The Renault 5 Turbo always impresses, both with its extra large kit and its pugnacity on the road. But it is increasingly rare to find. The Artcurial house has nevertheless unearthed a Turbo 2 version “exit from the garage” with 70,000 km. It will be on sale at the Retromobile 2022 show.
It is no longer rare to find popular little French cars in the catalog of auction houses, alongside much more powerful supercars. This almost original R5 Turbo 2 is not inaccessible, however. Estimated at between €30,000 and €50,000, with no reserve price, it will be sold by Artcurial, on March 19, 2022 at the Retromobile show in Paris.
Bought by a rally driver
Let’s make things clear right away: this R5 Turbo 2 is not “so expensive” because it is a “barn find” or rather here a “garage find”. That means it was sleeping sheltered from the weather, but hasn’t ridden for a few years. Just look at the dust that has accumulated on the bodywork. The French belonged to a certain Baudouin Lemperor, rally driver, who died in 2021. He had bought the car in 2008 to use it as a basis for the realization of a “Tour de Corse” version. Remember the 1982 edition of the rally, won by Jean Ragnotti with a model similar to the white and yellow livery. A glorious and lasting memory for many of us.
This project was finally aborted in the process and the car has not been released since. Artcurial specifies that “this Turbo 2 is an excellent base for any enthusiast wishing to restore it to its original configuration, which it deserves, and which will pay tribute to the qualities of this well-born model.”
A certain modernism in the cabin
From the outside, this example is in very good condition with its pearly white color and original rims. It retains this very particular style with wide rear fenders, certainly one of the most aggressive on a production car from the 1980s. The engine is not modified and still develops 160 hp thanks to the addition of a turbocharger. It is positioned just behind the two seats.
Baudouin Lempereur had all the same taken care to make some modifications in the cabin upstream. The Iso Delta steering wheel and more modern bucket seats challenge in an environment kept intact. We also note that the gear lever knob has been replaced by that of the first Turbo of the name. But for 70,264 km displayed on the odometer, the condition of the car is impeccable.
TO READ. Retromobile 2022. Fangio’s Gordini and a 908 at the Artcurial sale
