculate as far as we can tell

• Contrasting red carpet in great condition, with no signs of damage that we can see, and only some slight wear noted in the footwells

• Elsewhere, we note some typical wear to the leather steering wheel, light patination to the shifter and high-traffic areas, and a couple of scuffs to the lower front seat plastic trims

• Period aftermarket stereo upgrade

• The boot looks to be tidy and clean with no heavy staining, and is complete with its parcel shelf

• No reported water ingress or faults with the sunroof

• No reported electrical faults

Exterior

• Classic Bianca White paint and bodywork with GTI contrasting red trims

• The seller notes that there are one or two ‘thin metal’ dents, and a few touched-in stone chips

• Looking closely, we can concur with the above assessment from the seller, as well as noting a few small indentations on the front bumper red trim, a small red blemish on the rear bumper black trim nearside corner, indentations to the rear bumper red trim, and some chips to the door edges

• Being very particular, there are some paint imperfections with the bonnet edge and nearside rear corner of the boot

• A few areas of the black plastic trims (such as the large grille-style panel across the boot) are showing a few cracks and some UV damage

• The nearside mirror cap is lightly scuffed

• All four wheels present well from a distance, but up-close it can be seen the edges have been painted 

• 4x new Michelin tyres recently fitted

• Overall, despite a few slight imperfections, it looks great

Mechanical

• 1,580cc inline-four engine, notable for being pre-emissions controls and therefore devoid of any catalytic converter

• Five-speed manual gearbox, sending power to the front wheels

• The seller notes that the brakes were recently overhauled

• Under the bonnet, the engine bay looks to be in good shape with no obvious issues

• No modifications from factory specification

• Reported to be in excellent mechanical health, wanting for nothing and with a clean MOT certificate

Summary

Hot hatches will always be a firm favourite for us here at PistonHeads, and arguably the French do hot hatches better than anyone else. This phase 1.5, 1.6-litre 205 GTI only serves to further prove this argument, with its classic and wonderfully crisp lines, rev-happy engine and front-wheel drive power delivery. Hot hatches were never about the outright power figures or headline-making numbers, but about how they make you feel. Lightweight, engaging and nimble were key words for Peugeot’s design team, and the 205 ticked every box.

Yes, there will always be an argument over 1.6 vs 1.9 GTIs, but we’re not here to weigh in on that argument - we’d suggest buying both (preferably from our auctions!) and giving your own verdict.

This 205 GTI 1.6 looks to be an absolute cracker and as such is a strong candidate for having investment potential. There’s not much else to say on the matter, other than good luck and happy bidding!

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Uckfield, East Sussex