Renault 5 Turbo 1 - 1982
n° 1393 of 1820
Chassis n° VF1822000C0000502
Bonhams : the Zoute Sale
Estimated : € 110.000 - 150.000
Zoute Grand Prix 2018
Knokke - Zoute
België - Belgium
October 2018
Not to be confused with the conventional front-wheel drive Renault 5 Gordini Turbo or GT Turbo, the Renault 5 Turbo was a mid-engined homologation special built in limited numbers for Group 4 and Group B rallying between 1980 and 1986. Renault's considerable F1-derived turbo-charging expertise was applied to the humble 1.4-litre overhead-valve engine, resulting in a power increase to 160 bhp (in road trim), an output sufficient for a top speed of 200 km/h and a 0-100 time of under seven seconds. In the Turbo, this remarkable little engine was mounted amidships (where the rear passenger seats had been) and drove the rear wheels via a five-speed transaxle.
A thinly disguised two-seater supercar, the Turbo was first seen in prototype form at the 1978 Paris Salon and made its competition debut in 1980 on the Tour de Corse, Jean Ragnoti's 250 bhp works car leading the event before succumbing to electrical trouble. In 1981 Ragnotti/Andrie won the Monte Carlo Rally outright for Renault and the following year Ragnotti won the Tour de Corse again. Faced with increasing competition from teams running four-wheel drive cars, Renault responded with more powerful 5 Tour de Corse and 5 Maxi Turbo variants, Ragnotti adding another Tour de Corse win in the latter in 1985. At the end of the season the works team retired the 5 Turbo from competition. Had Renault chosen to contest a full international programme with the 5 Turbo rather than concentrating on French national events, then its record at the highest level would surely have been even more impressive.
This Renault 5 Turbo was ordered via the Belgian Renault importer by Garage Flandria of Kortrijk, owned by Mr Luc De Witte. Being a 'Turbo 1', it has that model's unique seats, dashboard and aluminium roof not found on the all steel Turbo 2 successor. This car was ordered specifically for the Salon de l'Automobile in Brussels finished in Pearl White with special body-coloured bumpers and beige Bertone interior; the same colour scheme that many of the R5 Turbo 2's would be supplied in.
In 1994, Mr De Witte sold his Turbo 1 to another Renault dealership, Garage Landeloos, owned by Bart Landeloos. Just like Luc De Witte, Mr Landeloos never registered the Turbo and used it only sparingly with trade plates until Belgian law obliged cars to be registered. Without prior registration it would have been impossible for the next owner to register the car, so Landeloos registered it for the first time in 2001 as 'BKW 435'. (Bonhams would like to thank Mr Landeloos for kindly providing information about the history of his former Renault Turbo). This car was always maintained by Mr Bob Eijckmans of Renault Garage Willems, a specialist in Renault 5 Turbos. Mr Eijckmans has confirmed the car's originality and advises us that the body has never required any repairs.
Shortly thereafter, in 2002, Garage Landeloos sold the Turbo to a Mr Meuleman in Holland, who kept it for another 16 years. Remaining completely original throughout its entire life, this car has changed hands from one enthusiast to another while not travelling more than 38,000 kilometres in total. The engine and injection pump have been fully revised by Dutch specialist Tour de Corse (photos on file).
Possessing an interesting Belgian history that started less than 50 km from Knokke Le Zoute, it is presented today in original condition - a real car for connoisseurs. The car comes complete with all books and tools; a Renault Certificate of Authenticity; (copy) old Belgian registration papers; current Dutch registration papers; sundry invoices for work carried out; and Bart Landeloos' letter confirming the history of this Renault 5 Turbo 1.
Renault 5 Turbo 1 - 1982
n° 1393 of 1820
Chassis n° VF1822000C0000502
Bonhams : the Zoute Sale
Estimated : € 110.000 - 150.000
Zoute Grand Prix 2018
Knokke - Zoute
België - Belgium
October 2018
Not to be confused with the conventional front-wheel drive Renault 5 Gordini Turbo or GT Turbo, the Renault 5 Turbo was a mid-engined homologation special built in limited numbers for Group 4 and Group B rallying between 1980 and 1986. Renault's considerable F1-derived turbo-charging expertise was applied to the humble 1.4-litre overhead-valve engine, resulting in a power increase to 160 bhp (in road trim), an output sufficient for a top speed of 200 km/h and a 0-100 time of under seven seconds. In the Turbo, this remarkable little engine was mounted amidships (where the rear passenger seats had been) and drove the rear wheels via a five-speed transaxle.
A thinly disguised two-seater supercar, the Turbo was first seen in prototype form at the 1978 Paris Salon and made its competition debut in 1980 on the Tour de Corse, Jean Ragnoti's 250 bhp works car leading the event before succumbing to electrical trouble. In 1981 Ragnotti/Andrie won the Monte Carlo Rally outright for Renault and the following year Ragnotti won the Tour de Corse again. Faced with increasing competition from teams running four-wheel drive cars, Renault responded with more powerful 5 Tour de Corse and 5 Maxi Turbo variants, Ragnotti adding another Tour de Corse win in the latter in 1985. At the end of the season the works team retired the 5 Turbo from competition. Had Renault chosen to contest a full international programme with the 5 Turbo rather than concentrating on French national events, then its record at the highest level would surely have been even more impressive.
This Renault 5 Turbo was ordered via the Belgian Renault importer by Garage Flandria of Kortrijk, owned by Mr Luc De Witte. Being a 'Turbo 1', it has that model's unique seats, dashboard and aluminium roof not found on the all steel Turbo 2 successor. This car was ordered specifically for the Salon de l'Automobile in Brussels finished in Pearl White with special body-coloured bumpers and beige Bertone interior; the same colour scheme that many of the R5 Turbo 2's would be supplied in.
In 1994, Mr De Witte sold his Turbo 1 to another Renault dealership, Garage Landeloos, owned by Bart Landeloos. Just like Luc De Witte, Mr Landeloos never registered the Turbo and used it only sparingly with trade plates until Belgian law obliged cars to be registered. Without prior registration it would have been impossible for the next owner to register the car, so Landeloos registered it for the first time in 2001 as 'BKW 435'. (Bonhams would like to thank Mr Landeloos for kindly providing information about the history of his former Renault Turbo). This car was always maintained by Mr Bob Eijckmans of Renault Garage Willems, a specialist in Renault 5 Turbos. Mr Eijckmans has confirmed the car's originality and advises us that the body has never required any repairs.
Shortly thereafter, in 2002, Garage Landeloos sold the Turbo to a Mr Meuleman in Holland, who kept it for another 16 years. Remaining completely original throughout its entire life, this car has changed hands from one enthusiast to another while not travelling more than 38,000 kilometres in total. The engine and injection pump have been fully revised by Dutch specialist Tour de Corse (photos on file).
Possessing an interesting Belgian history that started less than 50 km from Knokke Le Zoute, it is presented today in original condition - a real car for connoisseurs. The car comes complete with all books and tools; a Renault Certificate of Authenticity; (copy) old Belgian registration papers; current Dutch registration papers; sundry invoices for work carried out; and Bart Landeloos' letter confirming the history of this Renault 5 Turbo 1.