Not to be confused with the conventional front-wheel drive Renault 5 Gordini Turbo or GT Turbo, the Renault 5 Turbo was a mid-engined homologation special built in limited numbers for Group 4 and Group B rallying between 1980 and 1986. Renault's considerable F1-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 200 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of under seven 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, Jean Ragnotti's 250bhp works car leading 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. This ex-works Renault 5 Turbo was first registered on 11th March 1982 with number '38EHN75', running in Group 4 configuration for all of '82 and then in Group B from 1st January 1983. During the 1982 season the car was driven for the Renault Sport works team by François Chatriot (French Rally Champion in 1989 and '90 for BMW) with navigator Annick Peuvergne, finishing 5th in the Rally Garrigues; 1st in the Rally Terre de Provence; 4th in the Rally Biarritz; and 4th in the Rally Tour de France. In 1984 the car was sold by Renault Sport to S A Thomasse Service for 420,000 Francs (sales invoice on file) and next changed hands in June 1993 when it passed to French rally driver André Renard. Its next owner, from August 2008, was racing driver Jean-Claude Cauvin. Restored and described as in generally good condition throughout, the car is offered with its FFSA passport issued to its first private owner. Cette Renault 5 Turbo ex usine Groupe 4 fut immatriculée 38 EHN 75 le 11 mars 1982 et passa en Groupe B en janvier 1983, pilotée la première année par François Chatriot, champion de France des rallyes en 1989 et 1990. En 1984 elle fut vendue à SA Thomasse Service (facture au dossier) et changea de main en juin 1993 (André Renard) puis en 2008 (Jean-Claude Cauvin). Restaurée, elle est proposée avec son passeport FFSA attribué à son premier propriétaire privé.
Not to be confused with the conventional front-wheel drive Renault 5 Gordini Turbo or GT Turbo, the Renault 5 Turbo was a mid-engined homologation special built in limited numbers for Group 4 and Group B rallying between 1980 and 1986. Renault's considerable F1-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 200 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of under seven 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, Jean Ragnotti's 250bhp works car leading 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. This ex-works Renault 5 Turbo was first registered on 11th March 1982 with number '38EHN75', running in Group 4 configuration for all of '82 and then in Group B from 1st January 1983. During the 1982 season the car was driven for the Renault Sport works team by François Chatriot (French Rally Champion in 1989 and '90 for BMW) with navigator Annick Peuvergne, finishing 5th in the Rally Garrigues; 1st in the Rally Terre de Provence; 4th in the Rally Biarritz; and 4th in the Rally Tour de France. In 1984 the car was sold by Renault Sport to S A Thomasse Service for 420,000 Francs (sales invoice on file) and next changed hands in June 1993 when it passed to French rally driver André Renard. Its next owner, from August 2008, was racing driver Jean-Claude Cauvin. Restored and described as in generally good condition throughout, the car is offered with its FFSA passport issued to its first private owner. Cette Renault 5 Turbo ex usine Groupe 4 fut immatriculée 38 EHN 75 le 11 mars 1982 et passa en Groupe B en janvier 1983, pilotée la première année par François Chatriot, champion de France des rallyes en 1989 et 1990. En 1984 elle fut vendue à SA Thomasse Service (facture au dossier) et changea de main en juin 1993 (André Renard) puis en 2008 (Jean-Claude Cauvin). Restaurée, elle est proposée avec son passeport FFSA attribué à son premier propriétaire privé.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
