The Renault 5 Turbo that packs supercar punch

Instantly recognisable as THE small car of the 1980s packing near-supercar punch, the formidable Renault 5 Gordini Turbo (the proper, mid-engined homologation special, mind you, not the conventional front-engined, front-wheel-drive equivalent) is a hot favourite in the Classic Driver office…

Built in small numbers for Group 4 and Group B rallying, the Renault 5’s modest little 1.4-litre engine was boosted to a staggering 160bhp (and that’s in road-going form) to power this miniature hot-shot. Just as importantly, the engine was taken out from under the bonnet and, once the rear seats had been removed, plonked behind the driver and front passenger. It was, of course, rear-wheel drive and claimed 0-60mph in under seven seconds, with a top speed of something around 125mph. What fun.

The prototype Turbo actually appeared as early as 1978, at the Paris Salon of that year, and from 1980 onwards it proved itself highly effective as a competitive rally car, with victories that included the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally and 1982 Tour de Corse. 

The 1983 pictured car, however, is a road car (left-hand drive). It was clearly much-loved by the third of its four owners from new, as he kept the car for a full 26 years, from 1986 to 2012. The car is a ‘Turbo 1’, and hence has the aluminium doors, roof and tailgate not found on the more widely available, all-steel Turbo 2. We’re told it had a full mechanical overhaul in 2014, with the engine upgraded to 210bhp, but still retains its original interior, seats and wheels. It will be offered for sale by Bonhams, at the Goodwood 73rd Members’ Meeting on 21 March 2015, at an estimated price of £55,000 to 65,000.

Photos: Bonhams

This article is part of the series 'Cars we Love', in which we bring you our favourite classics and modern classics, every Saturday morning.

The bespoke Minis that outshone even the most colourful Rolls-Royces

The personalisation of cheap mainstream cars might be all the rage these days, but it’s far from being a new phenomenon...

Back in 1963, after decades of converting Rolls-Royce and Bentley saloons to wood-panelled ‘Countryman’ specification, West London coachbuilding firm Harold Radford identified a gap in the market for stylish and (relatively) affordable ‘second cars’. Over the next eight years, Radford applied its high-class car craftsmanship to the most classless car of all – the Mini. Its Mini de Ville turned Issigonis’s humble runabout into a mini-limousine, with deep-pile carpets, leather seats and a walnut dash featuring more gauges than many light aircraft. Externally, it was marked out by recessed grille spotlights and special bumpers. 

Punching above its weight

The 1963 price of the top-spec Grande Luxe version was £1080, a huge uplift on the £695 Mini Cooper S on which it was based, but the market was ready for it. The Times’ motoring correspondent reported that the Mini de Ville test car attracted more attention than a Ferrari Berlinetta. Celebrity owners flocked to buy them for their significant others. In 1965, Peter Sellersbought a Mini de Ville GT (by then with a side-opening rear door) for his wife Britt Ekland. Paul McCartney had one, and fellow Beatle George Harrison owned LGF 695D, a black Radford that was subsequently painted in psychedelic hues for the film Magical Mystery Tour. Eric Clapton owned it for a time before it found its way back into Harrison’s ownership. 

By 1970, the de Ville had bulbous wheelarches and ‘piggyback’ Facel Vega twin headlights, and new examples cost more than a Rolls-Royce Shadow, and only £250 less than a Lamborghini Miura. The stream of buyers began to dry up, and 1970 turned out to be the last year of Radford production, but it wasn’t the end of the ‘super luxe’ Minis of that era. Radford’s success had inspired ex-Hooper employees Bill Wood and Les Pickett to set up their own operation in the coachbuilding hotbed of West London. It’s thought that actress Hayley Mills placed the first order for Wood & Pickett’s Margrave conversion, which also had recessed spots along with the uber-chic W&P trademark nudge bar and banks of gauges and rocker switches on the dash. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr had one specially modified to accommodate his drum kit, though this unique function was probably more about PR than reality. W&P also offered its version of the Clubman 1275GT. 

Chop chop, little legend

One modded Mini that almost literally flew under the radar was the Minisprint. Produced in the mid-60s by sometime Mini racer Neville Trickett, it looked like a normal Mini from a distance, albeit a cleanly deseamed one. But there was one big difference: height. It sat three inches lower than standard, the bodyshell chopped at both screen pillars and floor. On a Mini, three inches was a lot. The result was a great-looking and surprisingly effective car. Stirling Moss bought one; Rob Walker Garages bought fifty. In the end, around 85 Minisprints were made.

