Highlights

Flamboyant, quirky and exceedingly rare with pillarless coupé styling
Well-documented maintenance history
Six-speed manual gearbox
Double panoramic glass roof
ULEZ Compliant

The Appeal

Renault’s design chief from 1991 to 2007, Patrick Le Quément, was nothing if not bold. But then he was known for breaking the mould. At Renault, he presided over the original Laguna (his first project) and gave us the Twingo city car, before following an even more maverick design path that led to the Laguna II and Megane II, both of which still had to appeal to a conventional market.

The Avantime, however, didn’t have a sniff of convention about it. Based on the third-generation Espace MPV floor pan, it was a last hurrah for Renault’s relationship with coachbuilders Matra, who had built the Espace since 1984.

It filled the gap with one of the most unusual cars ever made – the Avantime translating to ‘Ahead of Time’, which certainly it was. The coupé-MPV hybrid that nobody ever asked for but which Le Quément had envisaged several years earlier. As is usually the case with such glorious freestyle projects the Avantime sold in low numbers, but was utterly commendable for its form over function. Built only for 18 months or so, a total of just 452 RHD Avantimes were sold in the UK, with the vast majority registered to Renault UK itself upon delivery from Matra.

Approximately half were in 2.0-litre turbo guise - as with our example here. Highly original and elegantly presented, it’s a cool candidate if you are in the market for something avantgarde. It benefits from a history of judicious servicing and is complete with an advisory-free MOT valid until September 2024. If you’ve ever had the itch for one of these, then this could be your moment…

ZmvX1OlC3atJSplzdk340ojSV4l7GmxDfrRpRLkV.jpg 2.1 MB

The History and Paperwork

A very late UK registered car: 7th July 2003
One of 7 identical Avantime’s owned by ‘Taylor Made’ from new until 2006 promoting their technology company
All Taylor Made Avantime’s were ordered in ‘Monaco Blue Metallic’ - this car was repainted by Renault when new
The current keeper knows of no paintwork having been done to the car in the last 14 years and believes that the paint may still be original
The second registered keeper was located in Broadstairs, Kent (2006 Renault main dealer receipt of sale is in the history file) for 3 years
The third registered keeper - Ramsgate, Kent 2009
The fourth registered keeper (from 2010) is the current keeper who twice sold the car to friends and has known all aspects of the car for the last fourteen years
Current keeper since March 2024
MOT until 5th September 2027
Comes with a very good clutch of old MOTs covering much of the car's life
24 service/maintenance invoices in the file. Receipts for £2,500 expenditure in the last six months
Two invoices for cambelt, water pump & tensioners. The most recent in September 2023
Invoice for MIJ Exhaust Specialists totalling £440
Two keys (plus cubby key)
Original leather zipper wallet is present, containing original booklets and pamphlets
Renault Main-Dealer number plates remain on the car both front and back
ULEZ Compliant

yg8hmQ1fnyq4JtjRlyow5Pn0DgTI7VlrKUAwSEy8.jpg 196.45 KB

The Condition

The design of the Avantime is well suited to the Monaco blue metallic beneath customary silver aluminium roof rails
Signs of use and wear are present around the car on close inspection with stone chips, scuffs, some micro blisters, tarnish and lacquer lift in one place also - overall the car does still present smartly
The silver roof rails on Avantime’s have a habit of oxidising and forming blisters beneath the paint - the rails on this car do show some blistering towards some roof rail edges
Aluminium wing mirror housings are a weak spot - one arm is showing a little paint flaking
The 17” Rhodes alloys are specific to the Avantime - these were refurbished by Lepsons in 2023 at a cost of £450 and continue to present immaculately
All four-wheel centre caps are original and in good condition, with some wear to the silvering towards the edges on a couple of the trims
All tinted glass looks free of any meaningful scratches, chips or fractures
All tyres have good even tread
The car had x2 tyres replaced (Ultra Contact 225/50/R17 98V XL) at 124,726 miles
The Avantimes were built with a galvanised chassis. The underside shows no obvious causes for concern based upon a basic cursory view
The correct spare space-saver steel wheel is fitted beneath the car's rear deck
All drainage channels look clean and free of corrosion
Sills look free of any signs of corrosion and appear entirely original
All exterior trims and fittings look original, unmodified and good throughout
True to the Paris Salon Concept Car design, the sweeping interior is beautifully appointed
Half-Leather upholstery is in good order
Leather on the gear-knob has a little wear
The seatbelt plastic base sleeve that surrounds the belt exit on the huge front seats are both present and show some signs of wear, as is usual
Seat adjustments and front fold (to access the rear passenger area) all working correctly
Door cards (often easily damaged) are in good order with the correct original trim fittings
Interior door handles are free from chips or seat buckle scars
Centre-console plastics and switch-gear surrounds are smooth, smart and free from the tacky feel of aged soft plastic coatings, synonymous with these vehicles
Carpets are in excellent condition
Inside screen and A-pillar lining is carrying some marks and stretch to the cloth
Switchgear appears unmarked with perfect cubby doors, clips and even the fine vent plastics all present and correct
The beige headlining to the roof, appears to be original and in good order
‘Grande Air’ mode button is working and retracts the glass roof while simultaneously dropping all four windows to create a pillarless driving experience
The original jack and brace are correctly stowed beneath the rear passenger seats
The boot area is in good order and chromed floor loops are still present
The door seals and the giant boot seal are all present, correct and free from any obvious damage
Since photoshoot, the car has had a replacement exhaust mid and rear section (now twin-tipped) at MIJ Exhaust Specialists, see gallery photo

l3Z7vuXiFnurjCj9chf3SLTDilNx7KPNjpkXfUCz.jpg 934.22 KB

The Mechanics

1,998 cc Renault Turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine
Six-speed manual gearbox
The exhaust system has a wide aperture exit tailpipe
Dipstick check shows golden oil - (four months since last recorded service)
Starts effortlessly and settles quickly into a gentle and even idle
No advisories on any previous MOT tests
Recent receipts for new front and rear brake discs and pads
Reported as enjoyable to drive with no known issues

VdcaFiuxtdgjVc4vrqzWAhHcCuKBgrEGn9NVlyHC.jpg 578.15 KB

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.

✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.

✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection

or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. It is the bidders responsibility to confirm import eligibility prior to purchase.

✓ Unless stated otherwise, you must assume that any cherished, personalised, or heritage vehicle registration is not included in the sale of a vehicle.