1984 Renault

My kids call this car “The Hornet” because it’s yellow and black, it makes lots of angry noises and it stings when you poke it. Actually it is the most tactile, the most visceral and the most rewarding car I’ve ever driven and I’m going to be gutted to see it go. But sometimes life just throws you a curved ball.

The R5 T2 is something of an automotive icon – a mid-engined, turbo-charged screamer that re-wrote the rulebook for what could be achieved when you brought together a regular family hatchback and a few enthusiastic motorsport boffins. Its angular brutality has become the stuff of rally legend and values are on the up.

I can promise you that this little car stops people in their tracks. Be honest, when was the last time you saw a R5 T2 on the road? They’re pretty rare. And even rarer in this condition. But don’t be fooled into thinking this car is just for show. It has been fully prepped for the track, for tarmac rallies, hillclimbs and fast road use and with an original RenaultSport Intercooler, RenaultSport manifold and an uprated cam that help to push out in excess of 200bhp, it’s equally capable at all of them!

Of course, there are cheaper ones out there. There are a few out there right now at dealers and auction houses in Europe and Japan but trust me, they are going to need work. I looked at a lot of them before I bought this one – and I had to travel to Eastern Germany to get it. And when I did buy it and imported it into the UK, I spent a massive amount of time and money with John Price Rally (who knows a thing or two about rallying in R5 T2s) to make sure it’s in absolutely perfect condition. The list is below. I’ll warn you, it’s pretty extensive, but once you’ve read it, you’ll see why I think this is the best R5 T2 for sale anywhere in the world right now.

Basic Specification:

1984 Renault 5 Turbo2. Fully registered in UK

200bhp +

111K KM

Original RenaultSport Intercooler

Original RenaultSport exhaust manifold

Race cam

AP racing calipers on the front

Sintered race clutch

Longer fifth gear for motorway driving.

Adjustable boost control

Hand-built carbon fibre engine cover

Kevlar floor panel plates.

Carbon fibre door trims/transmission tunnel trim

Full bolt in roll cage

7” and 8” x 15 Compomotive wheels

Momo steering wheel

In addition I’ve done/added the following in the last 500 miles:

3 x New Bosch fuel pumps (1 x high pressure, 2 x lifter)

New Coil

Rebuilt Bosch K-Jetronic

New Bilstein Shock absorbers all round with Eibach front springs.

Fitting kit, new rubbers and bolts

New full Rear AP brake assembly including calipers, 285mm discs, mounting bells, pads, AP bolt kit

New Hydraulic Handbrake assembly

New Brake Bias adjuster valve

New front brake pads and fluids

New LSD, including full gearbox strip down, check all gears and replace all seals and gaskets.

Check clutch assembly, refit and renew gear oil

New Cable-operated fire extinguisher system with additional handheld

New Starter motor

New Battery master switch and all cables/connections

New Sparco Sprint Seats and all adjustable mounting brackets

New Sabelt Aluminium Boss 4 point 3” harnesses

New Gotti Space saver wheel with new tyre

New Bosch Battery

New Aluminium spacer kit assembly for spare wheel fitment

New Windscreen and sun strip

New Toyo 888 tyres x 4

New Aluminium radiator and twin fan assembly, including all fittings

New Gear linkage rod-end conversion

New Magnacors Competition red plug leads

New lockable filler cap

New wiper blades

New door button rubbers

New Fuel Pump relay and pressure pipes

New Goodrich clutch pipe

New Clutch slave cylinder

New Fan belt

New Reverse gear lock out assembly

New exhaust manifold gasket

New turbo gasket

Full engine service. Timing check, new plugs, fuel filter, air filter, antifreeeze, engine oil etc.

Full geometry set up

Replace Driveshaft boot

Re-route engine breather

Lots of various other service items - new fuel return pipes, hoses, clips etc.

Still here? You must really want one so get in touch! - they don’t come up often.