In 1989, Dunstable-based ERA revived the concept of the special Mini by building the fastest ever Mini to be sold through official dealerships – the ERA Mini Turbo. A Mk 4 Mini City with a bodykit by Dennis Adams (ex-Marcos), Connolly hide seats and a 94HP turbocharged MG Metro 1300 engine, this was a well-thought-out conversion with comprehensive suspension and braking modifications to keep things tidy at the claimed top speed of 115mph. More than 400 were built in the two-year production run. 

Where are all these specialists now? Wood & Pickett still exists, and still builds ‘new’ Minis from donor vehicles in Leatherhead, Surrey, starting at £11,500 plus VAT. Radford was relaunched in 2005 by three ex-W&P craftsmen: four bespoke versions of the BMW-era MINI are currently on offer. And rumour has it that Neville Trickett is still offering Minisprint shell conversions from his castle in France. 

Photos: Getty / Rex

Rea survole la première séance du WorldSBK au Chang International / Rea fastest by 0.751s in first ever Thai WorldSBK session

Le Britannique comptait 0.751s d’avance sur ses concurrents à l'issue des premiers essais libres.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) a réalisé le meilleur temps de la première séance d’essais du week-end en Thaïlande, où la température ambiante atteignait déjà les 34°C vendredi matin pour l’entrée en piste de pilotes.

Le Britannique, qui mène le classement général à égalité de points avec Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), a été le premier à enregistrer un chrono pour s’installer au sommet de la feuille de temps et a creusé l’écart en fin de séance pour finir avec 0.751s d’avance sur son coéquipier Tom Sykes et exactement une seconde sur le rookie espagnol Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), qui continue d’impressionner en se maintenant à proximité des pilotes références de la catégorie.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing-Ducati WorldSBK Team) a fini quatrième devant Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) et Haslam, sixième à 1.202s du leader. 

Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda WSBK Team) a pris la septième position, devant David Salom (Team Pedercini), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) et le Champion du Monde en titre Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda WSBK Team), qui complétait le Top 10 devant ses compatriotes Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) et Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki).

Troy Bayliss (Aruba.it Racing-Ducati WorldSBK Team) remplace de nouveau Davide Giugliano ce week-end et s’est classé quatorzième.

Jordi Torres a dépassé les 300 km/h et a atteint une vitesse de pointe de 302 km/h sur la longue ligne droite d’un kilomètre qui se situe entre les virages n°1 et 2 et se termine sur une épingle qui sera, d’après les pilotes, l’un des meilleurs endroits pour dépasser, avec le dernier virage.

Davies a été le seul pilote à chuter, dans le virage n°3, mais a pu repartir pour finir sa séance.

Riders get up to speed at the Chang International circuit.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) rode to the fastest time in an extended 75 minute FP1 at a very hot and humid Chang International circuit in Buriram, Thailand.

With ambient temperatures in excess of 34 degrees Celsius and rising, the 26 riders made the most of the track time available, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) the first to record a time.

At the half way point Rea was still fastest, significantly faster than his initial lap, which was to be expected, the British rider who jointly leads the overall championship standings after the first two races was 0.134s ahead of Aruba Ducati rider Chaz Davies and Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) who continues to shine on his WorldSBK season.

At the flag, despite a number of personal improving laps from a dozen riders in the final minutes, nobody was able to topple Kawasaki mounted Rea who managed to hold on to top spot after 3 personal improving laps of his own. The British rider holds a margin of 0.751s over team mate Tom Sykes and Jordi Torres who complete the top three, going into this afternoon’s FP2.

Davies was still able to finish fourth courtesy of his time posted early in the session while Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) improved from 16^th to 5th on his final lap.

Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) completed the top 6.

Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda WSBK Team) moved into 7^th in the final four minutes ahead of David Salom (Team Pedercini) who returns to racing after his crash in Australia. The Spaniard was just ahead of ever improving Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) and reigning World Champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda WSBK Team) who rounded out the top ten.

Troy Bayliss (Aruba Ducati SBK) looked quick in sector 3 eventually finishing 14th.

Jordi Torres broke the 300kmph barrier, recording 302kmph along the longest 1000m straight between turns one and two. The straight comes to an end with a tight right handed hairpin which many riders have said presents a great overtaking opportunity, along with the final corner.

Chaz Davies was the only faller in a session was very much about the riders learning their way around the 4.5km circuit, the British rider falling at the left handed turn 3 as the session entered the final 31 minutes, he was able to rejoin.

Grandes marées ........