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Peugeot 205 GTI found. Now being resurrected.


Daviemck2006

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This is a tale of our own pug. My son and I bought this about 6 years ago for a bit of fun. It's a 1990 Hplate 205 1.6gti. After about 6 months the engine gave up, we sourced a good 1.9 engine and fitted it along with a new clutch. Then another few months later if failed MOT on welding and a couple of other things.

 

I was told of a guy, who was highly recommended, who had built a few 205 race/rally cars who would do the welding for us. We went to see him with the car, and he persuaded us not to do a quick MOT pass weld up but to do it really well with new sills and chassis legs and get it really good. This we agreed to and left the car with him and then bought all the bits we needed.

 

The guy then did a disappearing trick with our car and a couple of others. This coincided with a really bad spell of my health and the 205 and the guy got forgotten about.

 

A few months ago I decided to see if I could find this arsehole and our 205. Well a 205gti is now big money. I managed to find him, working in a garage in Perth, and discovered the car was in a farmyard barn beside Huntly, only 25 miles from me. He agreed to come to the farm and give us the car back. There were apparently some other stuff to shift before we could get the car out. I arrived at the farm when agreed and the dickhead did not turn up, but the farmer said there is a red pug in that shed along with some other stuff but I cant let you get it as I dont know who you are. Fair enough by the farmer I suppose.

 

I then messaged the guy giving an ultimatum, he came and got the car out or I would go to the farm, grind the lock off and get our car out and I would just tow anything that was in the way out and I would not be particularly careful doing it, and certainly wouldnt be putting things back in the shed. So today he eventually turned up with a couple helpers and we got the 205 back.

 

So how is the car? It is stripped out for welding to the floorplan and the sills are cut off. However all the parts are seemingly in the car including the new parts we had bought. It is now on my trailer at the side of the house until we decide what to do with it. It is solely owned by my son now, he bought my share of it when it was re engined. He is considering selling it as it is as he cant be arsed with it. I want to do it up, but it could be a money pit. It however wouldnt be any use to me once finished and could end up costing more to restore than it would be worth to sell once done.

 

The final decision is my sons, it is his car now. The bodywork at first look seems good, just the new sills fitted and painted would have it looking ok. What's a knackered 205gti worth to sell? No idea. The thing drove well after the engine swap, but would it even run now? No idea. What would you 205 lickers think it's worth? Answers on a postcard please!bd3b021154bdf180c743fc117ec1645f.jpg2e0b413c4040c78d7e45e052f413c711.jpg2c9a84fa6d6fd6194a2111ae55d18546.jpg5e370bba6ff6b18fc1fc556e21b5272c.jpgc292b911bcaf48fc54e3734d28f78d15.jpg

 

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What an absolute wanker, I guess he didn't get the shoeing he thoroughly deserved. 
If there isn't an appetite to repair I'd sell that as is and it'll probably fetch good money 
There was me and my son, and about 5 of them, so we just loaded it and ran! The guy muttered some shit of a marriage break up and hiding from his ex. I was not really listening.

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1 minute ago, Daviemck2006 said:

There was me and my son, and about 5 of them, so we just loaded it and ran! The guy muttered some shit of a marriage break up and hiding from his ex. I was not really listening.

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Fair play and understandable, he definitely needs an Argos catalogue posting to him every 6 months for a few years though

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Mot'd examples seem to go for £6-7000 on Car and Classic up to £15-20000 for really nice ones. Even more for completely restored. So even as is it's going to be worth a fair amount. Do you have the original 1.6 hanging about? It would be a plus point if it's available.

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What a story!  Well done for getting it back.  At current prices it is just about possible to sink more money into a 205 restoring it than you'd get back once done, though it might be a different story in five years.  I'd probably let someone else have the grief though, a basket case has still got to be 2 or 3 grand's worth?

 

My instinct tells me it would be best put back to 1.6, though I don't have my finger on the pulse so to speak therefore it could well be that a properly done 1.9 conversion doesn't diminish its value, as a restored car.

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Oooh yeah, any way up that's well worth saving.

