Hero of the Republic

Late 1980s Peugeot 505 V6, spotted in Ottawa, Ontario.

Late 1980s Peugeot 505 V6, spotted in Ottawa, Ontario.

Though a mountain bike was attached to the rear bumper, the driver of this rare French beast slid behind the wheel with a bag from a nearby McDonalds.

Drivers need fuel too.

Looking stylish in silver, this Peugeot 505 V6 was France’s answer to low-end BMWs and Mercedes-Benz’s of the circa 1980s. Produced in massive quantities between 1979 and 1999 and marketed worldwide, it was the last rear-wheel-drive passenger car produced by the storied company.

Meow! Can you sense the animosity being hurled over the Maginot Line?

Meow! Can you sense the animosity being hurled over the Maginot Line?

Respected for its comfort, handling, and relative toughness, the 505 was just at home on the rutted roads of Nigeria as it was cruising along the highways of Paris.

The V6 designation helps narrow down the age of this particular vehicle.

Between 1987 to 1990, the Peugeot 505 came with an optional 2.8-litre SOHC V6 making 168 horsepower and 174 foot-pounds of torque. The 90-degree engine was mated to either a 3-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission.

(A long list of gas and diesel inline fours ranging from 1.8 to 2.5 litres were offered during the model’s lifespan, in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged form)

The last 505 sedans reached markets in 1990, with the wagon version soldering on longer.

During the model’s run, the 505 was manufactured in every continent except North America. Production of the 505 for the European market ceased in 1992, though production continued in Argentina, China and Nigeria well into the mid-to-late ’90s.

The 505 stands out amongst 1980s/90s vehicles due to its low beltline, forward facing grille and ever-so-slightly sloping trunk lid. Though it can happily inhabit the term ‘boxy’, the 505’s shape offers hints of upper class design – think a muted Audi 5000 or BMW 530i.