One to Buy: 1990 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 Sorrento Green Special Edition
A little over two-and-a-half years after Peugeot had launched arguably the greatest hot hatch of all time, a new 1.9-litre version was added to the range.
Compared to the existing 1.6-litre model, the 1.9 came with disc brakes all round, larger diameter 15-inch Speedline SL299 alloy wheels and a long stroke four cylinder engine with an additional 325cc.
Peak output was 130bhp at 6000rpm and 119lb-ft at 4750rpm. For comparison, the entry level variant produced 115bhp at 6250rpm and 99lb-ft at 4000rpm.
Inside, the 1.9 featured electric windows and half leather seats as standard.
From October 1989 a power steering option was introduced which Peugeot fitted as standard on the new Sorrento Green and Miami Blue special editions launched at the same time. These cars also came with a sliding sunroof, full grey leather, grey carpet and grey door cards. 600 of each variant was built with production split equally between the 1.6 and 1.9-litre engines.
Currently on offer at The Hairpin Company in Compton Bassett, Wiltshire, is this 1.9-litre Sorrento Green special edition.
Delivered new in August 1990, it was retained by the first owner for more than two decades, during which time it accumulated some 74,000 miles. Since then the car has been in the possession of a major collector who has subjected it to more than £7000 of work while adding only around 1000 miles to the odometer.
Today the car is presented in superb mechanical and cosmetic condition with a fully documented service history.
Reprinted below is The Hairpin Comapny’s description for this superb limited edition low mileage 205 GTi:
The ultimate hot hatch? – quite possibly. I remember so clearly the first time I drove one of these back in the period, my everyday Golf GTi at the time was good but the 1.9 was in a different league with so much verve, style, speed and great character. To this day I’m not sure it has been bettered and of course now legislation means we are unlikely to see anything like this again.
Unfortunately the very attributes that make the 1.9 GTi a world beater mean that it’s very hard to find a really great non-abused example today. They encouraged shall we say, an extrovert style of driving, which didn’t lend itself to preservation! I’m always happy to buy a great example but am normally always disappointed by what I find, this example however is great.
It’s a rare UK supplied limited edition model finished in the great shade Sorrento Green with an Anthracite full leather interior. One of the second series examples it also features power steering, making the steering more precise and the car more chuckable and the sunroof, and no(!) it works perfectly and doesn’t squeak or leak.
Delivered new in August 1990 by Peugeot main dealer Lex in Nottingham, the first local owner obviously liked the GTi as he remains the sole registered keeper from new. His appreciation of the car is further shown by a full and comprehensive service history with all invoices and MOT certificates on file.
The original owner offered the car for sale several years ago and we bought it. At this point it had covered 74,000 miles was in excellent original condition and had clearly been very carefully driven and maintained, indeed it looked like a much lower mileage example. Following a full inspection and maintenance as required by the highly regarded 205 GTi specialist Pug It Off in Brackley we sold the car to a regular and loyal Hairpin customer who has only the finest cars in his notable collection, most being rather more exotic than the Peugeot.
Sometime after purchase this second owner decided to have the mechanicals rebuilt with a slightly warmer engine cam, to this end the engine and gearbox were fully rebuilt and all ancillaries fully checked and replaced or refurbished as required. This project was over seen by the specialist who normally looks after this customer's Group C racing cars! Invoices on file amounting to around £7,000 details the work completed.
The car is now for sale with us again with just a further 1,000 miles added, however the car goes like no other with an alacrity, turn of speed and lovely taut fluent gearbox. It comes with all books, tools, keys and comprehensive history file.
Must be one of the best.
