This Peugeot 505 S five-speed diesel is the perfect budget classic

Back in the late ’70s, Peugeot had to modify the 505’s body to comply with American regulations. Starting from 1980, the U.S. cars got quad round headlamps and different taillights, larger bumpers, relocated tailpipes and antennas, and with the fuel tank moved inwards, its filler got moved from the left side to the right as well. None of this need concern you today. What’s important is that after the demise of the 505, Peugeot’s fate was sealed in North America, leading to this model’s growing popularity among enthusiasts on a budget.

Simply put, there’s no easier way of getting into the classic scene than with a four-door manual car with a workhorse of a diesel engine.

Reportedly pulled from 25 years of storage last year, this 1982 Peugeot 505 S packs the beefier 2.3-liter turbodiesel rated at 80 horsepower. White over a blue interior, the car shows 120,000 miles now, which means you can do plenty of manual shifting before this powertrain would blow. Recent service history includes new brake and clutch master cylinders, a new water pump with a coolant flush, plus fresh oil in the pan.

More tinkering will need to be done, but with six days to go, this no-reserve offering is an absolute steal at the moment, standing at $500 on Bring a Trailer as it waits for its new owner to to tackle the 2020s with it. Designed by Pininfarina and produced in twelve countries between 1978–99, it’s no surprise that Peugeot sold over 1.35 million of these stylish three-box sedans (and wagons).

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Comments

    I owned 9 Peugeots, 5 diesels, 4 petrol models. Both 604 SD & 505 Sd, and 505 Petrol both sedans and wagons. Loved everyone enough I took a position selling new Peugeots at Euro-Classics, Vestal, N.Y. 1987 –1991. My last Model 1982 604SD was purchased and towed by a gentleman back to Nebraska in 2015. I would love to purchase one more 80’s Diesel Model.

    The traveling 505 Turbo Diesel!
    this 505 listed on Bring a Trailer in January 2020 https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1982-peugeot-505/ Fellow enthusiast listed it, Sameer Wahba
    It sold and traveled from Atascadero, CA to New Jersey. It remained there through the summer months including an engine swap with a lower mileage unit. (overheated the original). It reappeared in October and again In December 2020 on eBay where it was sold again. https://barnfinds.com/1982-peugeot-505-s-turbo-diesel-5-speed/ Its next appearance was on BarnFinds last year in August in Midlothian; a small town outside of Dallas, Texas https://barnfinds.com/bf-auction-1982-peugeot-505-s-turbo-diesel
    After some negotiating outside of the Barnfinds auction, the 505 was shipped to me last March, 2023 bringing it within 120 miles from where it originally started its travels 3 years earlier. I’ve been sorting a lot of things on this one since it arrived, recently have been road testing this past week.

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