Description
This 1993 Peugeot 306 XR 1. 6 3-door is finished in Cherry Red and was first registered on 1 August 1993. The odometer currently reads 91, 122 miles.
I purchased the car from a Peugeot main dealer in January 1995 and have owned it ever since. The car remains highly original, retaining its factory trim, wheel covers, original handbook pack, service book, two "plipper" keys, a spare manual key, and an extensive history file.
The history file includes the original purchase invoice, service invoices, repair invoices, and almost every MOT certificate from the car's life. There is documented evidence of regular servicing throughout its active life, including Peugeot dealer servicing for its first 66k miles. Major documented work includes a head gasket replacement and timing belt replacement at 62, 219 miles, and front wing/ bumper replacement after a minor accident in 2002.
The car was last serviced and MOT tested in 2007 at 91, 121 miles. It was then placed into dry garage storage and has remained stored ever since. It even has the garage seat cover from that last service! The current odometer reading of 91, 122 miles reflects how little it has moved since.
The interior remains clean and has survived storage well, with no damp or musty odours. The engine bay presents honestly and appears complete, showing the expected signs of age and long-term storage rather than neglect.
The bodywork has survived storage remarkably well. The original Cherry Red paint retains a strong colour and good gloss. There are age-related stone chips to the front end, a few minor blemishes on horizontal surfaces, two scuffs on the tailgate and two small dents on the roof. At some point the nearside wing mirror has taken a knock and no longer locks. The original wheel trims are present and show the expected scuffing from use.
The underside displays the expected age-related surface corrosion associated with a vehicle of this age but no major structural rust issues have been identified during preparation for sale.
The car is currently on SORN and has no MOT. It has not been recommissioned following long-term storage and is therefore being sold as a restoration or recommissioning project. At least one rear brake appears to be seized and the vehicle does not currently roll freely. The engine is not known to be seized, and during preparation for sale the drivetrain was found to rotate via a front wheel with the transmission in gear. However, the engine has not been started and all mechanical systems should be assumed to require inspection and recommissioning before use.
The sale includes the V5C, original handbook pack, service book, extensive history file, two remote keys, spare manual key, original garage keyring, radio code tag etc. I bought this Peugeot from Grocott's in Crewe in January 1995 and have owned it for the last 31 years. At the time Peugeots had the reputation for being the most fun small cars on the road, and the 1. 6XR was a useful step up from the base models in both engine and trim whilst not being stupid for insurance. It served me well as my daily driver until May 2002, after which it was SORNed pending my then girlfriend learning to drive. That didn't happen before we split up, then I MOT'd in 2007 it expecting a friend to buy it, who didn't, and so it's been in a garage since then.
The car's greatest strength today is its provenance. It comes with a remarkably complete history file including the original purchase invoice, service records, repair invoices and almost every MOT certificate. The file documents the car's life in unusual detail, right down to routine maintenance items such as tyres, lightbulbs and hose clips.
There is also documentation relating to a minor low-speed front-end repair carried out in 2000 after another driver pulled out in front of the car. The repair was professionally completed and the invoice has been retained with the history file.
In 2007 the car was serviced and MOT tested before being placed into dry garage storage on a concrete floor, where it has remained ever since - the final photo shows it as it was before I cleaned it for sale. The car has therefore survived as a largely untouched and highly original example.
What stands out to me is how complete the car remains. It has never been modified, still retains its original handbook pack and keys, and is accompanied by a history file that tells the story of more than three decades of ownership. Early Peugeot 306s are becoming increasingly uncommon, particularly examples with this level of documentation and continuity of ownership.
I believe it would make an excellent recommissioning project for an enthusiast looking for a well-documented and largely original early 306 with known history and provenance.
