The Peugeot 205 GTI was introduced in 1984 as Peugeot’s answer to the growing hot hatch market led by cars such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The original version used a 1.6-litre engine, but in 1986 Peugeot launched the more powerful 1.9-litre model.

The 205 GTI 1.9 used a 1905cc four-cylinder petrol engine producing around 130 bhp. Power was sent to the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, giving the lightweight car very strong performance for its time. It could reach 0–60 mph in roughly 7.5 seconds and had a top speed of around 127 mph.

By 1990, the 205 GTI 1.9 had become one of Britain’s best-loved performance cars. It was praised for its sharp steering, agile chassis, light weight and exciting handling. Many motoring journalists considered it one of the finest front-wheel-drive driver’s cars ever made.

The car received several updates during its production life, including changes to trim, suspension settings, interior design and minor mechanical improvements. Earlier cars are often regarded as the most raw and lively, while later versions gained slightly softer suspension and improved refinement.

Production of the Peugeot 205 GTI ended in the mid-1990s as Peugeot replaced the 205 with the newer 206 range. However, the later Peugeot 206 GTi, launched in 1999, never achieved the same legendary reputation as the earlier 205 GTI.

Today, the Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 is considered a classic hot hatch and is highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, especially original, unmodified examples.