RE: Renault 5 Gordini | Spotted

[SlowAndDull]

neutral 3 said:

Another awesome memory is of being out in my Mums Y reg Lhasa green 1800 Golf GTi in east London one Saturday. We weren’t hanging around, when suddenly a met light blue Gordini turbo came up fast behind. I floored it, but @ 90, he was hanging onto the Gtis rear bumper, I moved over and as he pulled alongside, the big Jamaican driver, grinned at us, like a Cheshire Cat, as he disappeared into the distance, haha.

Sounds like Ian who used to own Music On Wheels in Walthamstow. I don’t think he went anywhere slowly...

[rsmith8875]

Was interesting to see this car on a "car restoration" show last night.

Interesting that they only showed the pictures of the offside of the car.

[cedrichn]

s m said:

That is really cool!
In term of bhp/ton, the 5 was doing good compare to others! Same as the Escort, but less than the Golf (which is also 20% more expensive).

How come the Escort is faster to 60mph, with same power and more weight than the GTi? All because of RWD vs FWD? Or something else (st ratio ?)? I am surprised and curious.

[Aquaholic]

This car is actually featured on Salvage hunters: Classic cars. It was refurbished and the sun roof was removed and a full sun roof fitted. The drivers door and rear quarter was damaged and it underwent a full respray due to slight damage on all panels (only small dents) car was totally rust free. The interior was also refurbished. It is a great car with full history. Very interesting restoration featuring info about the original owner. Great little diamond to own.

[Caddyshack]

cedrichn said:

s m said:

That is really cool!
In term of bhp/ton, the 5 was doing good compare to others! Same as the Escort, but less than the Golf (which is also 20% more expensive).

How come the Escort is faster to 60mph, with same power and more weight than the GTi? All because of RWD vs FWD? Or something else (st ratio ?)? I am surprised and curious.

Tyres were rubbish, maybe limited slip diff or perhaps the fwd vs rwd had a bigger effect back then with more limited traction etc?

[ukwill]

Takes me back. Had a Gordini, and a Gordini Turbo.

Then realised the Golf GTi was better, in every way. So went down ze German route for the next 30yrs.

Those r5 doors were so pathetic. And the torque steer in the Turbo was constantly trying to kill me.

Still love the quirky look of them though. The later GTT was infinitely better.

[SS427 Camaro]

SlowAndDull said:

Sounds like Ian who used to own Music On Wheels in Walthamstow. I don’t think he went anywhere slowly...

Appologies, only just seen your reply !
I wonder if it was him ? I don’t recall him, any more info on him
?
And this was Mums Lhasa green non sunroof 1.8GTi. It got rear ended in July 88, by a couple of utter t rags in a BMW who threatened my Mum & step Dad, when I was in Cornwall on Holliday for 2 weeks, choked as I never saw it again as her in’s co kept it, but someone must have bought the salvage and it was on the road until 93 ish.

[Indecision]

SS427 Camaro said:

Appologies, only just seen your reply !
I wonder if it was him ? I don’t recall him, any more info on him
?
And this was Mums Lhasa green non sunroof 1.8GTi. It got rear ended in July 88, by a couple of utter t rags in a BMW who threatened my Mum & step Dad, when I was in Cornwall on Holliday for 2 weeks, choked as I never saw it again as her in’s co kept it, but someone must have bought the salvage and it was on the road until 93 ish.

Used to run a car stereo shop - originally on Chingford Road near the bell corner, then moved up to the mount near the Memorial Park. Had a guy called Richard working with him who drove a Fiesta turbo. Really nice pair of guys, but I got the feeling definitely worth staying on the right side of them.

Shame about the car being written off, no shortage of rough characters round those parts though!

[SS427 Camaro]

Indecision said:

Used to run a car stereo shop - originally on Chingford Road near the bell corner, then moved up to the mount near the Memorial Park. Had a guy called Richard working with him who drove a Fiesta turbo. Really nice pair of guys, but I got the feeling definitely worth staying on the right side of them.

Shame about the car being written off, no shortage of rough characters round those parts though!

Strange that I don’t recall him / them as I lived in Chingford @ the Mount at that time.
And yes, it happened on the Eastway, I really loved that GTi. It replaced an imaculate red Y Reg XR3i that Mum only had for about 2 months, as it was stolen from where the GTi is parked one night. Loved that XR3i as well, absolutely choked when Mum told me. So I went out and found her the GTi.

[ShortBeardy]

Had a blue one with half cage. DIY water injection and more boost. Was a riot in the wet; nothing until big wad of boost and then the front wheels would spin up and any camber would cause it to slide sideways. Was amusing forerunner of a digital age - on or off.

[swisstoni]

I had no desire for a hot hatch back in the early 80s, itching as I was to get a V8 something asap.

But I remember seeing my first Gordini just like the car in the article and marvelling that somone would buy an R5 that cost as much as they did.

Nevertheless I though they looked pretty nice with the red pinstripes and the alloys etc.