Peugeot 205 CJ

Every so often, a car arrives that makes absolutely no sense for its age. This is one of them.

This Peugeot 205 CJ Cabriolet has covered just over 10,900 miles from new and its condition can only really be described as new. Not “very good for a 205”, not “remarkable considering its age”—new. The CJ was the fun, affordable 205 Cabriolet, pairing the lively 1.4-litre engine with bodywork developed and assembled by Pininfarina.

This particular car wears the wonderfully period factory CJ colour scheme: pale metallic blue-grey paintwork, blue denim-style upholstery with multicoloured stitching, and matching turquoise and purple exterior stripes. It looks as though it has driven directly out of the original brochure—and possibly taken a wrong turn for 36 years. The bodywork is exceptional, the hood is like new and the interior is quite astonishing.

The seats, carpets, switchgear and trim all look exactly as they should, while the original Clarion radio remains fitted and working away where it belongs. Even the original wheel trims are superb. More importantly, it drives remarkably well. Most open-top cars of this era remind you that the roof was removed by shaking, rattling and generally wobbling over every bump. This one doesn’t. It feels tight, solid and properly sorted, with none of the usual body movement or cabin rattles.

It has been carefully looked after by its three previous owners and comes with a good service history, all of its original books, two sets of keys, tonneau cover and the various original accessories and ancillaries that should accompany it. It has also previously been magazine featured, which is hardly surprising. The car has just been serviced and prepared for sale, including attention to the rear brakes with new wheel cylinders and associated components, and it has just passed its NCT.

We genuinely do not know where you would find a better one. There may technically be another 205 CJ somewhere with fewer miles, but it would need to be sitting inside Peugeot’s own museum—and even then, we would want to compare the two. A completely charming, wonderfully original little car and quite possibly the finest Peugeot 205 CJ available anywhere in the world. You will never find another one like it.

That phrase gets thrown around far too often in classic-car adverts, but on this occasion, we are fairly comfortable using it.