1993 Peugeot 306 XLD "Liverpool Airport"

[Blake's Den]

As some of you may have seen in the 'for sale' section, I am now the proud owner of this:

It is a 1993 Peugeot 306 XLD. That means it is the 1.9 litre normally aspirated XUD lump with no power steering. Number plate is L706STP if anyone wants to have a laugh at the MoT history.

The car was donated to Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group which is based at the old Liverpool ariport. The art deco building in the background is the old terminal building. They used the car as a general run about on the old apron as they have several preserved aircraft and tools/parts scattered around the place. They added the livery themselves to make it blend in with the other items in their collection.

Sadly the car was vandalised and the group could not justify putting funds into fixing the car. All of the windows have been smashed but the group has replaced the drivers side front and rear side windows already. They were going to scrap the car and I just couldn't let this happen, it deserves to live again.

It is on 181k miles but as it is an XUD it is barely run in (as they say!). The engine runs really sweet and there is no smoke or oil leaks.

The interior is quite original but it has had the rear seats fully removed.

I've got it under a cover at the moment until I get new glass. I've ordered the passenger side from ebay and they should be here soon. I'll probably replace the entire boot lid if I can find one in a scrapyard. Someone tipped me off of one in Wrexham but I'm going to try and find something a bit more local to me first.

In the meantime I've put a couple of sheets/bags over some of the missing glass in cass the cover blows off.

The bonnet is slightly open as I don't have a battery that fits propoerly!

What do you think?

[carlo]

Love it.  Those early 306 interiors take me back, I used to sell them new and we all knew we had an excellent car on our hands.  Loving the rare pre-airbag wheel, they made a delightful 4 spoke non airbag wheel for the XT models from 93-94.

Will never forget the Autocar road test of the 306 diesel (turbo).  Under the 'Against' column on the summary they simply said "You tell us".

[Brigsy]

Deserves to live again. 

[Supernaut]

A nasp XUD with a tachometer!

It looks like it works too!

I had a turbo XUD from 2010-2013 and the tachometer never worked properly, even after replacing the flywheel sensor.

306s are such ace cars I had two in a row. After my ph1 XUD died I got a ph3 HDi estate.

[jon.k]

41 minutes ago, carlo said:

Love it.  Those early 306 interiors take me back, I used to sell them new and we all knew we had an excellent car on our hands.  Loving the rare pre-airbag wheel, they made a delightful 4 spoke non airbag wheel for the XT models from 93-94.

Will never forget the Autocar road test of the 306 diesel (turbo).  Under the 'Against' column on the summary they simply said "You tell us".

IIRC didn't Clarkson give it a pretty mediocre review on top gear and then admit later that he'd got it wrong? 

My dad and granddad got consecutively-plated 306s on M reg, one TD "sedan" and one XND hatch. 

[N Dentressangle]

I had a 306 XnD once - no power steering. Was heavy, but manageable.

The NA engine in these was fine. Really long lived, and powerful enough I thought.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Good man for saving this 306 - I bloody loved my diablo red ph1 D Turbo.  Phase 1s are suddenly a bit thin on the ground, aren't they? This one definitely deserves a second chance - looking forward to updates!

Edit: L706 STP comes back as a long dead 106...

[Lonestar]

Great that it's been saved.

My second car was a ph2 GLX 1.6 petrol. It was a bit rough around the edges and it sounded like a jet engine spooling up whenever the cooling fan kicked in, but it never missed a beat the whole time I owned it.

[Blake's Den]

7 hours ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

Good man for saving this 306 - I bloody loved my diablo red ph1 D Turbo.  Phase 1s are suddenly a bit thin on the ground, aren't they? This one definitely deserves a second chance - looking forward to updates!

Edit: L706 STP comes back as a long dead 106...

My bad. It is L708STP

[Lord Sterling]

You sir, are a hero. I think I can safely say for us here at Autoshite, a large thank you to you for saving this. Its absolutely amazing and has just made my morning (after a night shift)

The interior looks quite nice and tidy. I hate the wheel trims, it really needs some Peugeot trims instead. I can look out for a set of those.

Please, honestly keep us updated on this fine piece of motoring history, yes it might not be NHK 295M, but to us here, it's just as special. 

[sierraman]

9 hours ago, jon.k said:

IIRC didn't Clarkson give it a pretty mediocre review on top gear and then admit later that he'd got it wrong? 

My dad and granddad got consecutively-plated 306s on M reg, one TD "sedan" and one XND hatch. 

He gave the 306 sedan a good review. And then hardly anyone bought them. He said the Vectra was rubbish and loads of people bought them. 

