Rare early, low spec 205 3 door - there’s quite a few surviving from the early 90s and of course GTi’s have always been sought after, but a 1985 205 XL is an unusual sight now, although there is an '84 GL recently listed here that's in very tidy condition.
It’s a 1.1 (the 1124cc Talbot “suitcase” engine) with 4 speed manual gearbox.
Mileage has just passed 057,300
MOT until 20 May 2022.
When I picked the 205 up two years ago, it was in a disgraceful state, having been neglected and then parked up in a country lane for several years, but I’ve re-commissioned it to a safe and useable condition and covered around 1500 miles in daily use over 5 months to make sure that it’s now ok to move on to a new home. Recently it did 400 miles in a single weekend and in doing so proved that it is fine in city traffic as well as humming along the motorway at 65-70mph (occasionally a little faster) whilst returning well over 40mpg.
It still needs a bit more TLC, but it could now be used daily and would make a great winter project for someone with paint / bodywork / re-trimming skills and could make a super little ‘first-classic’ for a young driver.
In my ownership the 205 has had:
a bloomin’ good wash
2 new front tyres
new clutch & release bearing and clutch cable
gear linkage repaired to eliminate a huge amount of slack
carburettor stripped, cleaned and rebuilt with new float valve
new front brake discs & pads, and one flexible hose (front calipers are both quite new too)
rear brakes checked, cleaned and adjusted & new hub nuts and dust covers fitted
new front suspension arm bushes fitted
full service, including brake fluid change, spark plugs, leads, cap, rotor, alternator belt etc cylinder compressions checked (all 195-210psi), ignition timing checked etc.
various botched electrical faults rectified
dashboard and instrument panel bulbs
front wiper motor, wheelhouses and wiper stalk all replaced with good used items
screenwash reservoir cleaned out and a new pump put in (non-original type sadly)
both windows and door handles’ mechanisms un-seized
tailgate struts replaced with used Kia items (well, they fitted and work!)
straightened up the driver’s front corner a bit and fitted a new (very cheap) headlight
cleaned up the interior
…and seemingly a hundred other small jobs, repairs and problems sorted
So, what’s left to do?
BODYWORK:
The car is structurally very sound with no sign of welding or filler, but there’s a few patches of rust developing that need some attention - notably the door seams (inside at the bottom) and the same on the tailgate. Rust patches also on the driver’s B-pillar (by the rear glass) and on the tailgate (below the glass, both sides) and a rust hole hidden behind one headlight. The paint on the bonnet is blistered, there’s a scrape on the nearside quarter panel, some small dents and the front right corner would benefit from a little more work and replacing the side stripe and "1.1" sticker that are missing from the replacement front wing. Bumpers faded. Weather-strips on the doors lifting at the ends. No hub caps.
INTERIOR:
35 years old = torn seat covers and some brittle plastic bits, especially the steering wheel centre trim. The gear knob melted and fell to pieces in the recent hot weather.
ELECTRICS:
Heater blower fan not working, but can easily be made to work on full speed… I think the fault is a transistor (located behind the headlight!), but haven’t found a replacement that works.
Engine temp light not working due to a broken diode on the back of the instrument panel.
Front indicators should be the old type with amber lenses hence the bulb holders don’t fit properly.
Interior light has no internals.
The original radio is in the slot, but not connected.
MECHANICAL etc:
Small oil leak from back of the engine (ie, the top) - rocker cover has been replaced and reduced a major leak, but still another issue is there.
Gearbox doesn’t like to be rushed, particularly changing into fourth, but engages smoothly if you give it a moment in neutral. Possibly the adjustable rod in the linkage needs a tweak; possibly the synchro is a bit lazy; possibly they’re all like that, as the mechanism is not particularly direct?
One outer CV gaiter perishing, but not split yet
One rear tyre cracking in the tread - needs monitoring, but is ok for now. Spare tyre is very old.
Most of the brake pipes have some surface rust (advised at the last MOT).
Brake performance is fine on the road, but gives quite low readings on the MOT rollers - not unusual for a 205 if I recall correctly, particularly the back brakes.
Coolant (antifreeze) has not been replaced. Not causing any problem, but should be done periodically. Probably the radiator would benefit from a flush through at the same time.
