Peugeot 206
Peugeot's biggest seller, and the last car built at Ryton.
The story
The curvy 206 was a runaway success across Europe, and the old Rootes factory at Ryton worked round the clock to build it. It won the World Rally Championship three years running from 2000.
Inside
Stylish for a small car, with a swooping dash and good front seats.
In period colours
Tap a colour to respray the drawing.
When 206 production ended at Ryton in December 2006, the factory closed after 66 years.
Meanwhile, in 1998
The Good Friday Agreement was signed in Northern Ireland.
Best-selling single of 1998: Believe by Cher
Before you buy a 1990s car
- On petrol engines, check the cooling system and any sign of head gasket trouble.
- Ask when the timing belt was last changed, where fitted.
- Parts for mass-market cars are widely available; specialist and low-volume models can be hard to find.
General notes, not specific to this model. Check the model's own history before buying.
Rivals of its day
Picked automatically: cars on sale at the same time with similar size, speed and price.
See the real thing
These open in a new tab: the car on Wikimedia Commons, the interior and the badge as Google image searches.
Today's money: the launch price adjusted for inflation to 2026, using the Office for National Statistics price index.