Tuesday 20th October 2015

Renault 21 Group N: You Know You Want To

A Penthouse centrefold car, endurance racer and very rare Renault to boot!

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The Renault 21 Turbo is a exceptionally rare car. If you think it's hard tracking down an unmolested 5 Turbo in 2015, try finding a 21. The little 5 is practically commonplace compared to the boxy saloon, probably explained by the fact everyone did and will want the 5 more than the 21...

"Chaps, how do we make the 21 sexy?"

In case you hadn't guessed, this is not a roadgoing Renault 21 Turbo. At least, not at the moment. It's a Group N-spec Renault 21 Turbo, one with a fascinating history and one crying out to be restored to its former glory. Surely other people share a passion for unloved fast French curios?

According to the ad, this is the last remaining Group N 21. You can't imagine there were many to start with... It began its life in Holland but was soon sold to Renault UK and competed in the first 24-hour race held in Britain, at Snetterton in 1989. It was driven by Giles Butterfield, Charles Challenger, Charles Rickett and Peter Sneller, perhaps the four most splendidly named racing drivers ever known.

It was also sponsored by Penthouse. Yes really, check out the pictures. They were so proud of the alliance in fact that this very car was the centrefold image in the May 1988 issue. Classy.

But sadly after the glamour and girls of the Snetterton 24 Hours (plus the Penthouse shoot), this 21 went into storage in 1991. Nearly a quarter of a century later it is being sold, currently residing in Bicester and looking a little sorry for itself. Unused racing cars, especially those without their liveries, nearly always do. There are still some fairly clear clues to its past though, namely the side-exit exhaust, cut-off switch and gigantic fuel tanks.

Turbine wheels still very cool

Here's where the car gets really interesting. The 21 Turbo is being sold by Velocity Automobiles, a garage with a strong Renault appreciation judging by their Avantime, Clio V6 and Alpines for sale too. Though it has never been road registered, a letter of authority from Renault means it can be converted if you wish. An intriguing possibility, but surely a racing car should remain a racing car? You know how people can be about left-hand drive too. The advert states the car can be provided as is or 'restored to your requirements'. Now then.

Brought back to full health - hopefully someone can sort a livery too - it could compete in a Classic Touring Car Racing Club series, plus surely a few sprints and hillclimbs too. There wouldn't be any danger of seeing another at the very least!

But whatever the final outcome for this 21, let's just celebrate that it's here and available. It will probably be a fairly time consuming project, and it's far from the obvious choice, but surely the scarcity is a big part of the appeal. As for a price, a Group N 405 Mi16 was being sold privately for £5K recently; this car will likely be more than that given the provenance. Imagine if you could get the two together...

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RENAULT 21 TURBO GROUP N
Price: POA
Why you should: Turbocharged and 80s touring car
Why you shouldn't: Not a Sierra, probably needs lot of TLC

See the original advert here.

[andyps]

Always frustrating when cars like this are POA - it could be anywhere I guess, how do you value it? Interesting car but limited potential use must restrict the value.

From the seller even more frustrating that an Avantime is POA - surely a value could be put on one of those fairly easily by the seller.