Rear screenwash has been disconnected. Small chip in the windscreen
It’s a 1.1 (the 1124cc Talbot “suitcase” engine) with 4 speed manual gearbox.
Mileage has just passed 057,300
MOT until 20 May 2022.
When I picked the 205 up two years ago, it was in a disgraceful state, having been neglected and then parked up in a country lane for several years, but I’ve re-commissioned it to a safe and useable condition and covered around 1500 miles in daily use over 5 months to make sure that it’s now ok to move on to a new home. Recently it did 400 miles in a single weekend and in doing so proved that it is fine in city traffic as well as humming along the motorway at 65-70mph (occasionally a little faster) whilst returning well over 40mpg.
It still needs a bit more TLC, but it could now be used daily and would make a great winter project for someone with paint / bodywork / re-trimming skills and could make a super little ‘first-classic’ for a young driver.
In my ownership the 205 has had:
a bloomin’ good wash
2 new front tyres
new clutch & release bearing and clutch cable
gear linkage repaired to eliminate a huge amount of slack
carburettor stripped, cleaned and rebuilt with new float valve
new front brake discs & pads, and one flexible hose (front calipers are both quite new too)
rear brakes checked, cleaned and adjusted & new hub nuts and dust covers fitted
new front suspension arm bushes fitted
full service, including brake fluid change, spark plugs, leads, cap, rotor, alternator belt etc cylinder compressions checked (all 195-210psi), ignition timing checked etc.
various botched electrical faults rectified
dashboard and instrument panel bulbs
front wiper motor, wheelhouses and wiper stalk all replaced with good used items
screenwash reservoir cleaned out and a new pump put in (non-original type sadly)
both windows and door handles’ mechanisms un-seized
tailgate struts replaced with used Kia items (well, they fitted and work!)
straightened up the driver’s front corner a bit and fitted a new (very cheap) headlight
cleaned up the interior
…and seemingly a hundred other small jobs, repairs and problems sorted
So, what’s left to do?
BODYWORK:
The car is structurally very sound with no sign of welding or filler, but there’s a few patches of rust developing that need some attention - notably the door seams (inside at the bottom) and the same on the tailgate. Rust patches also on the driver’s B-pillar (by the rear glass) and on the tailgate (below the glass, both sides) and a rust hole hidden behind one headlight. The paint on the bonnet is blistered, there’s a scrape on the nearside quarter panel, some small dents and the front right corner would benefit from a little more work and replacing the side stripe and "1.1" sticker that are missing from the replacement front wing. Bumpers faded. Weather-strips on the doors lifting at the ends. No hub caps.
INTERIOR:
35 years old = torn seat covers and some brittle plastic bits, especially the steering wheel centre trim. The gear knob melted and fell to pieces in the recent hot weather.
ELECTRICS:
Heater blower fan not working, but can easily be made to work on full speed… I think the fault is a transistor (located behind the headlight!), but haven’t found a replacement that works.
Engine temp light not working due to a broken diode on the back of the instrument panel.
Front indicators should be the old type with amber lenses hence the bulb holders don’t fit properly.
Interior light has no internals.
The original radio is in the slot, but not connected.
MECHANICAL etc:
Small oil leak from back of the engine (ie, the top) - rocker cover has been replaced and reduced a major leak, but still another issue is there.
Gearbox doesn’t like to be rushed, particularly changing into fourth, but engages smoothly if you give it a moment in neutral. Possibly the adjustable rod in the linkage needs a tweak; possibly the synchro is a bit lazy; possibly they’re all like that, as the mechanism is not particularly direct?
One outer CV gaiter perishing, but not split yet
One rear tyre cracking in the tread - needs monitoring, but is ok for now. Spare tyre is very old.
Most of the brake pipes have some surface rust (advised at the last MOT).
Brake performance is fine on the road, but gives quite low readings on the MOT rollers - not unusual for a 205 if I recall correctly, particularly the back brakes.
Coolant (antifreeze) has not been replaced. Not causing any problem, but should be done periodically. Probably the radiator would benefit from a flush through at the same time.
Rear screenwash has been disconnected. Small chip in the windscreen