  • Put a 1.6 back in it and restore it to bog stock to a high standard: most long term money
  • Put a 1.9 in it and make it go faster: probably not worth much less
  • Put an Mi16 in it, period upgrade style: probably will never make as much as if it was standard, but you wouldn't have to do it to such a high standard, and it would be very quick.
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Liked for the fact you got it back but otherwise, what a scummy thing to do. 

My Dad had his owned from new, Suzuki 380 stolen in much the same way back in the 80's. Sadly by the time he found after 5 years. It was pretty much a rusty frame with no engine. So he didn't bother having it back sadly, as it wasn't worth much then. Plus he couldn't afford to fix it up with 3 mouth's to feed etc.

In my opinion for what it's worth. If you still have the enthusiasm for it and want too keep it, then go for it.

If not then save yourself the agro and sell it on as is. 

As for its current value. I'm not sure as they have been off my radar for some time. I'd check out eBay, car and classic and alike, as it should give you a good indication of what it could fetch. 

Hope whichever way you go, it reaches a happy conclusion for you both.

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Ooft, nail biting stuff! Well done getting it back! Looks like a sunroof shell? Shame

I'd almost be tempted as my dream car (Manta) is stupid money now and one of these would actually fit in my garage for fettling, they're definitely in the top 5 all time cars of mine, having had 3 back in the day. 

Drop me a PM with a price if it's going up for sale, I'm near Dunfermline

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I love a 205gti, had one when I was 21 and they are definitely on the up, but I can fully sympathise with you or your son not being arsed with it. 

I doubt you would have any bother getting a couple of grand for it as is. 

What would it cost to get properly sorted? Would throwing 2 grand at it now result in a 6 grand car? 

If I didn't already have a driveway full of untouched projects I'd be tempted. 

 

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I think the original 1.6 engine was scrapped. The bolt holding the camshaft sprocket snapped at speed and totalled the engine if I remember correctly. We only paid £1200 for it 6 years ago, it was tidy, a good driver and a new mot when bought. It was from middle england somewhere, I cant remember exactly, Shaun went down in a train for it and drove it home. I think theres very little difference between the 1.6 and 1.9. I think the heads the same, the block and pistons are the same, the crankshaft has a longer throw so the 1.9 doesn't rev quite so freely because of that, and the gearbox has a higher final drive. This one has the 1.9 engine on the 1.6 box. My son in law also has one, he is totally modifying his one, it is in the final stages of getting a Honda type 2.0 and 6 speed box and highly modified brakes and suspension.

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Theres a barn find 1.6gti needing welding at 3 grand bidding just now on ebay, and a few roadworthy ones at 7 to 10k and top condition up as far as 20k! A couple grand getting it welded and mot standard and another couple getting what paint it needs to be mint could be money well spent.get it to the 8 to 10k range it still would be worth it.

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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-205-Rallye-1992-/303955315924?hash=item46c5260cd4%3Ag%3AWDYAAOSwBZtgcu4c&nma=true&si=WVxCMnvxroqWBwcU39BWjWZzIoQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

This has just finished on eBay, it's a UK spec Rallye (basically an XS with some cosmetic stuff, French spec ones are more authentic) with a Saxo VTS engine swap and a few minor jobs left to do.
It made £2100. 

GTI might be worth a little more, because GTI - but I agree with someone above that there's about 2k in it. 

I reckon it's a good long term project for someone.

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5 hours ago, Ghosty said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-205-Rallye-1992-/303955315924?hash=item46c5260cd4%3Ag%3AWDYAAOSwBZtgcu4c&nma=true&si=WVxCMnvxroqWBwcU39BWjWZzIoQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

This has just finished on eBay, it's a UK spec Rallye (basically an XS with some cosmetic stuff, French spec ones are more authentic) with a Saxo VTS engine swap and a few minor jobs left to do.
It made £2100. 

GTI might be worth a little more, because GTI - but I agree with someone above that there's about 2k in it. 

I reckon it's a good long term project for someone.

That 205 Rallye was a total barg for what looked to be a really clean car. I'm amazed it didn't make more. 

