Renault 5 GT Turbo | PH Auction Block
Turbocharging the R5 was a stroke of Gallic genius - and there can't be many left better than this one...
While it is undoubtedly a close-run thing, and there will be those that disagree, Renault surely has a claim to the great hot hatch history of all the car manufacturers. From Twingo to Trophy R, it has been churning out the icons for decades, and has already demonstrated that electrification need not be the end of pocket rocket fun. For years, the Megane was the default choice in its segment; the Clio for longer still. Even when perhaps Renault didn’t hit the bullseye, they weren’t too far from the mark (we’ll let you nominate your own suggestions there).
Whether front- or mid-engined, front- or rear-wheel drive, V6 or battery powered, classic or contemporary, Renault can usually be relied on for a cracking hot hatch. Everyone will have their favourite, and we’ll bet on some form of 5 ranking very highly for all enthusiasts. Whether the wild mid-engined rally stars, the sweet little early Gordinis, or the turbo tykes, they really were memorable machines. Even in the glory days of the hot hatch, the 5 stood out for its design and its impish fun.
The GT Turbo is now 40 years old, and even in the mid-'80s it was a resolutely old-school proposition. Its pushrod engine had its roots in the 60s, and it was extremely light even by the standards of the day. So you can imagine how raw and exciting one is going to feel in the 2020s. The original cars suffered with some turbo troubles and hot starting issues; phase two cars like this one were improved, and they tend to be the GTTs that have survived to this day.
Not that many still exist, of course; like so many similar cars of this era, GTs suffered badly from mistreatment when they were cheap, to say nothing of the modifying. No car quite encapsulated the early days of Max Power like a turbocharged Renault 5; no car was quite such a perfect match for Ali G, either. The mad modifying craze undoubtedly created some spectacular things, but man did it take a lot of good cars with it.
This is about as far from the bad old days of Renault 5 GT Turbos as it’s possible to get, a 1990 Phase 2 car that’s only modification is a modern stereo. Otherwise, it’s absolutely standard, just as it left the dealer 35 years ago, without any changes to the engine, brakes, or suspension. Or interior, for that matter, which looks truly brilliant with the Jaeger dials, red accents, and three-spoke wheel.
Amazingly, this PH Auctions lot has barely covered 25,000 miles with its four owners; the current keeper has covered fewer than 1,500 in a decade. So it means this Turbo is almost unrepeatable in terms of its originality, without restoration or repair for anything. Recent work has included new front discs and pads last year, with a service that included a new rad and coolant flush not long after. Those keen to use the 5 more regularly (easy to see why you might) may find themselves having to renew a few bits as they go, but that’s surely to be expected given the vintage. Or it could be saved for summer shows; whether it’s French themed, Renault themed, or merely celebrating old cars, nothing will garner affection quite like a 5 GT Turbo - especially one that looks as good as this.
After that it ran fine and reliably until May 92 when I px'd it for a Clio 16V
still I got to drive pretty much every car in the Renault line up from a R5 Campus to a R25 whilst I had it
Top tip .. carry a clutch cable in the boot
Yes it was a brilliant little rocket
After that it ran fine and reliably until May 92 when I px'd it for a Clio 16V
still I got to drive pretty much every car in the Renault line up from a R5 Campus to a R25 whilst I had it
Top tip .. carry a clutch cable in the boot
Yes it was a brilliant little rocket
Had a mark one and two and loved every minute of driving them.
A friend a lowly 1.6 205 Gti and never felt as lively when I drove it.
With the insurance payout it was replaced with a 1990 H’ reg in Tungsten Grey like this one. I had it from 1998 to 2003 when it was sold to fund a Lancia Delta integrale.
It proved super reliable even when running more power than standard. About 150bhp170lb/ft iirc from a rolling road I took it to, with the aid of a mongoose s/s turbo back system, GT Tuning “Lobster back” carburettor intake with cold air induction system, and in car adjustable boost controller which I rebuilt the carburettor with new sized jets. I had also swapped over the rebuilt turbo from the black turbo which for some reason the insurance company let me keep for free.
It was quicker than the phase 1 Clio 172’s when they came out. Though I had a Clio 182 Trophy years later which was a superb car.
He drove an Ascona 1.6d at the time ( 1st gen cavalier)
Floored it down the slip onto the M11 his face wax a picture
couldn't believe something so small could go so fast I did pick his sister up for our first date in it .. rather proud of it ... her opinion was "titty little car" .. not impressed
Still 34 years later we are still together even if she didn't appreciate the red rocket
So her taste couldn't have been all bad !
Never got a 5turbo. But had 2 clio 16v and a 197cup and a 200 cup.
This one owned for about 3 years in the early 90s - super reliable and cheap to run. Had to handle daily commutes from Surrey to Dorset and never missed a beat.
Only sold to finance house purchase, and very much missed.
Now run an Abarth 500, which to my mind is a modern interpretation of that 5GTT.
Where do you find the parts for these things these days? Bits were getting hard to track down in the mid 90s never mind now.
Or do you just go in with the mind set of it’s nice to look at and to go to summer shows in? I can’t imagine a summer road trip with a few laps of the ring in it!
GT Tuning was the place everyone was going to at the time so off we went down to Poole, picked it after a few hours later lowered with an adjustable boost controller(was a bleed valve with a fancy name). Never had a car that cornered so well, only got better when I stuck some 15" alloys on with Yokahama A510s. After that I remove the decals from the side, added the boy racer Scorpion exhaust with 4"tail, Clio 16V bonnet and roof spoiler. Loved that car and only sold it to buy an E30 M3.
Astonishing how people mix up this Renault 5 with the pre-1985 Renault 5 - which was a completely different car.
I guess the designers did a very good job at making it Retro-design - the first of its kind?
Think its a design masterpiece much like the Mercedes E-class W124 from the same year.. The Sacco of supermini's?
Here's the original Renault 5 Turbo - longitudal engine and closely related to Renault 4.
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