20/08/2020 5 TURBO 2

RENAULT 5 WHO? TURBO 2

The French are renowned for their off the wall automove creaons, from the wacky to the sublime. There are a number of iconic that our Gallic cousins have fathered, including the Citroen DS and the 205 T16. For our younger readers, the most modern form of transport dreamt up by the Francs has to be the rear engined and frankly mental Clio V6. A powerful engine, mid mounted, in a small shopping . Crazy and novel idea, right?

Well no, actually, because back in 1980 those crazy cats at Renault announced the Turbo. They were going to build 400 in order to homologate the Renault 5 to specificaon, and all would be mid engined and rear wheel drive, with a sweet lile 1.4 turbo powering it all.

But the car was such a hit, that once all the homologaon cars were sold, people were clamouring for more. So they decided to remove all the fancy adjustable aluminium arms and expensive racy bits, in order to give the public what they wanted-a slightly more wallet friendly version. They would call it, imaginavely, the Turbo 2.

Wrien by: Si McNally I Photography by: Ma Woods 20/08/2020 2 The Turbo 2 was a pared down version of the uerly mental Turbo. Gone was the red and blue interior, the stunning Bertone seats replaced with the stock seats from the standard 5 Alpine in a muted grey hue. But the base car itself was just as insane as the Turbo 1; massively extended arches, disc brakes all around, and the engine stuffed in the back, where WHAT? the rear seats would normally be.

And wow did they sell! Renault produced more than 3,000 Turbo 2s between 1983 and early '86.

This parcular example is a very late car. In fact, it's one of the last made, and was finished from the factory in possibly the most '80s brown we've ever seen. Although, in fairness, that doesn't do it jusce, because it's actually a pearl gold over brown base, or Brun 679 if you're feeling geeky. It's one of the rarest colour the Turbo 2 came in, and we're not quite sure why, as it suits it perfectly.

The car was imported brand new in late 1985, and remained as the jewel in the showroom's crown at Ringles Cross Garage in Sussex, unl it was pried from their hands in October '86 by a close friend of Eddy Irvine's. It remained in his hands for 6 months, before heading to a renowned car collector in Ireland. It was driven regularly unit 1996, when it was sold to another collector, who decided the car was far too good to be driven, and it stayed dry stored in his collecon unl 2007.

In 2014, it was sold to the now previous owner, and under their ownership it underwent a fasdious refresh and amazingly all paint work remains original albeit highly detailed. The aim being for the Turbo 2 to become a useable showpiece, at home flat out on B-roads where it should be, as well as on display at shows.

It's actually one of the more famous Turbo 2s within the UK, and has appeared in the hallowed pages of Evo Magazine, as well as winning awards at Salon Prive, Goodwood and runner up spot at the Manchester Classic Car Show. Wrien by: Si McNally I Photography by: Ma Woods 20/08/2020 RENAULT 5 TURBO 2

As you'd expect, prices of something as special at the Turbo 2 have reached collector level, and show no signs of moving back down. A reasonable one can be picked up for around £70,000, with one as good as this considerably more. WHERE With more than 3,000 being made, they're certainly rare, but by no means unobtainable, and there are always a handful for sale across The Channel.

If you ever get the opportunity to take a ride in a Turbo 2, jump as it. They may not be the fastest thing around now, but they're hilarious fun, sound fantasc and as French as you can get without donning a beret and striped jumper.

The Renault 5 Turbo was a fantasc success, winning the on its first oung in 1981. As it went on, Renault would push the limits of the engine and drivetrain, with the final Maxi Turbo version pung out a ridiculous 345bhp.

HOW This very special Turbo 2 was part of the inventory of Norfolk-based Appreciang Classics, a company that we've worked with on a number of occasions, and fit perfectly withing the FastR family, unl it sold a few months ago. Head-honcho Richard Beel is a lifelong petrolhead, and has been working with clients to sell some of the most amazing examples of legendary road cars for a number of years, and has earned himself a reputaon as the “go-to” guy when it comes to sourcing and retailing very special modern classics. Wrien by: Si McNally I Photography by: Ma Woods 20/08/2020 RENAULT 5 TURBO 2 GALLERY

Wrien by: Si McNally I Photography by: Ma Woods