[Blake's Den]

 

[Blake's Den]

55 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

You sir, are a hero. I think I can safely say for us here at Autoshite, a large thank you to you for saving this. Its absolutely amazing and has just made my morning (after a night shift)

The interior looks quite nice and tidy. I hate the wheel trims, it really needs some Peugeot trims instead. I can look out for a set of those.

Please, honestly keep us updated on this fine piece of motoring history, yes it might not be NHK 295M, but to us here, it's just as special. 

Thank you for your kind words!

I agree, the wheel trims need to go and get replaced with the original 'comet' 13 inch trims. I suspect that they will be hard to find.

 

[jonathan_dyane]

Looks most excellent.

Rather than Comet trims as an early-ish car wouldn't it have had these:

[N Dentressangle]

Those are exactly the ones mine had. Fit just inside the rims.

Neat

These ones, I think:

https://ebay.us/m/tNYlNI

[Volksy]

Amazing that this has been saved. Well done!

I've had three of these, all TurboD's, A silver 5dr hatch,  blue 5dr hatch and a blue estate. 

They really are a cracking car.

[Blake's Den]

1 hour ago, jonathan_dyane said:

Looks most excellent.

Rather than Comet trims as an early-ish car wouldn't it have had these:

Interesting. 

Thats an XND in the picture above, the give away is the black bumpers. I used to have an XLD and it had the comet wheel trims.  The brochure also shows comet wheel trims.

Either way, both are better than what is on it at the moment.

[N Dentressangle]

Well that's good - Comets are probably easier to get hold of

[RoadworkUK]

This is utterly tremendous news. Any additional 306 content is always welcome, nay encouraged on this forum.

[carlo]

3 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

This is utterly tremendous news. Any additional 306 content is always welcome, nay encouraged on this forum.

How's your turquoise monster holding up

[stuboy]

my mum had a 1.4, brakes terrible, slow and found the seats too low in comparison too steering wheel

[eddyramrod]

306?  Nice car, wanna show me what it can do?

 

Seriously: I'm pleased it's being saved.

[loserone]

I find the seating position in most Peugeots to be too low.  I am a bit fat but they're distinctly uncomfortable for anyone with a bit of a belly.

[RoadworkUK]

14 hours ago, carlo said:

How's your turquoise monster holding up

Ta for asking! Well, it's using a bit of coolant (I suspected it might), but otherwise it's managed 15,000 miles since my attempt at the head gasket last year. It's now on 205k and continues to deliver unfettered joy.

[Blake's Den]

The first video of the 306 has gone live this morning: 

It features a walk around and inspection of the car. There is also a clip of the engine running for all of you who enjoy the sweet sound of an XUD.

In other news I now have the window glass for the passenger side.  A trip to the scrapyard was unsuccessful in finding a boot lid but there seems to be plenty around online.

[mat777]

Nice introductory vid there, and very much looking forward to following the progress

Not that I'm _at all_ biased, but I definitely concur with the votes to retain the livery - as you say, denuded it would be just a scruffy old 306.... but with it, even though it's not genuine, it's a replica of a really cool piece of industrial history. Imagine rolling up up to FOTU or Radwood all polished up and reglazed, with the proper factory wheeltrims, with the stickers still on and the beacon lit up - you'd go home with ALL the awards! 😎

[Blake's Den]

1 hour ago, mat777 said:

Nice introductory vid there, and very much looking forward to following the progress

Not that I'm _at all_ biased, but I definitely concur with the votes to retain the livery - as you say, denuded it would be just a scruffy old 306.... but with it, even though it's not genuine, it's a replica of a really cool piece of industrial history. Imagine rolling up up to FOTU or Radwood all polished up and reglazed, with the proper factory wheeltrims, with the stickers still on and the beacon lit up - you'd go home with ALL the awards! 😎

Yep, exactly this! It would attract a lot of interest at any show that I take it to. 

I will keep the livery but as I reckon I'll need to change the boot lid I'll have to get the signage on the back remade.

[greengartside]

There’s one being broken in my local scrappers if you need bits? In Naaaarfolk though.

[Blake's Den]

9 hours ago, greengartside said:

There’s one being broken in my local scrappers if you need bits? In Naaaarfolk though.

That looks very original, you should save it!

I am after a phase 1 boot lid but Norfolk is a long way from home 😕

[eddyramrod]

8 hours ago, Blake's Den said:

That looks very original, you should save it!

I am after a phase 1 boot lid but Norfolk is a long way from home 😕

Even further when you realise the GWM number plate is from Southport!  The original airport car probably wore one similar.