The aim was to replace the much-loved 504 and assist the respected 604 — but the Peugeot 505 was so darn good that it almost killed off all interest in the latter. If you were buying a midsize saloon in the Eighties, this is what you would have plumped for. It was handsome, practical, durable and when equipped with the V6, it offered spirited performance too.
When it launched in 1979 it had a hard act to follow; the 504 was a firm favourite thanks to its smooth ride and reliability but customers flocked to the forecourts when they caught sight of the successor. It was a tad smaller than the 604 and wasn’t nearly as expensive. Peugeot tried in vain to keep the 604’s popularity in tact by giving the newbie a conservative look (the exterior didn’t have nearly as much tinsel as its bigger brother) but the low-key styling (gone was the kinked boot) coupled with the fact it could do the same thing as the larger model for less was a major pull. It did, however, get the familiar trapezoidal headlight arrangement marking it out as a ‘proper’ Peugeot.
The Ford Granada and Audi 100 competitor handled and rode very well indeed (it had MacPherson struts and coil springs at front and semi-trailing arms with coil springs at rear) and with the top of the line 2.8-litre V6 under the bonnet providing 170bhp, it offered decent performance compared to the frugal petrol four-pots which were plentiful (the diesels were also much loved; 2.3- or 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated and intercooled turbo oil burners could be had) and a three-speed auto or four-speed manual directed the power to the rear (five-speed manuals came much later) but the best thing about all the drivetrains was that they were bullet proof. Aside from the four-door saloon, a five-door estate was also built and this could accommodate eight adults when equipped with a third row! However, it was a pity that the attractive two-door Coupe and Cabriolet prototypes never saw production.
Still, over a million were built in the 13 year run and although the French workhorse is something of a rarity today it’s still easy to see why it was once part of the corporate car-park in the Eighties.
Peugeot L500 R Hybrid
Concept pays homage to the racers who led the brand to Indy 500 wins in early twentieth century
June 02, 2016Peugeot 301 gets a facelift
Small, city saloon receives nip and tuck – just like its corporate cousin, the C-Elysee
November 28, 2016Mohamed Abdelrahman Alabadi’s 1979 Pontiac Trans Am
Mohamed’s passion is bodybuilding and it’s fitting that he drives a muscle car! There aren’t many better than the 1979 Trans Am — he tells us all about his classic Pontiac
March 23, 2018All-new Peugeot 5008 breaks cover
2017 model marks transition from dull MPV to stylish seven-seater SUV
September 07, 2016Not their finest hour: Peugeot 407 Coupe
Celebrating the greatest cock-ups in automotive history. Today we look at Peugeot 407 Coupe
November 19, 2018