1997 Daihatsu Charade GTI

Highlights

  • Genuine low mileage
  • Same family ownership from new
  • Incredible Pioneer stereo set up 

The Appeal

This Daihatsu Charade GTI is both unique and rare, with only 8 known to be left and only two of those are still on the road. With the rare part addressed, it is time to point out what makes this Charade unique. Well, simply open the boot and you can see why, with the first owner of the car being Pioneer (the sound system company) it has been decked out with amazing audio technology which still sounds great today.
A true once in a lifetime car, this never fails to generate a smile through its loveable charm.


The History and Paperwork

  • When this car rolled off the production line in 1997 it didn’t go to a boy racer or little old lady it was purchased by Pioneer
  • Upon delivery, they set about transforming the boot into a high end audio centre costing a whopping £2,000 almost ¼ of the car's original RRP
  • With top quality, equipment used it is no wonder that it still sounds great
  • When Pioneer had finished fitting the equipment it was raffled at the NEC
  • The lucky winner collected the car in November 1998, and it would stay in the family until today
  • In 2002 the car would transfer owners to the daughter who would keep it for another 20 years.
  • Although the car has only covered 30,000 miles in 25 years it has always been serviced properly
  • This is evidenced in the service book which has no less than 11 stamps with only a couple thousand miles being completed between services 
  • Within the paperwork, you will also find a lot of Daihatsu original handbooks 
  • Almost every MOT has been kept, this helps us authenticate the mileage
  • There are some invoices for services and other works throughout the years
  • From the exterior you will see some lacquer peel to the roof section, luckily there is a can of paint and lacquer
  • It is now your chance to add to this car's illustrious history and enjoy the world class sound system that has been fitted. 


The Interior

  • Quality sound system
  • Excellent interior condition
  • Great place to sit and enjoy the road
The heart of any car is the interior, this is where you will spend the majority of your time exploring some of the best roads out there and creating many happy memories. Therefore, it must be presented in great condition, luckily for you, the interior of this example is in very good condition.

Firstly, the seats look as if they have barely been sat in, but then again it has only done 30,000 miles during its life. The seat you would expect to show the most wear, the driver’s seat, is presented in very good condition. The rest of the seats are also in very good condition so all your passengers will have a comfortable place to sit back and relax.

The highlight of the interior is of course the sound system, situated in the boot there is a plethora of amplifiers, subwoofers, and a mighty 12 CD multichanger. As it was built by Pioneer to be a show car it is finished to the highest degree, with a lovely, flocked finish and a lower shelf that hides the amplifiers whilst still leaving a lot of space in the boot. This system sounds amazing, and it will certainly make every drive feel like a live concert.

All of the other elements of the interior such as carpets, headlining and black plastic trim are all presented well and practically like they did when they left the factory.

With such a great interior you will be able to enjoy every trip out in this late ‘90s hot hatch. 


The Exterior 

  • Striking colour
  • Upgraded Charade GTi styling 
After only two years in production the Charade had a bit of a facelift, with new lights and a smiley face it looked great. Finished in a striking blue this example is a proper little looker, from every angle you can’t help but smile at this little pocket rocket. 

The paint is definitely striking but although the majority of the paint on the car is in good condition there is some slight lacquer peel to the roof and some other isolated spots around the car. Luckily for you the materials to elevate this can be found in a box in the boot, one being a can of blue paint and the other clear lacquer. Whether or not you wish to fix this it will still look great. To complement the blue paint the car sits on four silver alloys there are some curb marks, but these shouldn’t be too difficult or expensive to put right. 

These Charade GTI’s are very rare so there is a chance that you won’t find another one like this for a long time. This car will be an excellent looking hot hatch from the late ‘90s that will look amazing sitting in your collection, pride of place. 


The Mechanics 

  • Great little 1.3l engine 
  • Engaging 5-speed manual 
  • Very low mileage 
With this being the GTI version it is fitted with a naturally aspirated 1.3l engine producing around 100hp, the power is then fed to the front wheels through an engaging 5-speed manual gearbox. All of these ingredients make for a fun little B-road basher that will be a hoot to drive. 

Mechanically this car has been looked after well throughout its previous family ownership. The service book is filled with a lot of stamps and there are a few invoices that show other works that have been completed throughout its life. Not only has it been looked after well, but it has been used sparingly with only a genuine 30,000 miles on the clock.

On the day of the photoshoot, this pocket sized hatchback started up the first time and maneuvered into position easily with no crunching between gears. The current owner also mentioned that it was very fun to get out and drive on the open road.

What you have here is a well maintained, late ‘90s hot hatch that you will always enjoy getting out and about in. With the added rarity too, you probably won’t see another one whilst you’re out and about in your new purchase. 


Summary

What a great and individual car we have for you here. It's amazing first chapter with Pioneer and following life with the same family for the past 24 years, this Daihatsu is a car that is one of a kind. The low mileage completed and service history should further emphasise that this car should indeed be your next purchase.
You will be able to spend many happy hours at the wheel of this unique vehicle. 

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Vehicle specification
  • Year 1997
  • Make Daihatsu
  • Model Charade GTI
  • Colour Blue
  • Odometer 30,298 Miles
  • Engine size 1295
Auction Details
  • Seller Type Private
  • Town Wallington
  • Location London
  • Country United Kingdom
Bidding history
13 bids from 9 bidders
  • ab•••• £2,800 11/08/22
  • W3•••• £2,700 11/08/22
  • ke•••• £2,600 11/08/22
  • cc•••• £2,400 11/08/22
  • si•••• £2,300 10/08/22
  • la•••• £2,200 10/08/22
  • cc•••• £2,100 10/08/22
  • AF•••• £2,000 08/08/22
  • ad•••• £1,600 08/08/22
  • AF•••• £1,500 08/08/22
Message C&C Auction Team

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