AN iconic 80s hatchback which was left to gather dust in a garage for two decades has been uncovered – and is worth a whopping sum.
TV personality Jonny Smith found the 1990s classic in car enthusiast David Baisley’s locked up garage.
The dusty old motor was exposed on Jonny’s Late Brake Show on Youtube and is believed to fetch more than £15,000.
It follows dozens of other videos where Jonny helps motorists uncover abandoned vehicles.
David purchased the 1990 Peugeot 205 GTI in 1995, having grown up driving his mum’s Renault 5TL and a 205 1.1 XL.
He added the “thing to have” at the time was a 1989 Mk2 Golf GTI but for him, the 1990 205 GTI was his “dream” car.
At the time of purchase, it had done some 72,000 miles which the motorhead quickly added to – racking up over 60,000 miles in just seven years.
However, in 2002 he got his hands on a Toyota MR2 which meant putting his adored classic away.
“It’s stayed here ever since,” he said.
“It’s quite sad, but it’s still there,” he added.
Despite the car having accumulated 23 years worth of dirt and grime, the body work and wheels appeared in “good condition” – only requiring a simple wash-down.
Whilst the petrolheads struggled to get the old motor starting, David said he was now intent on getting it running again.
Jonny said: “What a great day it’s been. I love the story behind Dave’s first car and that he’s still got it.
“It was a shame we couldn’t even consider getting it run up in today’s video – I just didn’t want to risk it – but chatting with him about all the memories that are coming back with this car – it’s so sentimental.
“I think it’s acted as a catalyst for him to get this car running again – get it cleaned, get it recommissioned, and enjoy it, because that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?”
The Peugot 205 was in production between 1983 and 1999, and has remained one of the French car company’s best-selling models.
So much so, it proved a fierce competitor in the hatchback market and even prevented Ford from going under in the 80s.
Fit with a 1.9-litre engine fitted it could accelerate from 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds.
There are still 1,200 Peugeot 205 GTIs in the UK, according to the DVLA.
This comes as an abandoned salvage yard dubbed “Aladdin’s Cave” was discovered earlier this week.
The cars, covered in long grass and overgrown weeds, ranged from the 1930s to the 2000s.
While most of the cars were still in one piece, they seemed to have been sitting in Ron’s Auto Salvage, in Allison, Iowa, a long time.
