1985 Renault 5 LeCar 2 Turbo, jenveys and full efi

[Adey]

Hi all being meaning to post some pics of this for a while. Still a continual work in progress but on the road and rolling. Purchased as a replacement for my Renault 8 project as I was getting no where quick with it and missed driving something old. Mad for my Renaults had way too many over the years and I had another one of these back when I was 21. any way a mate of mine who's into his amateur photography was a little bored this morning so we decided to pop out and get a few pics, car needs a clean really and it was raining but they turned out great. Ive also uploaded a few other pics of her as well. Hope you like her.

[adi]

wow, thats super cool and super rare nowadays. Love how smooth the sides are! Are these RWD? What power is she making?

[Adey]

Hey name sake, no these are fwd. so I'm told its one of 8 left on the road, how true it is I'm unsure. She laid down 120bhp at the hubs when last checked but will hopefully be a little more now. Future plans should see a decent increase in power along with better stopping and handling but ill update that as I go along.

[dreadnought]

Awesome, looks so right.

[batman]

Saw this in Warwick on Sunday, very nice indeed!

[Stuart-c]

That is sublime, I need to get an early 5 at some point, especially one that looks as good as this.

[simontw]

Such a cool looking car. I'm not too familiar with Renaults. Is it just a standard spec car or has it been modified at all?

[Adey]

not overly, the wheels I don't think were black originally, the ride height has been dropped and koni shocks added. other than a tiny boost increase shes pretty standard. Oh the period sports steering wheel has been added in there and different wing mirrors to the original. not much from standard really

[retroturbo]

Very nice. You weren't the custodian of the red Gordini that used to be around Gloucester (Hucclecote area) 10 or so years ago were you? That looked very quick.

[Adey]

indeed i was, that was me, and yes it was very quick :-D still in hucclecote just around the corner from where i used to be

[Mark]

I went through a 5 phase back in the day. I bought an ex race TS from the one make Daily Star series. (I think it was Daily Star anyway? Mirror maybe?) which was great fun. I then discovered Gordini turbo's and had a LHD one, that were badged as Alpines. It had the boost wound up and was pretty quick, but it torque steered like a motherhubbard and I ditched it in favour of a BMW 1602. (It all started there!)

Yours looks great though.

[Adey]

id say ive gone through a 5 phase but its kinda never ended, (first car was a 5 campus) think ive tallied up 13 gt turbos, 1 11 turbo, 2 self built mk1 clio turbo's (gtt engine) and this being my second mk 1 5 turbo. The alpine was its original name, except for in england where the sunbeam alpine was around so they got badged gordini turbo.

These run a draw through carb setup with no intercooler. My last one had alot of time spent on the engine converting it to a gt turbo blow through carb that allowed me to then run an intercooler with it. She gained about 50bhp over stock and went like stink, clutches became a common thing to need changing. I'm tempted to do the same with this one but currently looking in to going full efi with her, not hot start issues and reliable and controlable increses in power :-D

[Mark]

I had a new clutch fitted in the Gordini turbo, at one of those Mr Clutch places. While they were at it I had the gearbox rebuilt at an old skool type workshop. They put everything back together - eventually - and moaned about what a curse word of a job it was. I drove about 200yds before the clutch just slipped even worse than before! I went back and they stripped it all out again, before blaming the new box! I knew no different, so called these old guys who'd done the gearbox but they were adamant it wasn't their fault and came on over. I'll never forget this old guy reaching up with his little finger and pulling out the remaining sliver of metal that was once a pilot bush! He said '' I think you lads owe me an apology and this guy a new clutch?! ''. They were devastated.

What's the biggest engine that'll fit? 1.7?

[Adey]

lol thats funny. I think you could stroke out the engine to 1600ish but for a bigger block youd be stuck, the 1700 uses a bigger 200mm flywheel, on the 5 your restricted to a maximum available 190mm clutch mine has a 180mm fitted. helix do a nice clutch for them these days on special order. engine will do 200bhp with the correct parts bolted on so not going down the route of engine swaps. the later gt turbo will accept a 2.0 with ease but this with its odd ball front mounted gearbox is restricted. that said alot of info and tips can be taken from the classic race and rally guys in there r8's and a110 alpines. a fair few bits from them stables can be made to fit.

[unique]

You sir, have made a masterpiece, this makes me want a Renault 5 so bad!

[slamdunkdub]

^^^ What he said. Everything is just so 'right'

[camerashy]

Beautiful execution! Mk 1 5's are so HNNNNGGGG!

[si2001]

Such a lovely car, looks spot on

[Kierenbrown]

Awesome!
Love the car, looks amazing in silver!

[nmretro]

Love the 5, had one (le Car in the USA) when I finished school I drove it to the tip of Baja California. Most the roads were not yet paved, it was pretty much done when I got home. Also like the 8, Do you have a thread on that?