As for values and whether to undertake the work on the GTI to sell, if complete I'd have suggested selling it as a garage find. However, with the sills hacked off, I'd say it would be well worth investing in getting the new ones welded on, the car reassembled, polished and listed on ebay without getting any more involved. I'd also throw a couple of the photos of it from when you bought it onto the listing to show how clean it was when purchased (I googled the registration and they popped straight up). I certainly wouldn't entertain a low-ball offer for a quick sale.

205 GTI values are through the roof, along with mk2 Golf GTIs and Nova GTEs. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised what you make on it. 

 

 

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12 hours ago, junkyarddog said:

At least it was stored inside.

This.  It could just as easily have been left outside and be utterly mouldy and rotten by now.  Or stolen, or any number of other things.

The fact that he did a disappearing act isn't great, but lives don't always pan out as expected.  Cars often go missing in similar circumstances, never to be seen again, so the very fact that it still exists in recoverable and repairable condition is marginally remarkable.

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£7k to £10k is the going rate for tidy examples with MOT just now, prices have held up quite well over the pandemic period. There is the odd player trying to push the envelope but they’re definitely not bargain basement, that ship sailed long ago. 
Having the ‘wrong’ engine may go against its value somewhat but it is not completely foreign to the car and it was a period upgrade. Project prices vary massively, depending upon the ambition of the seller, but I’m not telling you anything new here. 
For me I’d be speaking to a reputable specialist, such as Pug1off and weigh up cost of work vs return on investment. Peugeot museum reproduce many OE parts now which were long obsolete. 
I’m considering parting with my own 205 GTi, owned since 2002. Ultimately you both need to look at the effort and logistics of bringing the car back to a saleable and enjoyable condition and if you would keep it once done. If you would be selling anyway then it’s about efforts vs reward, compared to selling a project. The audience is very different, as I’m sure you’re aware.

Whichever way you go, good luck. Sorry to see the hassles you’ve had so far.

 

 

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9 hours ago, big_al_granvia said:

Get in touch with Matt Collins at ecosse automotive in bo'ness. What he doesn't know about pugs is not worth knowing

Is that the Ecosse from days gone by, who had numerous Max Power etc features, with wide arched 306 hatches and cabbys etc?

I was always quite fond of their stuff.

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2 hours ago, Out Run said:

Is that the Ecosse from days gone by, who had numerous Max Power etc features, with wide arched 306 hatches and cabbys etc?

I was always quite fond of their stuff.

aye matt is still into it but they do more than just pugs now. him an diane will be cruisin when they are on the pension

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14 hours ago, big_al_granvia said:

Get in touch with Matt Collins at ecosse automotive in bo'ness. What he doesn't know about pugs is not worth knowing

Great story @Daviemck2006. Sounds like it would be worth it for your laddie to get the welding done, put it back together, valeted and go from there. 
 

A friend of friend came go karting with us for my 18th. It was a bloke called John Collins with a heavily modified green 406 coupe - related? 

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Well the thought at the moment, 24 hours after retrieving this, is that we shall get it welded up, tidied up, mot and running into tidy runner territory, not near concourse condition but see where we get to. Shaun had no idea until Saturday night that I was on the case of getting it back, so it's a huge surprise to him too that we actually got it. I was not really expecting to get it myself, until I actually was winching it on the trailer. Money it tight just now, both with Shaun and myself, but together we may manage it.

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The husband of a work colleague is going to look at this over the weekend with a view to doing the welding for us. If that comes off then I am happy doing the paint it needs, should be just the sills and front panel behind the headlights, and my son and I, mostly son, should be able to tackle the rest of the rebuild/mot jobs.


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I’m guessing if you can get it drivable you might just fall in love with it again after a few miles!
It's highly likely if we get it driveable that it will be staying with us. I will rarely drive it, but expecting I will love it. I have had 3 x 205's including this one and loved them all. In fact the most fun was a 5 door 1.1, it was a rusty, beaten up banger I got for £100, it was fun to drive because you got the handling at lower speeds due to 155 section tyres, and being a banger didn't have to worry about it!

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