A Peugeot 505 Turbo Injection formerly owned by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing was sold at auction for 50,000 euros, a record price for the model.
At the recent Époqu’Auto show held at Eurexpo near Lyon, a 1987 Peugeot 505 Turbo Injection once owned by the late Valéry Giscard d’Estaing was auctioned for 50,000 euros.
This result, reported by Lyon Capitale, is staggering when compared to the typical market value for the model, which usually trades between 12,000 and 15,000 euros. The hammer price, which climbs to 60,000 euros when including buyer’s fees as noted by Capital, highlights the outsized influence of provenance on collector vehicle valuations.
A Bespoke Machine for the President
The vehicle is far from a standard production unit. Ordered in August 1987, six years after the president left the Élysée, the car was custom-configured outside of Peugeot’s factory catalog. According to Lyon Mag, the president selected a moss-green exterior paired with a dark brown leather interior and an electric sunroof.
The sedan was delivered to the president’s residence at the Château de Varvasse in Chanonat, Puy-de-Dôme. It served as his personal transport for traversing the Auvergne region until he parted with it on January 1, 1993, as reported by Capital.
Under the hood, the 180-horsepower engine—developed with Porsche’s engineering input—features a four-cylinder inline Chrysler block paired with a Garrett T3 turbocharger. As Capital notes, the vehicle was capable of hitting 200 km/h and could complete a standing kilometer in under 30 seconds.
On s’attendait pas à un tel résultat
(We did not expect such a result), remarked Stéphane Pavot, a specialist in collector automobiles at the Osenat auction house, in comments reported by Lyon Capitale.
The Weight of a Signature
Beyond the unique color palette and performance specifications, the car’s value is anchored by its original administrative paperwork. The vehicle retains its first registration document, which was issued in the name of the former head of state.
The document bears the president’s own signature, applied during the transfer of ownership on January 7, 1993. The car has since passed through several hands before being sold at Eurexpo to a French enthusiast, despite having clocked more than 330,000 kilometers over its nearly 40-year lifespan.
While a standard 505 Turbo Injection is a well-regarded classic, a personal vehicle tied to the legacy of a former president transforms a production sedan into a piece of national heritage.
For now, the Peugeot 505 has secured its place in the record books, proving that even a high-mileage sedan can command a premium when it carries the weight of history.
