1985 Peugeot 505 GTI – The Sophisticated Rebel of the Autobahn

Understated yet undeniably purposeful, the 1986 Peugeot 505 GTI is a rare breed: a European sports sedan that marries French elegance with gritty driving dynamics. With clean, angular lines penned by Pininfarina and a stance that whispers confidence, the 505 GTI doesn’t scream for attention — it earns it the moment the wheels turn.

At its heart lies a fuel-injected 2.2-liter inline-four, delivering a smooth yet spirited 130 horsepower to the rear wheels — a layout increasingly rare even in its day. Paired with a crisp 5-speed manual gearbox, the GTI offers a surprisingly athletic drive, with precise steering and a chassis tuned to soak up high-speed sweepers as easily as cobbled back roads. Peugeot’s legendary suspension tuning, featuring long-travel MacPherson struts up front and independent rear suspension, gives the car a balance of comfort and control that few of its contemporaries could touch.

Inside, it’s all business with a dash of French flair. Deeply bolstered seats, a driver-focused cockpit, and thoughtful ergonomics hint at the 505’s touring ambitions, while details like a thick-rimmed steering wheel and clear, simple gauges reflect Peugeot’s no-nonsense approach to performance.

The 505 GTI was never about excess. It was about doing more with less — and doing it with poise. In a decade dominated by flash and flair, the 1986 Peugeot 505 GTI stood its ground as the thinking driver’s sport sedan: unpretentious, beautifully engineered, and still refreshingly unique decades later.