CLASSICS CHATTER AUCTION UPDATES: 1983 RENAULT 5 TURBO 2 HATCHBACK - BONHAMS AUCTIONS The Zoute Sale KNOKKE-HEIST, PLACE ALBERT DE KNOKKE LE ZOUTE Place Albert de Knokke Le Zoute 8300 Knokke-Heist

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BONHAMS AUCTIONS

The Zoute Sale

KNOKKE-HEIST, PLACE ALBERT DE KNOKKE LE ZOUTE

Place Albert de Knokke Le Zoute

8300 Knokke-Heist

1983 RENAULT 5 TURBO 2 HATCHBACK

€ 90,000 - 110,000

£ 80,000 - 98,000

Concours Condition

Chassis no. VF1822000E0000338

•Iconic Group B homologation special

•Delivered new in France

•Believed genuine 51,681 kilometres from new

•Exceptional condition

'Of all the cars to come from that hedonistic high-boost era, the Renault 5 Turbo is one of the few to still hold us in its thrall. The lunacy of the mid-engined, wide-body concept surely sees to that, but reputation, rarity and rally pedigree are the magical fairy dust that ensures it retains a mystique and potency matched by few forced-induction cars before or since.' – Renault Sport Club.

Not to be confused with the conventional front-wheel drive Renault 5 Gordini Turbo or GT Turbo, the Renault 5 Turbo (and later Turbo 2) was a mid-engined homologation special built in limited numbers for Group B rallying between 1979 and 1986. Renault's considerable Formula 1-derived turbo-charging expertise was applied to the humble 1.4-litre overhead-valve engine, resulting in a power increase to 160bhp (in road trim), an output sufficient for a top speed of 260km/h and a 0-100km/h time of around 7 seconds. In the Turbo, this remarkable little engine was mounted amidships (where the rear passenger seats had been) and drove the rear wheels via a five-speed transaxle.

A thinly disguised two-seater supercar, the Turbo was first seen in prototype form at the 1978 Paris Salon and made its competition debut in 1980 on the Tour de Corse, where Jean Ragnoti's 250bhp works car led the event before succumbing to electrical trouble. In 1981 Ragnotti/Andrie won the Monte Carlo Rally outright for Renault and the following year Ragnotti won the Tour de Corse again. Faced with increasing competition from teams running four-wheel drive cars, Renault responded with more powerful 5 Tour de Corse and 5 Maxi Turbo variants, Ragnotti adding another Tour de Corse win in the latter in 1985. At the end of the season the works team retired the 5 Turbo from competition. Had Renault chosen to contest a full international programme with the 5 Turbo rather than concentrating on French national events, then its record at the highest level would surely have been even more impressive.

According to the Certificate issued by Renault Classic in March 2011, this particular Renault 5 Turbo 2 left the factory on 29th November 1983 and was sold new to its first owner through the Renault dealer SARAC in Thiers on 9th December that same year. The car spent the next almost 20 years in France with two identified owners, before being exported to the UK in 2011 by Mr Doug Blair, a distinguished car collector, author and publisher of motor sports books. At that time, the Turbo was still in excellent condition, and its new owner continued to maintain it in perfect cosmetic and operating condition, while driving it only sparingly. Numerous invoices on file testify to the great care that was taken of the car throughout his ownership until 2016.

Today, the car has covered a believed genuine 51,681 kilometres from new; it is still finished in its original brown colour (factory code 769) with matching original beige interior, a very 1980s colour combination. The car is presented in excellent, indeed concours, condition and comes with its original pouch, owners manual, and service book, as well as numerous invoices for work carried out, expired MoTs, French Contrôle Technique documents, and UK V5 and Belgian 705 registration documents.