Hot hatches from the halcyon days of the 80s were pure driving fun, and the little French fancy that is the R5 GT Turbo was right up there giving maximum fun for minimum effort. The lightweight, turbocharged machine was a huge hit with enthusiasts and during the ‘Max Power’ era found itself at the forefront of the tuning market. Many have now disappeared due in no uncertain terms by its popularity among the youth of the day where over modifying caused either engine failures or unfortunate accidents.

 Now a very rare sight on our roads and with that in mind, the diminutive little car is growing in value and is proving a promising investment.

The little GT has passed through various owners since new and was fully restored back in 2009. There is some photographic evidence of that restoration within the file and it shows the thorough extent of the work done. It has covered minimal mileage since 2009 and has only done a mere 750 miles in the last 2 years.

The invoices also identify some component costs, including engine internal parts and that it has undergone a Stage 1 upgrade by Turbo Technics. This is not a huge rise in horsepower but a modest rise that focuses on driveability and reliability. There’s a current MoT certificate that is valid until May 2025 with a few advisories which are highlighted and a valid V5c.

The cockpit of the Renault 5 is a fairly simple affair and typical of the era. Everything appears to work as it should and there has been resistance to adding any additional dials which so often happened to the GT. All the plastics are good, including the door cards and dash. The headlining is secure and clean and the carpeting is in good general condition.

The cloth upholstery is showing signs of use and in particular, the bolster on the driver’s seat has worn. This is very normal and expected of the Renault and would be unusual not to see this on a GT Turbo of this age. The gear gater is becoming a little threadbare but it would be a simple fix to replace it. Despite these issues, the seating is in good general order and very acceptable. The boot is clean and there’s a spare wheel beneath the floor

Finished in white, this little car looks as fresh as a daisy and has a nice shine to the paintwork albeit there a couple of small rust spots which are shown on the gallery. It has undergone an extensive restoration in 2009 and still looks good, albeit for the odd stone chip. The plastic factory body kit is all in place and in good condition, often the front corners of the front bumper receive damage.

That same bumper still possesses the factory orange-tinted fog lamps that so often are stone damaged or swapped for clear alternatives. The wheels too are the original 13-inch Speedlines which are in good condition and are wearing a matching set of Yokohama tyres with good tread depth. The car has not been raised to examine the underside but the photographs obtained at ground level seem to indicate that the underside is in good order with plenty of underseal applied.

The pacey little 1.4 engine is the key to the GTs success and this one has received a freshen-up and a bit of an upgrade. A very tunable little engine when done properly and with the help of Turbo Technics this one has benefitted from their Stage 1 enhancement. This has meant a modest and safe boost in power without detriment to the running and reliability of the car.

The engine still possesses an original factory intercooler but now boasts an upgraded aluminium radiator and separate oil cooler. The hoses have been upgraded to silicone, which was done more for aesthetics rather than performance, but it does facilitate the fitment of the customary dump valve for that ‘whoosh’ on every gear change. All brakes, suspension and steering remain as Renault intended and it all performs perfectly well, although the use of a manual choke might confuse one or two people.

There’s a large tailpipe peeping out of the bottom of the rear bumper from a full Scorpion stainless steel system which has a muted sporty note.

80s Hot Hatches are an absolute hoot. Pug 205, XR2i, XR3i and Punto GT were all light and quick and irresistible to the youth of the time. But one that possessed one of the best reputations was of course the Renault 5 GT Turbo and it was hard to beat. It still is one of those cars that takes you straight back to big mobile phones and even bigger shoulder pads, it is just so 80s.

 This one is still packed with fun and in lovely condition after a thorough body restoration. It is close to standard too which is unusual as many ended up with bigger wheels, big hybrid turbos and lairy paint jobs and body kits. Finding any GT Turbo is tricky but finding one nearly standard is very unusual. Enjoy it as it is or maybe return the engine bay back to factory for even more value. Either way, it’s a rare and pretty thing.

BEFORE YOU BUY 

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