1979: when the blue prototype was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it surpassed even the wildest dreams of sporting enthusiasts. In fact, all that remained of the Renault 5 was its distinctive silhouette, pumped up with enormous wings, bumpers and spoilers that put the so-called ‘silhouettes’ of the day to shame.
1980: the production version was unveiled in January at the Brussels Motor Show. But the most incredible detail was beneath the bodywork: the engine had been moved from the front to a mid-rear position, just behind the front seats. The 1,397cc unit from the Renault 5 Alpine was fed by a Garrett turbo and developed 160hp.
In Detail
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Series Production Car |
| built at | France |
| price $ | $ 28,000 |
| engine | Inline 4 |
| valvetrain | OHV |
| displacement | 1397 cc / 85.3 in³ |
| bore | 76.0 mm / 2.99 in |
| stroke | 77.0 mm / 3.03 in |
| compression | 7.0:1 |
| power | 119.3 kw / 160.0 bhp @ 6000 rpm |
| specific output | 114.53 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 161.78 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 210.0 nm / 154.9 ft lbs @ 3250 rpm |
| redline | 6200 |
| body / frame | Unit Steel / Aluminum Panels |
| driven wheels | Rear Engine / RWD |
| front tires | 190/55HR-340 |
| rear tires | 220/55VR-365 |
| front brakes | Vented Discs w/ Vacuum Assist |
| front wheels | F 34.0 x 13.5 cm / 13.4 x 5.3 in |
| rear wheels | R 36.6 x 19.6 cm / 14.4 x 7.7 in |
| steering | Rack & Pinion |
| curb weight | 989 kg / 2180 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2430 mm / 95.7 in |
| front track | 1346 mm / 53.0 in |
| rear track | 1476 mm / 58.1 in |
| length | 3723 mm / 146.6 in |
| width | 1778 mm / 70.0 in |
| height | 1344 mm / 52.9 in |
| transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | 3.36:1, 2.06:1, 1.38:1, 1.06:1, 0.87:1 |
| final drive | 3.89:1 |
| top speed | ~196.3 kph / 122.0 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~7.7 seconds |
| 0 – 100 mph | ~22.0 seconds |
| 0 – 1/4 mile | ~16.0 seconds |
Auction Sales History
1985 Renault R5 Turbo – sold for $31,590
Showing only 36,000 miles from new, this 1986 Renault 5 Turbo 2 is a factory 185bhp version and was imported by Sun International Racing. Most importantly, it is California Certified and registered, displaying the required California BAR sticker.
Fitted with polished Gotti wheels, this R5 benefits from several sensible upgrades designed to make the car significantly more user friendly. These include a stainless steel heim joint shift linkage, remote oil filter with stainless steel lines and AN fittings, stainless steel brake lines, a second cooling fan and a Halon fire suppression system.
Complete with its original owners manual and a selection of service records, this low-mileage rally car for the road is sure to impress its next owner with its aggressive looks and legendary road manners. Sold on a Certificate of Title.
Auction Source: Bonhams 2010 Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tMHPnqmcmaKoe6%2Bx02iZpaeXZH56hJBmqZ6mkaq5tXmUZquuqpKkfA%3D%3D