1996 Renault Twingo mk1 Benetton
1996 Renault Twingo mk1 Benetton
Author
Discussion

Phil2NL

Original Poster:

138 posts

127 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
quotequote all
Last month I picked up this 1996 Twingo mk1, only has 70k miles.

I always thought they were cool little cars and I’ve never had a French car before in all of my 20 years driving around.

Never sold in the UK, but here in Holland the mk1 twingo was a huge success.
Now, there are not many pre facelifts about anymore though.

This one is a Benetton version, so has the seats in all the cool colours. Mine has an optional leather steering wheel and not much else.
Super basic, so:
No power steering
No electric windows
No electric mirrors
No aircon
No third brake light
No airbags
No glove compartment.

I really like it though!
Pics:








giveitfish

4,213 posts

231 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
quotequote all
That’s brilliant, such a characterful design thumbup

Quhet

2,684 posts

163 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
quotequote all
These just scream 90s European holiday to me, great things. Those seats are excellent too

ImbackYo

453 posts

29 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
quotequote all
I love that!

macron

11,984 posts

183 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
quotequote all
Magnifique!

MattsCar

1,807 posts

122 months

Thursday 3rd October 2024
quotequote all
"Super basic, so:
No power steering
No electric windows
No electric mirrors
No aircon
No third brake light
No airbags
No glove compartment."

Absolute perfection.



Phil2NL

Original Poster:

138 posts

127 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Thanks all!

When I got the car it came with ugly hubcaps.
I could not find any original ones for sale, so settled for something I think fits the car nicely.






Yuri75

53 posts

14 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Brilliant, cheerful little things, these. Back in the day the guitar player in our band had one in that 'very nineties' flat green pastel color. We abused it to haul gear around in. Bits of trim sometimes fell off the Twingo, but the things that matter were almost completely bullet proof. The little Twingo never failed us. Fond memories! All the car you really need in many ways and somehow it was buckets of fun to punt the underpowered thing around. And now that you mention it: it's been forever since I've seen one on the road in NL here. where have they gone?

RS Grant

1,727 posts

250 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Cool wee cars. cool

An OG Twingo was the first car I ever experienced air conditioning in; when my dad rented one on a family holiday to Menorca in the 90s.

Dad had a MK2 Sierra Ghia and mum had a MK4 Escort XR3i at home, so neither were familiar with what ‘AC’ meant and I can still remember the reaction when it was discovered/turned on for the first time... complete euphoria. laugh

Richard-390a0

2,957 posts

108 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
When this came up on my fb timeline yesterday there was much want!
https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?story_fbid=941...


911Spanker

2,710 posts

33 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Probably a more engaging driving machine than 99% of new cars sold today.

LankyFreak

798 posts

45 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
i bloody love these!

Peterpetrole

817 posts

14 months

Friday 4th October 2024
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Owned one for years in France, fantastic little cars with loads of quirky detail design.

daqinggregg

4,852 posts

146 months

Friday 4th October 2024
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New hubcaps icing on the cake.

Sf_Manta

2,268 posts

208 months

Friday 4th October 2024
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I dunno, white steel wheels with the chrome covers from a Beetle might be a cool retro look for it.

shirt

24,475 posts

218 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
I love the mk1 twingo, have done ever since seeing them ice racing on 90s Eurosport. Never driven one but follow a few groups on insta.

There’s one with a k20 turbo transplant but visually stock, even the boost gauge is hidden behind a removable air vent. There’s a vid of it on misha charoudin’s channel, seems to handle well.

missing the VR6

2,425 posts

206 months

Friday 4th October 2024
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Love these things, brings back childhood holidays in France memories.

5pen

2,046 posts

223 months

Friday 4th October 2024
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Love that. Loved these since renting one for about £20 for a day in Majorca around 1994. Disappointing that they were never (as far as I’m aware) available in RHD or officially imported to the UK.

shakotanboogie

3 posts

11 months

Friday 4th October 2024
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I'm lovin' those seats.

TheDoggingFather

17,295 posts

223 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Quhet said:
These just scream 90s European holiday to me, great things. Those seats are excellent too
Exactly this.

I remember seeing these in France in the mid 90s, and thinking they were awesome.

Now, a Williams inspired Twingo with an F7R and Gold wheels would be amazing.