I was overjoyed to find a Mexican-market 2006 Peugeot 407 in a Denver-area car graveyard a couple of months back, since the final new Peugeot cars sold in the United States were 1991 models and French cars are nearly nonexistent on our streets now (you can still buy Peugeot pepper grinders here, fortunately). Examples of the Peugeot 505 still show up occasionally in the junkyards I frequent, though, and this '83 just appeared in a Denver self-service yard.
The 505 evolved from its predecessor, the iconic 504, and it was a traditional rear-wheel-drive car that provided BMW-grade comfort and handling at a much lower price. This is a top-trim-level STI model, which listed at $15,215 (about $47,467 in 2023 dollars) and came with plenty of luxury and convenience features.
Potential buyers for the BMW 528e were Peugeot's target here, and the Bavarian machine listed at $23,985 in 1983 (about $74,827 after inflation).
The BMW had the power advantage in 1983, thanks to an overhead-cam straight-six with 121 horses stomping on the Peugeot's pushrod four and its 96 hp. That would all change with the 1985 model year, when the 150-hp 505 Turbo hit American Peugeot dealerships.
This car traveled 162,446 miles during its driving career.
Judging by the nuked interior and the way the paint has been burned away by High Plains sunshine, I think this car sat outdoors for at least a decade or two before arriving at its final parking spot.
This car still had its original TRX wheels, which aren't compatible with standard tire sizes. You can still get new Michelin TRXs today, but the process is neither easy nor cheap.
1983 Peugeot 505 STI Sedan in Denver Junkyard
