This Renault 5 Turbo II will be up for auction in February.
The younger ones may never have heard of it, but the older ones know very well what this model is. It is the Renault 5 Turbo II, one of the best French hatchbacks of all time.
Launched in 1983, the Renault 5 Turbo II was the most powerful, lightest and most radical version of the first R5 Turbo introduced 3 years earlier. A model that owes its existence to the success of the Lancia Stratos. Jean Terramorsi, at the time vice president of Renault's production department, believed that the French brand should follow the example of Lancia, which had in the Stratus a true “flagship” of the brand.
Like Lancia, Terramorsi also knew that the Renault 5 Turbo II would never sell much, and it didn't – only 3,200 units were produced. His mission was another: to increase brand awareness and help sell the most common models in the range. So it was.
In technical terms, the Renault 5 Turbo II repeated the most exotic formula at that time: rear-wheel drive and mid-engine. This in a very light package and with a very short wheelbase.
At the heart of the R5 Turbo II we found a 1.4 liter engine that, thanks to the use of a generous turbo, delivered an impressive 160 hp of power. The transmission was in charge of a 5-speed manual gearbox. Remarkable, isn't it?
The model you can see in the images is in an excellent state of conservation, having run only 5,900km in over 30 years. Inside, all elements are original with the exception of the seats.
Those interested in this model should book a trip to Paris, on February 8, and carry an estimated value between 75,000 and 85,000 euros in their wallet. This Renault 5 Turbo II will be available at a classic auction promoted by RM Sotheby's.
